Museum and Artefact Studies

Durham University's unique MA in Museum and Artefact Studies will provide you with the high quality training relevant to a career in museums, the cultural heritage sector, and in the academic world.

In particular, it is intended to equip you with a sound knowledge and critical understanding of current professional principles, good practice and contemporary debates relating to museum and artefact studies.

It aims to help you develop a variety of skills:

• Professional skills, relevant to the care, management and exhibition of collections in museums
• Analytical skills, relevant to the study of a wide range of materials and artefacts, from different periods and cultures, and from a variety of disciplinary perspectives
• Research skills, relevant to studies of museums and artefacts, including an awareness of current theoretical issues
• Communication skills - oral, written and visual - relevant to work in the museum profession and to academic research.

It also aims to encourage you to take personal responsibility for your own learning, team-work and professional conduct.

Course Structure

Two distinct routes can be followed through the MA in Museum and Artefact Studies. These comprise different combinations of modules.

Route 1

The first route is intended for those who firmly intend to pursue a career in museums and galleries. It comprises six compulsory taught modules:

• Approaches to Museum and Artefact Studies
• Museum Principles and Practice
• Artefact Studies
• Care of Collections
• Museum Communication
• Research Paper.

Route 2

The second route through the MA provides you with a different choice of modules. It is intended for those with a strong interest in artefact studies, who may wish to pursue a career in the cultural heritage sector or undertake further postgraduate research in museum or artefact studies after completing the MA course, but who also wish to keep their options open. It comprises four compulsory modules (one of which is a dissertation) and a choice of a fifth module:

• Approaches to Museum and Artefact Studies
• Museum Principles and Practice
• Artefact Studies
• Dissertation.

And either

• Museum Communication

Or

• Care of Collections

Or

• A module from the MA in Archaeology (e.g. Prehistory; Roman Archaeology; Medieval Archaeology; Post-Medieval Archaeology; or the Archaeology of Egypt, the Near East and India (when available).