INF 7885 and HIS 7880: Cultural Heritage Institutions: Management and Leadership
Credits: 3 credits
Prerequisite(s): None
Rationale for inclusion in curriculum
Many archivists, librarians, historians and other information professionals find employment in a broad range of public history institutions, such as museums, archival repositories, not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies. This course explores the breadth of activities and functions of cultural heritage organization/historical institutions that are part of the expanding information sciences profession. It focuses on the functions and the management of cultural institutions.
Course objectives
To introduce students to:
- The breadth of cultural heritage/historical institutions.
- The variety of functions of those institutions
- The administration and management of institutions
- Community engagement of the institutions
- Historical content and controversies in the field
- Fiscal management including grant writing, and fundraising
- Career development within historical agencies
- Ethics of the collection and presentation of historical resources
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an acquaintance with distinct types of cultural heritage organizations/historic agencies and their roles in society
- Understand the role of administration in defining and implementing policies within an agency
- Demonstrate an acquaintance with organizational planning
- Identify funding sources relevant to cultural heritage organizations
- Understand the principles of program development and marketing
- Understand the importance of historical content in the collection and presentation of historical information
- Understand the role of community and the importance of community engagement
- Understand the role of government in historic agencies
Content
- Historical content analysis
- Presentation of historical materials
- Historic preservation
- Historic museums
- Living history
- Grant writing
- Fund raising
- Management and planning
- Ethics and legal issues
- Community engagement
Course methodology
Discussions, written work, student presentations, historical site visit
Bases for evaluation of student performance
Participation, writing assignments, seminar paper, presentation, project
Text
To be determined
Approved: 1/12
Updated: 3/20