Museums and collections: Bachelor's Thesis in Art History

The course gives students an introduction to central themes related to collections and museums. The course will focus on how museums build and develop their collections and how they document and research these collections. The course will also look at how museums exhibit their collection or specific objects from their collections. Excursions to various museums and collections will provide an overview and insight into the field. Students will write a bachelor thesis based on a specific collection. The thesis will preferably be based on one or several specific object(s) in the collection. As an example, theme for the thesis can be to do a research work on a specific object; it might be an investigation of an object as part of a collection or to investigate how an object or a group of objects are exhibited and conveyed to the audience. It can also be relevant to examine the architecture of the museum as a frame for the collection. The theme and research question of the thesis will be developed under the guidance of the supervisor. The students will gain an understanding of reading and writing academic texts, processing information, collection of empirical data and the assessment of research theories and methods within the discipline. The students will also gain an experience in oral and written presentation of research findings.

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student has:

• knowledge about different collections, and what characterizes them
• an insight into theory regarding museums and collections
• an understanding of how to plan and complete a scientific project and paper

Skills

After completing the course, the student is able to:

• independently plan and carry out a scientific paper related to a work of art or a theme
• develop and write an academic text
• know how to summarize, analyse and conclude their findings

Lectures, seminars and individual supervision. There will be excursions to museums and collections, primarily in Trondheim. Students will get supervision and feedback on outline, disposal and draft chapters of the bachelor's thesis.

The students are required to keep posted on messages from the department or teacher at Blackboard.