Proposition 23-12/13: A Proposal to establish a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies,
Contributing Departments: Anthropology, Art and History, College of Arts and Sciences
Sponsors: Rani Alexander (A and S); Margaret Goehring (A and S);
Proposed Committee: TBA
Actual Committee Assignment: TBA
Prior Approvals:
Approved- Department of Anthropology (9/20/2012)
Approved- Department of Art (9/20/2012)
Approved: Department if History (9/20/2012)
Approved- College of Arts and Sciences (3/07/2013)
Approved – Provost “Planning Authorization” (10/11/2011)
Approved- Graduate Council (03/07/2013)
Approved - ADAC – (3/11/2013)
Next steps:
Academic Deans Council, Exec. VP/Provost , and Higher Learning Commission
Proposal: Create a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies. The certificate will be administered
by the Departments of Anthropology, Art and History, College of Arts and Sciences.
Rationale:
Faculty members in the Departments of Anthropology, Art and History, in the College of Arts
and Sciences, have developed a proposal for a new Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies.
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The proposal has been approved by the Departments of Anthropology, Art and History.
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In addition it has been approved by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate
Council
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No new resources are required or requested to host the graduate certificate program.
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All the courses are regularly offered as part of the course offerings in their respective
disciplines; the faculty and departmental commitments already exist.
Through this proposition the Faculty Senate endorses and approves this proposal and asks that
NMSU’s Central Administration work to realize this certificate program so that it may be offered
to students at the earliest opportunity (ideally Fall of 2013).
Program Overview
Many students who enroll in graduate programs in anthropology, art, art history, and public
history eventually gravitate toward the existing courses in museum studies and seek
opportunities to work in museums. As part of their graduate studies they are gaining experience
in museum studies, curation, preservation, conservation, collections management, exhibit design,
public education, and outreach. The proposed program will allow us to recognize the experience
that some students are already gaining, and codify the existing curricular options into a coherent
program that will culminate in the awarding of a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies.
Evidence of Need
The departments of Anthropology, Art and History currently have many graduate students who
would like to pursue a Museum Studies Certificate or concentration. We estimate between the
three degree programs, we have 10-15 students annually who would pursue the additional option
of this graduate certificate. This program will not replace existing degree programs, but will
serve as a value added option for those who have interests in museums, and/or hope to find
employment in museums in the future. Recent graduates of our programs have successfully gone
on to have careers in museums (as laid out in Table 1.0 in attached proposal), and we believe that
a formal program in Museum Studies will attract many more to this field. By adding the
recognition that the certificate will confer we increase the possibilities that our future graduates
will also be successful in this career path.
A full version of the proposal has been forwarded to Dr. Tim Ketelaar, Chair of the NMSU
Faculty Senate, and is also available to Senators who have interest in reviewing the entire
document.
Attachments: Supporting documents (see attached).