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Museum Studies Overview

Department and Faculty Website

Images of BeloitBeloit College’s interdisciplinary museum studies program helps students explore the world of museums and gain experience in museum work on and off campus. The Logan Museum of Anthropology and the Wright Museum of Art serve as primary resources for the program.

THE MINOR

Beloit’s museum studies minor introduces students to the theories, philosophies, and methods of museum work. The program offers an introductory course plus hands-on courses on collections, exhibits, and museum education. The staff of the Beloit College museums teach these courses and, in conjunction with other academic departments, help students create a program stressing: (1) understanding of the contexts and uses of cultural and natural objects and collections, (2) awareness of the legal, moral, social, and other roles and responsibilities of museums as educational institutions, and (3) practical experience in museums on and off campus.

PROFESSIONAL EXPLORATION

  

CAREERS

Students attend specialized workshops on and off campus, participate in professional conferences, and work as Museum Assistants in collections, exhibits, education, or marketing at the Logan or Wright. All minors also complete an independent research project of value to the museums or the community, such as production of collection catalogues, planning and designing exhibitions, and developing educational programs.

Students also complete an off-campus internship which provides valuable professional experience as well as opportunities to explore several types of museum work and to build networks. Students have completed internships at numerous sites including the Smithsonian Institution, Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum (Chicago), Milwaukee Public Museum, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (Harvard University), Museum of Flight (Seattle), Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and Tate Gallery (London). Internships also are available closer to campus at the Beloit Historical Society, Midway Village (Rockford), and Rock County Historical Society (Janesville).

  

Alumni have pursued graduate school in museum studies and have joined the staffs of the Milwaukee Public Museum, Field Museum, and Smithsonian Institution, as well as scores of other museums, galleries, and historical societies.