Collections Management Course Requirements

The GW Museum Studies program is a 36-credit degree. Upon entering the program, every student selects a Museum Studies concentration in one of four areas:

• Museum Management
• Collections Management
• Exhibitions and Visitor Experience
• Public Engagement

All students complete one core course entitled Museum Ethics & Values, one internship, five (5) required courses in the selected concentration, and five (5) electives. Electives may be drawn from within Museum Studies (including a second internship) or up to four (4) courses from outside the program.

Throughout your program, you should work with your advisor to ensure that you will meet program requirements and your own career and educational goals.

Collections Management Concentration

Students learn how to protect collections and provide access through policies and procedures related to intellectual control (documentation, records management, databases, inventory, provenance) and physical care (preventive conservation practices to prevent or delay damage and degradation). Includes legal and ethical issues around access, repatriation, and acquisition. Prepares students for work as collections managers and registrars.

Required courses

• CMST 6107 Museum Ethics and Values (during your first year) (Fall, Spring)
• CMST 6501 Internship (available after your first semester) (Fall, Spring, Summer)
• CMST 6201 Introduction to Collections Management (Fall)
• CMST 6202 Collections Management: Practical Applications (Spring) (CMST 6201 req.)
• CMST 6203 Preventive Conservation Concepts (Fall)
• CMST 6204 Preventive Conservation Techniques (Spring) (CMST 6203 required)

Select one (1) course from the below

• CMST 6104 Managing People and Projects - (Spring)
• CMST 6205 Archival Practice (Fall)
• CMST 6206 Digitization & Digital Asset Management (Spring)
• CMST 6601 Issues Related to Collections Policy (selected Summer semesters)
• CMST 6704 Museum and Cultural Property (Spring)
• CMST 6610 Provenance Research (Fall)