Arts and Culture: Museums and Collections

Master

In our global society, the status and importance of museums, collections and heritage as key factors of our identities and cultures are undisputed. The museum’s present day influential role in the shaping of knowledge and identity should be understood in its historical context and the underlying social, political, ethical and intellectual structures.

This MA Museum and Collections specialisation, part of the MA in Arts and Culture, consists of two compulsory courses, in which students will study and experience the history of collection formation as well as crucial themes concerning museums today.

Compulsory courses for all students, regardless of specialisation:

Practices and debates (5 EC)
Thesis seminar (5 EC)
Thesis (20 EC)

In order to meet the demands of any specialisation you need to follow a minimum of 45 EC in your chosen specialisation. The most common study path to meet this requirement is:

2 Research seminars in field of specialisation (2 × 10 EC)
Thesis seminar (5 EC)
Thesis (20 EC)

Free Component (10 EC): You can choose any course offered within the MA Arts and Culture, a course on an Arts and Culture subject taught in another MA or an approved Internship.

Please note that several additional workshops will be offered during the academic year. Information will be available on our website.

More info

Course objectives

to enable students to acquire academic knowledge, understanding and skills, and train them in the use of scientific methods in the field of Arts and Culture in general, and in particular with regard to the chosen specialisation;
to enable students to develop the following academic and professional skills:
- independent academic reasoning and conduct,
- the ability to analyse complex problems,
- academic reporting;
to prepare students for an academic career and further education;
to prepare students for a career outside academia.

Structure

The structure of the programme is the following:

Practices and Debates (5 credits);
Two Research Seminars from the chosen specialisation in the master’s programme in Arts and Culture (20 credits);
Free Component (10 credits);
Thesis Seminar (5 credits);
Thesis (20 credits).

Full-time and part-time

The programme consits of 60 EC, to be completed in one year.
Part-time students complete the programme in 1,5 years. Courses are scheduled during office hours.

Requirements for graduation:

In order to graduate, students must have completed 60 EC of courses including the writing of the thesis. The master’s programme is concluded with a master’s thesis containing the results of the individual research.

In order to meet the demands of any specialisation you need to follow a minimum of 45 EC in your chosen specialisation.
The most common study path to meet this requirement:

2 Research seminars in field of specialisation (20 EC);
Thesis seminar (5 EC);
Thesis (20 EC).

Specialisations

The specialisations are: Architecture, Early Modern and Medieval Art, Museums & Collections, Art of the Contemporary World and World Art Studies and Design and Decorative Art Studies.

Courses

Vak	EC	Semester 1	Semester 2
Obligatory courses
Practices and Debates in Art History	5
Thesis Seminar Arts and Culture	5
Free Component	10
MA Thesis Arts and Culture	20
Compulsory Research Seminar
Cultures of Collecting: Early Modern Cultures of Collecting	10
Choose one of the following two Research Seminars It is allowed to take both Museum Matters Courses. One of the two could be used as your Free Component or as Extra-Curriculair. If you choose to take both seminars in Museum Matters it is still obligatory to also take Early Modern Cultures of Collecting.
Museum Matters I: Politics and Ethics of Museum Collecting	10
Museum Matters II: Curating Collections	10
Free Component (10 EC) You can choose any course offered within the MA Arts and Culture, a course on an Arts and Culture subject taught in another MA or an approved Internship. Suggestions:
Modern Sculpture as Exhibition Project	5
Art & Life Sciences	rsp 5 en 6
Internship Arts and Culture	10