Minor in Museum and Curatorial Studies
The minor in Museum and Curatorial Studies introduces students to museum and curatorial practices, the concerns underlying them, their historical and theoretical frameworks, and their applications beyond the preservation and display of objects. The curriculum explores works in a wide range of media and their installation both within and outside of museum walls. Students in the minor develop practical and academic skills in visual studies, curation, and cultural policy.
The Museum and Curatorial Studies curriculum includes classes at the New School for Public Engagement, the School of Art and Design History and Theory at Parsons, and Eugene Lang College. The minor is coordinated by the Chair of Arts and Social Engagement at NSPE.
The minor requires 6 courses with a minimum of 18 credits. Two introductory courses introduce students to the field; two advanced courses explore topics in visual culture and history; and two advanced courses look specifically at museums and curatorial practices.
At least one of the introductory courses is offered every semester. Advanced courses come from a list of electives that fluctuate.
Students interested in a minor can simulate a worksheet that accounts for courses already completed and in progress using the “What If” feature in Degree Works.
Course availability may vary from semester to semester. Some courses may be in development and offered at a later time. Students seeking to pursue alternative coursework to fulfill the minor should consult with their advisers.
Eligibility
Minors are available to undergraduate students across The New School except those students at Lang and the Bachelors Program for Adults and Transfer Students who are completing a self-designed BA or BS in Liberal Arts, who are not permitted to declare minors. For students at Lang or the Bachelors Program for Adults and Transfer Students interested in pursuing a deeper study of this subject area, opportunities are available through the self-designed major in Liberal Arts. To explore this, contact an academic adviser or read more information about self-designed options for Lang or the Bachelors Program for Adults and Transfer Students.
Learning Outcomes
A student who has completed this minor should be able to demonstrate:
- Familiarity with the history of collecting and the origins of museums.
- Awareness of current debates and best practices in the fields.
- An understanding of the significance and relevance of historical material and visual culture for the present day.
- An ability to think, speak and write critically about exhibitions and displays.
- An ability to conduct historical research on visual and material culture using primary and secondary sources.
- Competency in writing exhibition, grant, and public programming proposals.
- An ability to contribute to the conceptualization, curation, or production of an exhibition, installation, performance, or other curated event.
Curriculum
| SUBJECT AREA | SAMPLE COURSES | REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Courses | NARH 2200 The Arts and Social Engagement: An Introduction NARH 2102 Introduction to Museum Studies NARH 3424 Take Care: Introduction to Curatorial Studies and Practice LVIS 2240 Exhibitions as History LVIS 2240 Art and Collecting Culture
|
6-8 credits |
| Advanced Courses in Visual Culture and History | NARH 3000 and 4000 level courses in visual culture and history LVIS 300 and 4000 level courses in visual culture and history PLAH, PLVS, PLDS 3000 and 4000 level courses in visual culture and historyNPUB 3000 Public/Art NPUB 3222 Just Art – Art and Social Justice NCST 3104 History of the Photography Book NHUM 3107 Spectacle in the Arts |
6-8 credits |
| Advanced Courses in Museum and Curatorial Practices | NARH 3761 History of Collecting – Renaissance to the Present NANT 3633 Whose Heritage? – Contested Cultural Sites NARH 3485 Museum Education NMGT 3110 Arts Management NMGT 3115 Arts and Cultural Marketing NARH 3224 Performance in the Museum NARH 3857 Artists as Entrepreneurs LVIS 3250 Practicing Curating PLAH 4014 History and Theory of Exhibitions PLAH 4060 Politics of Display PLFS 3040 Fashion and Curation – Curatorial Practice in Contemporary Fashion PLAD 4068 Exhibiting Display PLAH 4060 Politics of Display PLCW 4011 Curating as Social Practice PLVS 4000 Art Interventions – City as Site PGHT 5000 Curating Design PGHT 5005 Curating in the Public Domain |
6-8 credits |
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses taken for the minor.
For questions regarding this minor’s curriculum, including requests for course substitutions, please contact Julia Foulkes, Chair, at foulkesj@newschool.edu or 212.229.5119.
The New School has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Educationsince 1960. For more information, visit Accreditation and State Regulatory Authorizations. Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104. 216.284.5000