Undergraduate - UnitATS4295 - History and the museum

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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12 points, SCA Band 1, 0.250 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	History
Offered	Caulfield First semester 2013 (Day) Caulfield First semester 2013 (Off-campus)
Coordinator(s)	Seamus O'Hanlon

Notes

Previously coded HSY4510

Synopsis

Unit introduces ways in which understandings of the past inform policy and practice in contemporary museums. Using a range of history museums as case-studies the unit examines the historical origins and development of modern museums, both local and national; the challenges of presenting national history in a post-modern and post-colonial world; techniques of presenting the past, including textual, digital and dramatic forms; and tensions between the role of museums in education and tourism. Students will have opportunities to develop their skills in the application of history to museums, and to learn from museum professionals the tasks normally performed by historians in such settings.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students will:

Have been introduced to the history of the museum in a variety of national contexts.
Be aware of the challenges facing museums in postmodern and post-colonial contexts.
Have been introduced to basic practices of museology in a variety of contexts.
Have been introduced to new media and communications technologies and their utility in museum practice.
Have improved their oral and written communication skills, including for DE students, their electronic communication skills.
Be able to demonstrate advanced understandings of historiography and theoretical frameworks.

Assessment

Review of museum or exhibition (2000 words): 20%
Proposal for, and design of, a museum exhibition (4500 words or equivalent): 50%
Reflective essay (2000 words): 20%
Seminar or discussion group participation: 10%

Chief examiner(s)

Assoc Prof Seamus O'Hanlon

Contact hours

1 hour on-line discussion group or two hour seminar

Prerequisites

Undergraduate degree with a major in history, or permission from co-ordinator