Established by: Head of Department of Culture and Media Studies, 2025-02-25
Contents
Museology is a discipline that explores theory and practice of museum institutions historically and today with focus on museum as a phenomenon and musealization as a practice. This course introduces museology as a field of studies and presents key concepts in the discipline. It gives an overview of the most discussed problems in the field, ranging from the societal relevance of museum institutions to their history and origins, focusing on the diversity of frameworks and approaches.
The course is web-based and consists of literature readings, discussions on a web-platform, online teaching moments and written assignments. It includes two modules:
Module 1: Museums and Heritage: Conceptual frameworks (2,5 ects) Museer och kulturarv: Grundläggande begrepp
The module introduces museology as a discipline in relation to the global field of museum and heritage studies. It presents the most important concepts of museology and analyzes the museum definition which describes museums' functions and role in the society.
Module: 2 Institutions and discipline: Cruising across the fields (5 ects) Institutioner och ämnet: Översikt av fältet
The module presents analytical and theoretical framework which aims to identify, analyze and discuss current trends within the museological thinking based on theoretical approaches and case studies. The module's design allows for the selection of the most recent and resonant cases. These cases are bracketed with the cutting-edge international research in the field. As a whole, the module brings forward overarching understanding of the current problems and discussions in museology.
Expected learning outcomes
Module 1: Museums and Heritage: Conceptual framework (2,5 ects)
After completing Module 1 the student should be able to:
understand and account for basic concepts of museology,
identify the main features of museal institutions and musealization processes in cultural practices.
Module 2: Institutions and discipline: Cruising across the fields (5 ects)
After completing Module 2 the student should be able to:
understand and account for historical and contemporary contexts of museological thinking,
identify and analyze key problems and debates in the museological literature and in museum practice,
be able to evaluate, discuss and make a difference between museological frameworks in relation to concrete examples and museum functions.
Required Knowledge
General entry requirements
Form of instruction
This is an online course. Teaching consists of exercises and individual written assignments through the university's web teaching platform. The course requires students to have access to computers (desk and/or laptops) with connection to the internet, and email.
When attendance is compulsory, that is, of the examining nature, it is specifically stated in the schedule. In case of absence on a compulsory occasion, supplementary information is provided by the teacher.
For those who are registered for a course and have a disability, there are resources for special support. For more information, contact the Student Center
Examination modes
Module 1: Museums and Heritage: Conceptual framework (2,5 ects)
The module is examined through an introductory assignment and an individual exam. Introductory assignment is graded with Pass (Godkänd) or Fail (Underkänd). Individual exams are graded with Pass (Godkänd) or Fail (Underkänd).
To pass the module (min. grade G (Pass)) all mandatory parts are required, and the individual essay must have received the grade G.
Module 2: Institutions and discipline: Cruising across the fields (5 ects)
The module is examined continuously through group discussions and an individual exam. Group discussions are graded with Pass (Godkänd) or Fail (Underkänd). Individual essays (final exam) are graded with Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd), Pass (Godkänd) or Fail (Underkänd).
To pass the module (min. grade G (Pass)) all mandatory parts are required, and the individual essay must have received the grade G. To receive Pass with distinction (VG) for a module, all mandatory parts are required (grade G), and the individual essay must have received the grade VG.
For each examining part of the course there is a regular examination given with a second reexamination within two months after the regular examination. For examinations performed in May and June, the first reexaminations are offered within three months of the regular examination. In addition to this, a third reexamination is given within a year after the end of the course. Those who have passed the test may not undergo a re-test for higher grades.
A student who does not fully meet the objectives of an examination but is close to the limit for a passing grade can, after a decision by the examiner, be given the opportunity to supplement in order to achieve the examination assignment's criteria for a passing grade. Completion of the examination must be adapted individually based on the goal(s) not achieved by the student and must take place within two weeks after the students have been notified of the examination results, but before the next examination opportunity. It is only permitted to supplement an unsuccessful result to pass, supplementation for higher grades is not permitted.
The examiner can decide on deviations from the syllabus' examination form. Individual adaptation of the examination form must be considered based on the student's needs. The examination form is adapted within the framework of the syllabus' expected study results. Students who need an adapted examination must request adaptation from the department responsible for the course no later than 10 days before the examination. The examiner decides on an adapted examination which is then communicated to the student.
To pass the course, all exams and compulsory parts must be passed. The grade constitutes a summary assessment of the results in the various parts of the examination and is only set when all compulsory parts have been approved. To obtain the grade Pass with distinction on the entire course, the student must have received this grade on module 2.
Students who are registered for a course and have registered credits in Ladok on the course have the right to be examined on the course and its parts up to two years after the first registration date. A student who, without a passing grade, has passed an ordinary examination and a re-examination for the course, has the right to have another examiner appointed at the next re-examination, unless there are special reasons to the contrary. Requests for a change of examiner are made to the director of studies at the Department of Culture and Media Studies.
Credit transfer Information about credit transfer can be found on Umeå University´s student web.
Other regulations
In a degree, this course may not be included together with another course with similar content. In case of doubt, the student should consult the Director of Studies at the Department of Cultural and Media Studies.
