Prospectus

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Museums, Heritage and Collections

Minor

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.

Museums are powerful and influential institutions in their ability to shape knowledge and contribute to our identity. What we preserve and how we present our collections and heritage (and of course what we do not preserve and do not exhibit) is closely connected to our identity and culture.

In this multidisciplinary Minor, students will become acquainted with the social and academic debates on museums, cultural heritage and collections.

Many different types of museums and collections shall be discussed including art museums, (natural) history museums and ethnographic museums. Students will gain insight into the functions and challenges of these different types of museums and various exhibition concepts and gain an understanding of the pressing ethical issues connected to museums and heritage.

Maximum number of participants: 25

Prospectus number: 5000MUSEAN

Language of instruction: English

Registration: via EduXchange see More Info

15 May (13:00hrs) until 30 June 2025

Courses

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First semester
The History of Museums 10
Topical Course: Artivism 5

It is possible to do an internship for 10 or 15 ECTS in this minor, replacing one or two obligatory courses:
BA Internship Art History 10/15/20

Second semester
Seminar BA3: Politics and Ethics in the contemporary museum 10
Memory and the Environment 10

It is possible to do an internship for 10 or 15 ECTS in this minor, replacing one or two obligatory courses:
BA Internship Art History 10/15/20

More info

Information

  • Course load: 30 ECTS (spread either over one, or over two semesters)

  • Intended for: the minor Museums, Heritage and Collections is relevant for students interested in studying and/or working in the field of museums and cultural heritage.

  • Language of instruction : English (internships are usually in Dutch)

  • Website: Your study programme

  • Coordinator: for questions about the minor programme, please contact the education coordinator

  • Board of examiners: Kunst- en cultuurwetenschappen

  • Registration:
    LEI, TUD and EUR students 15 May until 30 June 2025 via EduXchange.
    Request an eduID account to register in EduXchange. On how to do this, watch Explore & register for your minor via eduXchange.

Students from another university: please visit Info about minors

  • From July, register separately for the courses via MyStudymap (only applies to LEI students!)
    Guest students will be helped with their course enrollment.

For questions, send an e-mail to: stuco-ba-kg@hum.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks

The museum landscape is in constant flux. Controversial exhibitions can ignite heated social debates. Political and social developments throughout the world are changing the curatorial narratives in our museums. In this post-colonial, globalized era, museums are challenged in their exhibitions and collection strategies to cater to both local and international communities.

The lecture series ‘The History of Museums’ (10 ECTS) forms the intellectual core of this Minor. It provides for an academic reflection on the collecting, presenting, managing and preserving of cultural heritage and on the history and theory of museums and collections in national and international context. Students will also take courses in which they will gain more in-depth knowledge. It is possible to take an internship for 10, or 15 ECTS in this Minor, replacing other courses in the programme. However, the course 'The History of Museums' is mandatory for all students.