BA.MUST - Museum Studies

Destiny Crider (program director)

The museum studies minor is a course of study intended to introduce and familiarize individuals with the historical and theoretical foundations of contemporary museums in order to better understand the history of museums and their impact on social, civic, and cultural life. It provides students with the practical skills and basic knowledge needed to work in museums and other cultural institutions.

A Luther program for some 30 years, the museum studies program furthers the college's commitment to the liberal arts by offering students a venue in which to apply their knowledge. It is further intended to meet several key components of the college's mission, including the promotion of public service, the preservation of tradition, and a strong emphasis on moving students beyond immediate interests and knowledge toward a recognition of the larger world around us.

The museum studies minor involves three required courses (MUST 120, 220, and MUST 380) and three elective courses. Electives may originate in any number of departments but should bear upon some aspect of material culture or subject matter that is relevant to museum work. Electives may involve museum administration, public relations, fine art, folk art, anthropology, natural history, environmental studies and biology. (Students may petition the program director to accept courses not on the list below to satisfy the elective requirement, given they can justify its relevance to museums and museum work.) At least one elective must come from outside the student's major field of study.

Required for a minor: MUST 120, 220, 380 and three courses from the following list (one of which must fall outside of the student's major discipline): HIST 126, 226, 227, ANTH 101, 104, 302, 305, ART 290, ARTH 251, 252, THTR 203, ENVS 133, 134, BIO 112, 251, 258, SCI 121.