Programme

The Master of Museology consists of seven modules. After these modules, all students have to fulfill a museum internship. The Master’s programme will be completed with a thesis as a result of a research project. Throughout the programme, Theoretical Museology is the leitmotiv and conveys the co-ordination and integration of all modules.

The modules are:

  • Opens internal link in current windowIntroduction to museology and museological functions
  • Project Management
  • Opens internal link in current windowProfessional development
    This module focuses on the museum worker as a professional and on the museum as a professional organisation.
  • Opens internal link in current windowCollection development
    Collection development is about optimising the collection according to the mission statement of the museum.
  • Opens internal link in current windowAudience development
    This module analyses the role between museums and society. The focus is on knowledge of the audience, its composition, its expectations and behaviour.
  • Opens internal link in current windowProduct development
    This module focuses on developing an integrative perspective on the output of a museum. The classical products of a museum are exhibitions and educational projects. Nowadays, other products, like a restaurant and product shop, are contributing to the financial revenues.
  • Opens internal link in current windowSustainable development
    This workshop will work with a two-fold approach: the role of heritage in societal development; and the sustainable development of museums, heritage organizations and the museum profession itself.

Internship
On completion of the first-year modules students are required to participate in a ten-week internship in a museum of their choice, either in The Netherlands or abroad.

Thesis
Students who successfully complete their first year will proceed to their thesis in the second year. This requires the submission of a research thesis on a museological subject and takes on average an estimated six months to complete.

Degree
Successful completion of all modules will result in a postgraduate Diploma in Museology (1600 hours of study). On successful completion of the programme students are awarded the title of Master of Museology (M.Museology).

Course book
For more detailed information on all the courses, please
Initiates file downloaddownload the course book 2008-2009 (PDF file).

Programme structure

Module ECs
introduction 6
project management 4
Core modules 35
refelective analysis workshops  
professional development  
collection development  
audience development  
product development  
sustainable development  
internship 15
research project and thesis 30