Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Program

AMST 686: Museum Studies Practicum

This course is designed as the final requirement for the Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies. It is generally taken as the last course in the sequence of required courses for the certificate, although students may be enrolled simultaneously in the Practicum/Internship and other courses in the program. This course is restricted to "majors" in the Museums Studies Graduate Certificate Program.

The Practicum/Internship is intended to advance the student’s knowledge of the field of museum work and to provide an opportunity to research areas of special interest. Since the course is meant to be of a practical character, students are encouraged to take advantage of work-related opportunities in museums and related places (art galleries, historic sites, parks, zoos, aquariums, festivals, etc.). Students should consider new areas of exploration, or build on and consolidate projects in which they have had prior involvement. The Practicum/Internship may include research reports for non-profit organizations, research projects for museum exhibits or collections, or other similar activities.

Course Structure
The course offers two options: Plan A [internship] and Plan B [research project].

Plan A involves a formal internship with an approved museum-related institution. It requires a minimum of 320 hours (eight weeks) of full-time work, either paid or volunteer, for an approved museum-related institution, and a written report of approximately 15 pages (250 words/page) with proper citations and a formal bibliography.

Plan B involves a research project determined in consultation with the Director of the Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Program. Plan B will require a similar expenditure of time and energy as required of students in Plan A. Plan B students will be required to submit a substantially longer document, a "mini-thesis" of approximately 50 pages (250 words/page). Plan B students will also be required to make a formal oral presentation with appropriate audio/visual aids (as if presenting work to a professional organization), produce a one-page informative handout, answer questions, and demonstrate a familiarity with museum issues and concerns.

Recommended Reading
Students should consult Standards and Guidelines for Museum Internship published by The New England Museum Association and the American Association of Museums, 2000. (See Museum Studies Library.)

Required Work
Plan A students must complete and sign a formal agreement with the museum in the form of a letter or actual contract (see examples in Standards and Guidelines for Museum Internships) prior to commencement of the internship. A copy of this agreement must be submitted to the Director of the Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Program. The agreement should specify internship dates (start and finish), work days/hours, intern responsibilities and particular projects, rate of pay or stipend if applicable, and a job description drafted by the internship supervisor and intern prior to the internship with specific duties and goals, and evaluation procedures and dates.

For Plan B written and oral presentation requirements, see above.

The course is undertaken with the supervision of the Director of the Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Program. Plan A and Plan B students are required to meet with the Director during the first or second week of the term to set a work schedule. Subsequent meetings with the Director are held as necessary. A progress report must be submitted at mid-term (week 8 of the semester), at which time it will be determined whether the student will be able to complete the course during the term in which she or he is enrolled or whether an extension is required.

Students will be allowed a maximum of two extensions of one term for completion of the internship requirements, but are strongly encouraged to complete the work during the initial term in which they are enrolled. A grade of "incomplete" ("I") will be given at the end of the initial term of enrollment, and will be changed only upon
completion and submission of the required work. Any request for extensions beyond two terms will be considered on a case-by-case basis and only for extenuating circumstances, such as ill-health or other unforeseen problems.

FORMAT FOR WRITTEN PROJECTS
All papers must be computer-printed, approximately 250 words/page, 10 or 12 pt. type, 1" margins, double-spaced. Please spellcheck your work before submitting it. Please refer to The Chicago Manual of Style (or equivalent) for formatting footnotes, endnotes, figures/plates, appendices, and bibliographies.

Due Dates
1) Plan A internship report will be due on the fifteenth week of the semester or one week prior to the end of instruction.

2) Plan B reports will be due at the beginning of the thirteenth week of the semester (or three weeks before the end of the semester) in which students plan to complete the course requirements. At this time, Plan B students and the Director will coordinate the date and time for the colloquium presentation, to which any interested faculty, students or public may attend. The deadline for the Plan B report allows sufficient time to publicize the presentation and no exceptions will be allowed. Students are expected to present the results or contents of projects/reports in a professional manner, answer questions, prepare a handout, and demonstrate a familiarity with museum-related issues and concerns.

Grading
Grading will be based on the following:

Plan A
Attendance at required meetings and submission of progress reports: 20%
Evaluation by internship supervisor: 40%
Written report on activities: 40%

Plan B
Attendance at required meetings and submission of progress reports: 25%
Final Presentation (colloquium): 25%
Written report on activities: 50%

Updated 11/22/04