Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries MA, MSc, PGDip, PGCert, Short course - one module, by distance learning
University of Leicester
Key Information
Campus location
Online United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
Distance learning
Duration
2 years
Pace
Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 17,500 *
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* international students; GBP 10,500 - UK students
Scholarships
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Introduction
This is for you if... you want a flexible, part-time course that allows you to develop skills and expertise in addressing contemporary social issues in museums and galleries.
In the 21st century, leading museums, galleries and heritage practices began to make use of socially engaged approaches. This course will examine the role of museums and practitioners in shaping society's understanding of contemporary issues, upholding antiracist and anti-oppression values of inclusivity and accessibility, and ensuring that museums benefit their communities. Choosing to study Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries will give you access to leading research and practice on the impact that museums and galleries can have on advocating for social justice and human rights, and how they might better explore and address the contemporary issues that face our societies.
This course brings together cutting-edge examples of socially driven professional practice in dialogue with research undertaken by academics within the School of Museum Studies. It draws on broader global shifts in practice and will challenge you to think deeply about the role of culture in society and the characteristics of socially purposeful museums and galleries.
Over the course, you will engage critically and creatively with areas such as:
- partnership working
- participatory practices
- anti-racism and anti-oppression work
- ethical frameworks for Practice
- liberation and accessibility
- visitor studies and audience research
- leadership at all levels of an organisation
- how socially engaged practice can be embedded into the work of museums and galleries
You will gain a deeper understanding of the historical, current and emerging debates, theories, issues, techniques and practice in order to effectively develop and advocate for socially engaged practice in museums, galleries, and similar organisations. The course offers a platform to explore and experiment with ways of maximising the impact that museums and galleries can have on the well-being of communities, on civil debates around controversial topics, and on the building of fairer and more equal societies.
The course is delivered in a variety of ways, including online lectures, seminars, tutorials, and discussion activities. The programme is designed to fit around your existing commitments and is sympathetically structured to allow you to break up the work into manageable chunks and focus on one assignment at a time.
You will receive high-quality support from your module tutors and a personal tutor throughout your studies.
What's the difference?
If you are taking the MA or MSc, you will take four core modules, followed by four option modules, as well as complete a research project on the topic of your choice. For many, it is the most exciting part of the course, as a self-directed opportunity to contribute new ideas, and new knowledge, or critique existing scholarship or practice at an advanced academic level. You might choose to write this up as a dissertation, but you could also consider writing a paper, a professional report, or perhaps even producing a film. We look forward to working with you on the possibilities. A Master of Science (MSc) can be awarded in preference to a Master of Arts (MA) where the dissertation concerns a science collection or museum, or where the nature of the investigation can be termed 'scientific'.
To complete the Postgraduate Diploma, you will take four core modules, followed by four option modules, giving you the opportunity to delve into your particular interests and to further explore and contextualise socially engaged practice through specific lenses.
You can attain a Postgraduate Certificate by undertaking just the four core modules. It is also possible to take one module, Exploring Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries, as a short course.
Why Leicester?
- Museum Studies at Leicester is a world-leading hub for research, teaching, thinking, debate, and practice.
- This degree offers maximum flexibility for students wishing to take anything from one module to a whole Master's degree, which can be completed in a minimum of two years or built up module by module over a longer period.
- You can take advantage of our network of 20 associate tutors who are all museum professionals working in the sector.
Teaching and learning
You will be supported by a dedicated team of academics, tutors and support staff. You will be allocated a personal tutor who can advise you on a range of issues and support you. In addition, for each module, you will be allocated a module tutor who is a specialist in that particular field. Your module tutor will support you with academic enquiries as well as your essay plans, marking your assignments and providing you with detailed feedback.
Our flexible learning course has been designed with different learning styles and access requirements in mind. The flexibility in both progressing through the course and in accessing the material through different formats anticipates a diverse student body and offers choice in how you are taught and assessed.
Time is built into the structure for you to complete assignments and wider reading on areas of particular interest to you, as well as self-directed study visits. Tutorials with experienced museum professionals are available at various points in the course.
You are invited to join an optional Summer School offering live online or face-to-face teaching, discussions, group activities and the chance to network with fellow part-time learners and staff.
If you are completing a dissertation as part of the MA/MSc course, you will receive four supervisions with your allocated tutor, with support offered between supervisions as and when needed.
Assessment
There are between one and three pieces of assessed coursework for each of the core modules. Together, these form a carefully designed, broad range of assignments including essays, project work, discussions, and presentations as well as practical exercises. Your module tutor will provide you with detailed feedback on each assignment you submit.
Curriculum
Core modules
- Exploring Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries
- Ethical Practice: Access, Liberation, and Organisational Change
- Activist Practice: Methods of Empowerment
- Museums and Transformation: Evidencing Need and Assessing the Impact of Socially Engaged Practice
Option modules
Choose four option modules from:
- Objects and Collections: Care, Management and Curation
- Lifelong Learning
- Museums and the Natural Environment
- Heritage
- Digital
- Practice
Plus your Dissertation
A Master of Science (MSc) can be awarded in preference to a Master of Arts (MA) where the dissertation concerns a science collection or museum, or where the nature of the investigation can be termed 'scientific'.
The modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Career Opportunities
Our Museum Studies graduates have been employed in some of the largest and most prestigious museums and galleries worldwide, in addition to some smaller specialist and local institutions. They include:
- National Museums Liverpool
- The British Museum
- The Smithsonian Institution
- Tropenmuseum, Netherlands
- International Council of Museums
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
- Greek Ministry of Culture
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Imperial War Museum
- Guggenheim Museum