Course Description
In the 21st century, leading museums, galleries and heritage practice began to make use of socially engaged approaches. This course will examine the role of museums and practitioners in shaping society’s understandings of contemporary issues, upholding antiracist and anti-oppression values of inclusivity and accessibility, and ensuring that museums benefit their communities. Choosing to study Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries will give you access to leading research and practice on the impact that museums and galleries can have on advocating for social justice and human rights, and how they might better explore and address the contemporary issues that face our societies.
This course brings together cutting-edge examples of socially driven professional practice in dialogue with research undertaken by academics within the School of Museum Studies. It draws on broader global shifts in practice and will challenge you to think deeply about the role of culture in society and the characteristics of socially purposeful museums and galleries.
Over the course, you will engage critically and creatively with areas such as:
- partnership working
- participatory practices
- anti-racism and anti-oppression work
- ethical frameworks for practice
- liberation and accessibility
- visitor studies and audience research
- leadership at all levels of an organisation
- how socially engaged practice can be embedded into the work of museums and galleries
Entry Requirements
In recognition of the diverse employment needs of the culture sector, we recognise and credit a range of prior qualifications and experiences.
- Either a first class or second class degree, which can be in any subject area.
- Or be able to demonstrate equivalent skills and aptitudes through the possession of a professional or vocational qualification and/or the accrual of relevant work experiences. Relevant experience can come from a wide spectrum of work or voluntary environments but clear evidence of this experience must be provided.
Fees
For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more.
Programme Funding
There are a number of possible sources of funding: loans and grants, bursaries and scholarships.
Student Destinations
Our Museum Studies graduates have been employed in some of the largest and most prestigious museums and galleries worldwide, in addition to some smaller specialist and local institutions. They include:
- National Museums Liverpool
- The British Museum
- The Smithsonian Institution
- Tropenmuseum, Netherlands
- International Council of Museums
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
- Greek Ministry of Culture
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Imperial War Museum
- Guggenheim Museum
Module Details
MA/MSc modules
Core modules
- Exploring Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries
- Ethical Practice: Access, Liberation, and Organisational Change
- Activist Practice: Methods of Empowerment
- Museums and Transformation: Evidencing Need and Assessing the Impact of Socially Engaged Practice
Option modules
Choose four option modules from:
- Objects and Collections: Care, Management and Curation
- Cultural Management and Marketing
- Lifelong Learning
- Museums and the Natural Environment
- Heritage
- Digital
- Practice
Plus your Dissertation
PGDip modules
Core modules
- Exploring Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries
- Ethical Practice: Access, Liberation, and Organisational Change
- Activist Practice: Methods of Empowerment
- Museums and Transformation: Evidencing Need and Assessing the Impact of Socially Engaged Practice
Option modules
Choose four option modules from:
- Objects and Collections: Care, Management and Curation
- Cultural Management and Marketing
- Lifelong Learning
- Museums and the Natural Environment
- Heritage
- Digital
- Practice
PGCert modules
- Exploring Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries
- Ethical Practice: Access, Liberation, and Organisational Change
- Activist Practice: Methods of Empowerment
- Museums and Transformation: Evidencing Need and Assessing the Impact of Socially Engaged Practice
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