Museum and Curatorial Studies (Minor)

Curriculum Update

This minor will no longer be available to be declared beginning Fall 2026. All declared students will be fully supported to complete their minor. Students interested in this subject are encouraged to learn about other minors in this area of study, including Art and Design History, Moving Image Arts, and Visual Studies.

Overview

The minor in Museum and Curatorial Studies, homed at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, introduces students to museum and curatorial practices, the concerns underlying them, their historical and theoretical frameworks, and their applications beyond the preservation and display of objects. The curriculum explores works in a wide range of media and their installation both within and outside of museum walls. Students in the minor develop practical and academic skills in visual studies, curation, and cultural policy.

The minor requires six courses with a minimum of 18 credits. Two introductory courses introduce students to the field, two advanced courses explore topics in visual culture and history, and two advanced courses look specifically at museums and curatorial practices.

At least one of the introductory courses is offered every semester. Advanced courses come from a list of electives that vary.

Course availability may vary from semester to semester. Some courses may be in development and offered at a later time. Students seeking to pursue alternative coursework to fulfill the minor should consult with their advisors.

Curriculum

Subject Area	Sample Courses	Credits
Introductory Courses	NARH 2200 The Arts and Social Engagement: An Introduction  NARH 2102 Introduction to Museum Studies NARH 3424 Take Care: Introduction to Curatorial Studies and Practice LVIS 2010 Exhibitions as History	6-8
Advanced Courses in Visual Culture and History	LVIS 3010 Contemporary Latin American Art NARH 2550 End of Art NARH 3729 From Object to Experience: Art of the 1960s and 1970s NCST 3104 History of the Photography Book NARH 3XXX Representation and Disability PLVS 3002 Art, Visual Culture, and Tourism	8
Advanced Courses in Museum and Curatorial Practices	LINA 2027 Art and Its Institutions LVIS 3047 20th-Century Russian and Soviet Art Across Borders: A Transnational Perspective NANT 3633 Whose Heritage? Contested Cultural Sites NARH 3857 Artists as Entrepreneurs LVIS 3250 Practicing Curating PLFS 3040 Fashion and Curation: Curatorial Practice in Contemporary Fashion PGHT 5005 Curating in the Public Domain	6-8

Learning Outcomes

A student who has completed this minor should be able to demonstrate:

• Familiarity with the history of collecting and the origins of museums
• Awareness of current debates and best practices in the fields
• An understanding of the significance and relevance of historical material and visual culture for the present day
• The ability to think, speak, and write critically about exhibitions and displays
• The ability to conduct historical research on visual and material culture using primary and secondary sources
• Competency in writing exhibition, grant, and public programming proposals
• The ability to contribute to the conceptualization, curation, or production of an exhibition, installation, performance, or other curated event

Eligibility

Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses taken for the minor.

For questions regarding this minor's curriculum, including requests for course substitutions, please contact Professor Mev Luna (Parsons) at lunam1@newschool.edu or Professor Julia Foulkes (Lang) at foulkesj@newschool.edu. 

How to Declare or Change a Minor

General guidelines for declaring a minor are available here. Current students can declare or change a minor by logging in to my.newschool.edu, clicking on the Academics tab, and then clicking on the link to Major/Minor Declarations.