required classes

Introduction to Museums: Purpose, Function and History
HMUS-500-91 (3 credits)
Instructor: Gretchen S. Sorin
Museum Studies I will provide students with an overview of the purpose, function, and history of museums and their role in society. Students will be introduced to all of the disciplines within the museum and will discuss recent issues in the field. The course also includes an introduction to the assessment tools used by the profession for self-evaluation. A group project, a research project, two class presentations and field trips are Required in this course. Students are expected to complete weekly readings and to participate in class discussions.
Required, first semester [Fall]

Professional Seminar
HMUS-510-91 (1 credit per semester)
Instructors: Gretchen S. Sorin and Guest Lecturers
Each term CGP brings in a group of colleagues to lecture and teach on a variety of subjects of interest to museum professionals. These scholars have distinguished themselves through years of experience, professional service and/or advanced study in a particular subject. The seminars are scheduled according to the availability of guest faculty, generally on Fridays. The Professional Seminar may also include special conferences, events, activities, seminars or workshops that are of significant or timely interest to the CGP community.
Required, each semester

Introduction to Museum Education
HMUS-503-91 (3 credits)
Instructor: Garet Livermore
Public Education is at the core of the service that museums provide. This course focuses on all aspects of the educational role of museums from the mission and decision-making process through an exploration of museum learning, the development of public programs and evaluation.
Required, second semester [Spring]

Museum Project Management
HMUS 515-91 (1 credit)
Instructor: John Carnahan
This course will combine readings and discussions with a practical exercise: planning and conducting the Cooperstown Graduate Program’s Interview Weekend.
Required, second semester [Spring]

Internship I
HMUS-580-91 (1 credit)
Instructor: Gretchen S. Sorin
Regular-track students are required to complete an internship of at least eight weeks in a museum or related organization during the summer between their first and second years in residence. Interns undertake and complete a special project approved by the host museum and the Program, and make periodic reports to the Program Director on their experience. Students are responsible for finding their own internships, although the Program assists by informing them about opportunities. The Program reserves the right to reject any student-arranged internship. The overall internship program is coordinated by the Program Director, but individual interns are supervised by museum professionals at the host institution. Internships are funded 100% by the host institution, which should pay the student $1,200-$l,600 per month for full-time work or approximately $8.00–$10.00 per hour depending on the economy and cost of living in a given area. Students pay tuition for the internship at the rate of one (1) semester hour.
Required, Summer after first year in residence

Museum Administration
HMUS-502-91 (3 credits)
Instructor: John Carnahan
This course will provide students with an overview of management history, theory and practice focusing on the issues involved in managing a non-profit organization. Topics to be covered include planning, ethics and governance, membership, earned income and marketing and non-profit finance. Students will complete a finance assignment and an in-depth museum management case study.
Required, third semester, [Fall]

Museum Exhibition
HMUS-505-91 (4 credits)
Instructor: Gretchen S. Sorin
Museum exhibition requires students to apply their mastery of museum education, American material culture and American history to creative visual presentation. This course will focus on the development of interpretive museum exhibitions including theory, planning, methodology, design, construction and installation. Students will work individually on a label writing workbook and work as a member of an exhibition team to produce an interpretive exhibition or exhibition plan.
Required, fourth semester [Spring]

Thesis or Special Project: Research
HMUS-698-91 (3 credits)
Instructors: Gretchen Sorin, Cynthia Falk, Christopher Sterba, & Faculty
Students will complete a Thesis or Project based on original research. The suggested length of a thesis is fifty pages, exclusive of illustrations, appendixes, bibliography, etc. Projects involve a similar amount of research, but result in a different product, such as an exhibition script or an interpretive program. Students choose an area of interest by the beginning of their second semester. For HMUS 698, students narrow the area of interest into a thesis topic; write a draft proposal; conduct a major portion of their research; and, by the end of the semester, submit a final proposal, chapter summary or outline, and an annotated working bibliography.
Required, second or third semester

Thesis or Special Project: Writing
HMUS-699-91 (3 credits)
Instructors: Gretchen Sorin, Cynthia Falk, Christopher Sterba, & Faculty
Students continue to work on their thesis or project, submitting a first draft in the middle of the semester and a revised draft by the end.
Required, third or fourth semester

general museum coursework - electives

Applied Museum Education
HMUS 504-91 (3 credits)
Instructor: Gretchen Sorin
This course is intended to give supervised practical experience to students who wish to pursue a career in museum education. They will spend several days working in area schools and develop two education programs.
Elective, Fall

Strategic Planning and Development
HMUS 506-91 (3 credits)
Instructor: John Carnahan
This course will focus on those planning and development processes required in nonprofit leadership positions. Students will learn both theory and methods of strategic planning. The development or fundraising portion of the course will address all levels of fundraising from membership and the annual fund to capital and endowment campaigns.
Elective, Spring

Topics in Museum Studies
HMUS-550-91 (1-3 credits)
Instructor: Faculty
Three or more students may petition for a course relevant to the Program's fields of study and not offered regularly. The course will be given only if a faculty member is willing and competent to teach it.
Elective, Fall or Spring

One topics course offered with some frequency is:
Conservation for Curators
(3 credits)
Instructor: C.R. Jones
This course will consider the role of the conservator and the curator in safeguarding museum collections. Topics to be covered will include: conservators—what they do, why, training, locating and using; curatorial care—monitoring, condition descriptions, recognizing problems; cleaning and preparing for exhibition; first aid, emergencies, and measures which can be taken by curators; available published material.
Elective, Spring

Independent Study: Museum Studies
HMUS-551-91 (1-3 credits)
Instructor: Faculty
Students may take up to three hours of Independent Study per semester. Students must design the study in consultation with the appropriate faculty member and complete an Application for Independent Study form and have it signed by the instructor before registering for the course. Each credit hour requires at least 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) of instruction and at least 30 hours of supplementary assignments.
Elective, Fall or Spring

Internship II
HMUS-581-91 (1-3 credits)
Instructor: Gretchen S. Sorin
Internship II is an elective which offers students additional practical experience working at NYSHA/TFM or another local institution. Students establish these internships in consultation with the Program Director and the host institution. They may be paid or unpaid. They require fifteen hours of supervised work and thirty hours of additional work for each semester hour.
Elective, Fall or Spring