Master of Museum and Heritage Studies

Program Overview

The University of Sydney's Master of Museum and Heritage Studies equips students with a deep understanding of museum and heritage practices, theory, and debates. Graduates develop skills in collection management, heritage site interpretation, and public engagement, preparing them for careers in museum education, collection management, and cultural policy. The program offers a capstone project or internship experience to provide practical exposure within the industry.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Overview: The Master of Museum and Heritage Studies is a postgraduate coursework degree that will develop your understanding of museum and heritage studies, as well as your knowledge of current practices and debates.
• Objectives: Develop a deep understanding of the core historical and theoretical developments in museum and heritage studies, current practice and debates.
Discover how meaning is constructed in museums and at heritage sites through material objects, cultural practices, exhibits, education and public programs.
• Program Description: This qualification is suited to those looking to bridge the connection of museum and heritage with the public, creating meaning through history and how the public engages and values museums and heritage, including sites of trauma, commemoration and memorialisation.

Outline:

• Structure: The Master of Museum and Heritage Studies is a postgraduate coursework degree.
• Course Schedule:
• Duration: 1.5 years full-time (Available part-time)
• Intake: Check semester start dates
• Location: Camperdown/Darlington University of Sydney
• Study Mode: Face to face
• Modules:
• Core Units:
• Managing collections and sites in the museum and heritage sector

Careers:

• Career Paths:
• Museum education
• Public programs administration
• Collection management
• Heritage site interpretation
• Community organisations
• Protected area management agencies
• Indigenous land councils
• Cultural sector in policy and planning
• Opportunities:
• Graduates of the program will have developed the knowledge base and skills necessary for modern museum and heritage practice and research by investigating the theory and history of tangible and intangible aspects of cultural heritage and the collecting of cultural and natural objects, methods of display and interpretation within the evolving nature of the museum as a concept and as an organisation.
• They will also have experienced meaningful professional practice within the museum and heritage sector, which is increasingly becoming a pre-requisite for a career in these highly competitive areas.
• Outcomes: Employers value our graduates because they demonstrate personal and intellectual autonomy, abide by strong professional and ethical values and are able to engage with current debates about the place of humanities in public life.

Other:

• Industry Connections and Engagement: Access the wealth of resources offered by the University museum collections and their curatorial staff.
• Partnerships: The University of Sydney has strong academic and professional ties with major institutions in Australia, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Australian Museum, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, the Powerhouse Museum and Sydney Living Museums.