Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Format
This course is multi-modal, because learning takes place asynchronously via Canvas and synchronously via Zoom; however, you are not required to attend synchronously and will have the opportunity to watch recordings of the Live Sessions if needed.
Course Prerequisites
There are no official prerequisites. Synchronous discussions will be used to help students source background knowledge from their peers and instructor as needed.
Recommended reading for students with no prior work experience in the field or knowledge of the museum sector:
- Museum and Gallery Studies: The Basics by Rhiannon Mason, Alistair Robinson, Emma Coffield.
- A Brief History of the Art Museum by Khan Academy
Course Materials
- Change Is Required: Preparing for the Post-Pandemic Museum (Library Link). Edited by Avi Y. Decter; Marsha L. Semmel and Ken Yellis. This is also available via SoonerBooks
- Harvard Business Review Case Studies Course Pack
- Other materials will be provided on Canvas or through the library.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)
- Knowledge: Apply the latest theory, knowledge and research in arts and business to professional practice in a variety of contexts including developing and advancing plans of strategy, fund development, financial management, entrepreneurial action and evaluation.
- Communication: Communicate effectively in verbal, written, and visual form to a variety of audiences and stakeholders.
- Team Leadership: Lead, manage and facilitate teams effectively in a variety of settings.
- Change Management: Foster innovation and manage change within the culture of the organization.
- Networking: Build and maintain cross-sector professional networks with peers, industry professionals, faculty and alumni, both at the individual and organizational level.
- DEI: Engage in ethical decision-making that is sensitive to issues of diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion to inform leadership practices in arts management.
- Critical Thinking: Apply critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making and creative problem-solving skills to complex, real-world scenarios.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) Alignment
| CLO | Description | PLO |
|---|---|---|
| A | Map the museum industry & professions. | 1 |
| B | Interpret and respond to challenges that may arise in museum management and leadership. | 3, 4, 6 |
| C | Appraise decision-making processes and procedures of museum staff. | 3 |
| D | Discuss core concepts of museum leadership and how to build leadership capacity. | 2, 5 |
| E | Plan how to acquire future museum management and/or leadership skills. | 7 |
| F | Develop a set of deliverables that shows strategic foresight for museums. | 1, 4, 7 |
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | Live Session synchronous interactions or summary assignments. | 20% |
| Concept Checks | Quiz or essay question assignment | 20% |
| Project & Momentum Assignments | Presentation of a plausible future for museums, supported by formative assignments and feedback | 20% |
| Reflections | Assignment - response to reflection questions | 20% |
| Presentation(s) | Student-led Live Session (or pre-recorded) presentation of course materials | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Module Introductions
These will consist of introductory elements that will offer context and focus for your learning on the topic of the module. There will be an introduction, objectives, and a checklist of things to do.
Resources
The resources provided will give you the necessary information to form an educated stance on the topic at hand, complete the knowledge check, and communicate in the Live Sessions.
Concept Checks
These will ensure that you have the foundational knowledge and/or component skills needed to fully participate in the upcoming Live Session, where you will be asked to apply and extend your learning. They also help to hold you accountable for reviewing the resources. You will be graded based on the Concept Check rubric, and these will help you achieve course objective A.
Live Sessions
The Live Sessions will include student presentations of module resources, showing your ability to communicate professionally about museum management and leadership. I will also provide further context regarding the case study and resources for the module, and you will work collaboratively with your classmates. These will help you achieve course objectives B, C, & D.
Project & Momentum Assignments
Toward the end of the course, you will present your idea of a plausible future for museums. Each week, you will submit small steps for feedback along the way while building this project. These will be graded using the Momentum Assignment rubric, and they will help you achieve course objective F.
Application/Reflection Assignments
These assignments will help you to assess, apply, and consolicate your knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course. These will be graded using the Application Assignment rubric, and they will help you achieve course objective E.
Course Policies
Communication
If you have questions or concerns regarding any aspect of the course, feel free to attend office hours, send an email or a message via Canvas. If a policy, an activity, or a material in this course presents a barrier to your learning, please discuss it with me so that we can make adjustments. Accessibility is a fundamental part of our work together. Also, let me know of changes I can make to the course so that it is more welcoming, accessible, or usable by students who take this course in the future. I am here to support your learning journey.
Reaching Out to the Professor
- I will respond to emails and messages within 24 hours on weekdays or Mondays if received during the weekend. If I have not responded within a day, please resend your email—it may have been lost in cyberspace!
- Office hours are by appointment to better accommodate your schedules. Please email me with 3–4 suggested time slots; we will find one that works for both of us.
- Please double-check the syllabus and Canvas before sending an email, as your question may already be available online.
- You are always welcome to reach out to me for any questions or concerns related to course topics. At the same time, I encourage you to send assignment-related questions 24 hours prior to the deadline. I might not be able to respond satisfactorily to all queries on such short notice.
Respect in Communication
You can address me by my first name, Lucia. On the first day of class, I will ask you how you prefer to be addressed. Throughout this course, you will interact with me, your fellow students, and class contents in various ways. My commitment is to create a climate for learning characterized by respect for each other and the contributions each person makes to class. I ask you to make a similar commitment. There is ample opportunity within our course for academic debate, disagreement, compromise, and for us to change our minds. Respectful behavior is a priority so that we can maintain a space for everyone to participate according to their own abilities. Every discussion is an opportunity to practice listening, observing, and reflecting. In order for this to be a productive dialogue, I ask that we all:
- Recognize that we are entering into this space with different experiences and understandings.
- Use reasoned arguments that are supported by reputable resources.
- Practice truly listening to one another.
- Ask questions for clarification.
- Provide and receive feedback with grace.
- Respect the privacy of whose sharing. We are all learning together, and it’s important that we take from here what we have learned. Please respect that people may share how the topics in this course have impacted their personal lives and also that people may make mistakes while they learn.
- If something is said or done in these dialogues that prohibits you from being able to participate in this class, I ask that you reach out to me directly.
Participation
Participation can take the form of different types of engagement, including punctual attendance, active contributions to group discussions, active listening, and in-class activities. You are expected to engage in all aspects of the course actively, but speaking up with other classmates can sometimes be challenging. If you feel uncomfortable, please come during office hours early in the semester; we will find different ways for you to contribute. In order to fully benefit from our class activities, I encourage you to attend class and actively participate in the exercises and discussions.
Feedback
I aim to provide grades and feedback within one week of assignment due dates. If you are struggling with a particular concept and feel you need feedback earlier to help you succeed, email the instructor to ask whether this accommodation might be possible.
Late Policy
Due dates are firm, but extensions requested ahead of time are typically granted. Unless the instructor has granted an extension before the deadline, assignment grades will decrease by one point for each day of delay. If something is preventing you from submitting work on time, I ask that you contact me as soon as you realize there may be an issue so that we can discuss options, including if it would count as an excused late submission.
Academic Honesty
I expect each of you to uphold the university’s standards of academic conduct. For whatever reason, if you find yourself in the position where you feel you need to cheat or plagiarize in this course, please remember the value of your integrity. Asking me for an extension or a clarification is a much more productive path to take than being dishonest. I want you to do your best work in an honest fashion. My aim is to foster an environment where you can learn and grow, while also maintaining academic honesty and a clear representation of your learning and ideas. If you have questions about academic integrity or plagiarism, please ask—there is no penalty for honest inquiry or confusion!
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Access the University Academic Policies Document.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|