Museology

Bachelor’s studies in museology are targeted at crucial theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of museology. The study is focused in a comprehensive way on all areas of museum activities and involves the disciplines of historical museology (evolution of the museum phenomenon, collections and museums), theoretical museology (theory of selection, thesaurisation and presentation) and applied museology (museum legislation, protection and safety of collections, museum conservation, museum marketing and management, collection building activity, museum exhibitions and lecturing practice). Studies in this field offer a comprehensive preparation for a qualified work in museums and galleries and forms the inevitable base for further museological education.

Upon successful completion of the programme, the graduate is able to:

• navigate the basic developments in collecting and museum studies;
• understand the key principles of creation, maintenance, protection, conservation and presentation of museum collections;
• navigate other fields of protection of cultural heritage;
• applying the acquired theoretical knowledge to practical museum activity;
• independently plan and manage museum activities in the field of public relations;
• master the theory and terminology of museology.

Graduates with Bachelor degree in Museology are qualified for jobs in institutions responsible for the preservation of cultural heritage, including museums, historic preservations offices, etc. They are also qualified for positions in local and regional government offices concerned with cultural heritage preservation, in foundations, private institutions, etc., as well as in private museums, galleries, auction houses and similar institutions.

Museological studies comprise specialized practical internships in museums and other cultural institutions accompanied by professional supervision. A compulsory part of Bachelor’s full-time study is a museological internship in the extent of 100 hours focused on acquirement of professional experience by the contact with all specialized professions participating in the operation of a museum institution. This type of practical internship is compulsory, but as an option the students can enrol it repeatedly at their discretion and acquire further professional experience and contacts. The other, optional, type of practical professional training is the internship in museum pedagogy in the extent of 100 hours, which is open to students in both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes and is focused on a deeper insight into the work of a museum pedagogue. During the internship, the students come into contact with all types of museum pedagogical activities and acquire gradually the competences which are necessary for this profession. The internship also can be enrolled repeatedly.

A standard scope of a Bachelor's thesis ranges from 70,000 characters including footnotes, cover sheet, content, index, list of sources and literature, and summary written in English. Students can work with already published texts and data accessible for secondary analysis. They should demonstrate the ability to work critically with specialized texts, process the concepts and theories discovered there, and find relevant answers to the given question.

After completion of the Bachelor's studies, it is possible to continue further studies in any Master's degree programme (after satisfying the admission requirements). At the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, students can apply for admission to a follow-up Master's degree in Museology.