Heritage Interpretation and Museum Studies Minor

Program Overview

The Heritage Interpretation and Museum Studies Minor is a 21-credit interdisciplinary program that provides students with knowledge and skills in museum studies and heritage interpretation. The program emphasizes communication and storytelling, and offers a range of electives in areas such as environment and natural heritage, history and cultural heritage, and museum studies and heritage management. The minor complements various majors and can lead to careers in museum studies, heritage interpretation, environmental education, and other related fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Description:

The Heritage Interpretation and Museum Studies Minor is a 21-credit interdisciplinary program for students who would like to increase their knowledge of museum studies and heritage interpretation.

Objectives:

• Provide general knowledge for students interested in the field of museum studies and heritage interpretation.
• Emphasize the communication and storytelling skills that are essential to the creative interpretation of natural and cultural resources.

Outline:

Core Requirements (9 credits):

• HIST 3810 - Introduction to Public History (3 credits)
• SALM 3110 - Interpretation of Cultural and Natural Resources (3 credits)
• STOR 2500 - Introduction to Storytelling (3 credits)

Advisor Approved Electives (12 credits):

Communication and Storytelling:

• COMM 4346 - Business and Professional Communication (3 credits)
• COMM 4356 - Intercultural Communication (3 credits)
• STOR 3510 - Storytelling II: Storytelling in Oral Traditions (3 credits)
• STOR 4510 - Storytelling III: Telling Personal Stories (3 credits)

Environment and Natural Heritage:

• ANTH 3250 - Environmental Anthropology (3 credits)
• APST 3510 - Coal Mining in Appalachia: History and Current Issues (3 credits)
• BIOL 4247 - Appalachian Flora (3 credits)
• BIOL 4257 - Appalachian Fauna (3 credits)
• ENVS 2010 - The Natural Environment in Appalachia (3 credits)
• HIST 3801 - Environmental History (3 credits)

History and Cultural Heritage:

• APST 3530 - Religion in Appalachia (3 credits)
• APST 4237 - Scots-Irish in Appalachia (3-6 credits)
• APST 4337 - Appalachia in Scotland and Ireland (3-6 credits)
• HIST 3041 - History of Southern Appalachians (3 credits)

Museum Studies and Heritage Management:

• ANTH 1260 - Introduction to Archaeology (3 credits)
• ANTH 4027 - Cultural Resource Management (3 credits)
• APST 4810 - Museum and Heritage Site Practicum (1 credit)
• GEOS 2450 - Paleontological Techniques (3 credits)
• HIST 4957 - Topics in History (1-6 credits) (when topic is The 21st Century Museum Experience)
• SALM 3130 - Natural Resource Management (3 credits)

Internship (optional) (1-3 credits):

Careers:

The minor is an excellent complement to a number of majors, including anthropology, biological sciences, bluegrass, old-time, and country music studies, communication studies, geosciences, history, management, sociology, and sport and recreation management. It can lead to careers in:

• Museum studies
• Heritage interpretation
• Environmental education
• Cultural resource management
• History education
• Storytelling