Museology is the study of museums. This incorporates managing and administration of museum and also includes features of archaeology, history, research and archiving.
A career in Museology is undefined by many of us and is a very intriguing and increases curiosity in to know the history, culture and primitive artefact of Museum. This course is probably for those who are interested in the study and collection of archaeological things and admire history.
A museologist work in museums with a work profile involves a combination of research, administration and public relations. A museologist can work in government and private sector as well.
A candidate can pursue this course in 3 ways, certificate, graduation and post-graduation and doctorate.
Under these courses, candidates are taught courses in art appreciation. They are educated with certain emphasis on Indian art, Far and Near Eastern art, Western art and International modern art. In the bachelor’s degree, they will be taught about Indian culture, art significance, architecture, sculptures, paintings, decorative, etc. and in post-graduation, they will be provided specialization in one particular matter.
The admission criteria vary from courses to courses.
- For certificate courses, one should have passed 12th in humanities stream from recognized school and board and obtain the minimum required aggregate percentage.
- For undergraduate courses, the criteria is also more or less same, a candidate should have passed 12th in humanities stream, must obtain the minimum asked percentage in his/her aggregate and the schooling must have been done from a recognized board or university.
- And for post-graduation, the candidate should have completed graduation in a related course, the education must have been a minimum of 3 years of education from a recognized university. He/she should provide the minimum asked percentage in aggregate. In certain instances, one may have to appear for the entrance test.
Below is the list of some colleges in India which offers Museology.
- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
- National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology, New Delhi
- Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara
- University of Calcutta, Kolkata
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
There are many universities and colleges that offer museology. Therefore, here is the list of universities in the world who aspire to study from abroad:
- University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- UCL, United Kingdom
- Harvard University, United States
- Durham University, United Kingdom
- The University of California, Berkeley
- Stanford University, United States
- The Australian National University, Australia
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, United States
- Leiden University, Netherlands
- Freie University Berlin, Germany
- University Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, France
- The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
- The University of California, Los Angeles, United States
- Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
- Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Germany
- University of York, United Kingdom
- Yale University, United States
- University of Chicago, United States
- The University of Auckland, New Zealand
There are various aspects of studies Museology course covers, which are important to be taught. Here, is the list of various skills and topics:
- Museum PR
- Museum architecture
- Museology in Theories
- Exhibitions concerning the museum
- Document of museums across the world
- Curatorship and collection of ancient artefacts
- Admin related task of the museum
Career Opportunities in Museology
A career in museology certainly an interesting and adequate for aspirants who are passionate and curious to know history and arts.
- Archivist: An archivist is accomplished who evaluates, organizes, collects, preserves, maintains control over, and keep access to records and archives formed to have long-term value. For this job role, one should have a fascination for history, close attention to detail and dedication to service.
- Design Consultant: A design consultant gives a clear demonstration of a product, aids in marketing processes, or use appropriate software to bring out interior space or clothing designs.
- Museum Director: He/she is in charge of the museum, for long-term planning, policies, etc. they are also accountable for securing and administering a museum’s collections.
- Curator: A curator is expected to assemble the display of artefacts in museums, exhibitions by determining the display items, labelling them and aligning them, purchasing new collections for museums. One has to record each item, their origin, age, and conservation details.
- Gallery Assistant: One has to provide administrative and creative services and also customer service for an art gallery. They also speak to visitors, answer phone calls, coordinate events, work with gallery designers and manage the gallery’s collection.
- Conservation Specialist: A conservation specialist are expected to detect and decay occurring in any artefacts. They require to conserve the art pieces and monuments, restore and care for objects like paintings, ceramics, textiles or furniture, etc. They also treat deterioration of works of art and restore them to their original shape.
Few other professions are:
- Guide
- Educator
- Exhibit Designer
- Art Teacher
- Creative Director
- Collection Assistant
Required Skills
With interest and passion, one must have required skills to excel in this field.
- One must have good knowledge of the foreign language
- Coordinating within the team while working
- Interests in the artefacts and curiosity in discovery
- Ability to collect and study the information
- Fascinating skills and good colour vision
- Expert in history
- Patience
- Scientific understanding to understand materials.
After completing M.A in Museology, there are career in many institutes, museums, art galleries as faculty member, deputy curator, consultant, museum guide, interior arts decorator, graphic designer, etc. both in private and government sector and also in abroad.
There is a wide scope for pursuing a career in foreign countries. To start with their career in foreign countries a candidate can work as artefacts care officer in the museum library.
Museology is an interdisciplinary subject with lot of opportunities. There is a lot of scope for students of Museology as India has a rich heritage and in every way possible it must be conserved. Museums run by the state and central government can provide major employment to students of Museology. The museologists are in demand not only in India, but globally.
