Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
ANTHD068.
Course Title (CB02)
Anthropology and Museums
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
An introduction to the field of museum studies or museology with a special emphasis on anthropology museums. Explores the meaning and function of museums and their changing role in the twenty-first century. Experience the curatorial role in an anthropology museum with hands-on experience in acquisition, conservation, identification, cataloging, exhibition, and interpretation of anthropological material.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is a major preparation requirement in the discipline of Anthropology for at least one CSU. Also, it meets the general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½. This course provides an opportunity for students to explore how museums work and why they are important in the modern world and introduces students to the possibility of considering museum work as a profession while providing experience in collecting, cataloging, conserving and exhibiting museum materials.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Other: Developing exhibits

Assignments

  1. Synthesis of assigned readings from the required texts and other sources.
  2. Individual and/or small group presentations that demonstrate ability to present data and data analysis in a logical engaging oral and visual format.
  3. Written response papers on current issues facing museums and anthropology explored through classroom materials and readings.
  4. Class project which involves design, develop and display exhibits for the community in the anthropology museum space.
  5. In class debates on topical controversies (such as - Who owns our culture?, repatriation of cultural artifacts)
  6. Students will write an analytical paper based on fieldwork and research. They will evaluate and select sources, critically analyze data, synthesize information, and formulate conclusions.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Objective and or essay examinations and comprehensive final examination, all of which are composed of concept based questions which will require the student to demonstrate the ability to integrate and summarize facts and translate them into fundamental units of knowledge
  2. Participation in and contribution towards classroom discussion and collaborative group work involving comparative source materials
  3. Individual and or group presentations of material researched for planning, designing and developing and displaying exhibits
  4. Reading responses that demonstrate basic comprehension, critique and synthesis of course readings and exhibitions in museums
  5. Multiple choice questions designed to test for basic subject and topical competency.
  6. Design and display exhibits which involves collection, conservation, preparation and interpretation of materials. They will be assessed based on questionnaires, interviews, surveys and informal conversation with attendees.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • Archeological artifacts, ethnographic objects, tools and materials for cataloging, conservation and exhibition

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Alexander, P. and Alexander, Mary. Museums in Motion:An Introduction to the history and function of museums. 3rd ed. AltaMira Press, 2017
Chmelik, Samantha. Museum Operations. A Handbook of Tools, Templates and Models. Rowman and Littlefield Publishers 2017
Dutton, L.S. Anthropological Resources: A Guide to Archival, Library, and Museum Collections. Routledge 2016
Skeates, Robin ed. Museums and Archaeology.Routledge 2017
Walhimer, Mark. Museums 101. Rowman and Littlefield Publishers. 2015

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Anderson, Gail. Reinventing the Museum: The evolving conversation on the paradigm shift, Walnut Creek CA, AltaMira Press 2012
Ambrose Timothy, Paine, Crispin. Museum Basics: The International Handbook. 4th ed. Routledge. 2018
Bautista, Susana. Museum in a Digital Age: Changing Meanings of Place, Community, and Culture. Altamira Press. 2013
Black, G. The Engaging Museum, London, Routledge, 2005
Burcaw, George, E. Introduction to Museum Work. Lanham, MD. AltaMira 1997
Cuno James. Who owns our antiquity? Museums and the battle over our ancient heritage. Princeton University Press. 2008
Falk, John. Identity and the Museum visitor experience, Walnut Creek CA, Left Coast Press, 2009
Hein, Geroge E., and Alexander, Mary. Museums: Places of Learning, Washington DC, American Association of Museums, 1998
Knell, Simon ed. The Contemporary Museum: Shaping Museums for Global Now. Routledge. 2018
Lord, Barry, ad Lord, Gail Dexter eds. The Manual for Museum Exhibitions, Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, 2002
Ross, Perry. Museums in a Digital Age. London, U.K: Routledge, 2009

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Recognize the scope of multifaceted discipline of anthropology, including its major sub-disciplines and their relationship with applied fields including museum anthropology.
  • Explore the changing definitions, history, operation, interpretation and functions of museums both nationally and globally.
  • Develop and design criteria for exhibition facilities and galleries which involves defining the purpose of exhibition, selecting design techniques and developing interpretive labels.
  • Design and develop experiential and anthropological exhibitions across cultures and inclusive of contributions made by diverse groups within in culture.
  • Integrate the changing nature of museum by expanding museum practices to better serve communities in a globalized world.

CSLOs

  • Apply scientific, evolutionary, holistic and a multidisciplinary approach to understanding human biology and behavior.

  • Evaluate the function of the museums including acquisitions, conservation, researching, exhibition and interpretation of the materials.

  • Apply curatorship in developing exhibitions and transform the gallery into civic and learning spaces for their communities.

Outline

  1. Recognize the scope of multifaceted discipline of anthropology, including its major sub-disciplines and their relationship with applied fields including museum anthropology.
    1. Demonstrate Anthropology as science and humanities; understand its breadth, especially its interest in global diversity.
    2. Across the role of major subfields in Anthropology in understanding humans spatially and temporally
  2. Explore the changing definitions, history, operation, interpretation and functions of museums both nationally and globally.
    1. Examine the various types of museums including art museums, natural history and anthropology museums, science and technology museums, history museums, botanical gardens and zoos and children's museum.
    2. Investigate the history of museums from ancient and medieval prototypes to museums in U.S. today.
    3. Analyze the purpose of museums ranging from acquisition and conservation, to exhibitions, and finally a changing emphasis on interpretation and learning.
    4. Synthesize a definition of museums based on their role and function in the community.
    5. Explore the source of exhibition ideas and consider how best to work with staff and museum's community to realize them.
  3. Develop and design criteria for exhibition facilities and galleries which involves defining the purpose of exhibition, selecting design techniques and developing interpretive labels.
    1. Recognize the essential criteria for exhibition facility including access, adjacency, circulation, security and public safety.
    2. Analyze the display cases, lighting, audio-visual hardware, and multimedia used to enhance the learning experience in exhibition galleries.
    3. Develop financial planning and management of temporary exhibitions and traveling exhibitions.
  4. Design and develop experiential and anthropological exhibitions across cultures and inclusive of contributions made by diverse groups within in culture.
    1. Evaluate the role of the curator in collecting, conserving, researching, designing and interpreting museum materials
    2. Apply curatorial skills to designing, developing and displaying multidisciplinary exhibits for communities on and off campus
    3. Interpretation of exhibits and effective communication of the meaning to the museum audiences.
  5. Integrate the changing nature of museum by expanding museum practices to better serve communities in a globalized world.
    1. Analyze the evolving role of museums in the 21st century to become a "museum different"
    2. Investigate the impact of technology and electronic tools on the museum's mission, operations and interpretations.
    3. Assess the transformation of museums from being a cultural stop into civic space.
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