Course coordinator
Associate Professor Diana Young
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
This course will provide a thorough knowledge of the key theoretical and methodological principles of collections management and care in museums and galleries. It will examine, through museum visits and hands - on learning, current practices and policies including: materials identification, preventative conservation and the ethics and due diligence involved in contemporary conservation, handling and packing, the documentation and data management systems involved in collection registration, collection acquisitions, loans and copyright, collection disposal, environment and sustainability, disaster and emergency planning, and seeking professional advice.
This course will provide a thorough knowledge of the key theoretical and methodological principles of collections management and care in museums and galleries. Completing it will enable students to gain volunteer intern positions in local museums. The course will examine, through museum visits and hands-on learning, current collection practices and policies including: materials identification, preventative conservation and the ethics and due diligence involved in contemporaryﾠmethods and of conservation, handling and packing, disaster and emergency planning, the documentation and data management systems involved in collection registration, collection acquisitions, loans and copyright, collection disposal, Indigenous policy and cultural safety, environment and sustainability,ﾠ and seeking professional advice.
Following the introductory lecture:
In Part 1 of the course we learn from objects and different contemporary approaches and dilemmas in conservation practices.
In Part 2 of the course we learn about systems of ordering, managing, documentingﾠand classifying collection objects.
In Part 3 of the course we explore the complexities of current museum collection policies.
Course contact
School enquiries
Student Enquiries School of Social Science
Level 3, Michie Building (09), St Lucia campus, The University of Queensland.
Monday-Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm.
Course staff
Lecturer
Associate Professor Diana Young
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This core course is part of the postgraduate program in Museum Studies. It aims to provide students with an understanding of museum collecting principles and practices, develop research skills in object analysis and collection policy development, and introduces students to the practical aspects of collection management.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand and analyse issues in collection management and care
LO2.
Interpret contemporary principles of collection management
LO3.
Develop a knowledge base relating to policy frameworks for collection management
LO4.
Understand practical aspects of collection management, object handling and best practice principles
LO5.
Prepare professional standard documentation and reports
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution | Discussion board | 25% |
28/02/2025 - 23/05/2025 |
| Essay/ Critique | Essay 1; Contemporary conservation | 35% |
9/04/2025 2:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique | Essay 2 Collection or deaccession | 40% |
4/06/2025 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Discussion board
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
28/02/2025 - 23/05/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L05
Task description
Each week two or three required readings are set.
Students are expected to contribute to at least ten readings on the Blackboard discussion site. One reading is 1 required text. You may post responses to several readings in one post if you like.
In your post which should be done prior to class each week, state the main arguments of the required reading and your critical thoughts about it. 3 sentences are sufficient.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Use of AI: This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Students are required to submit using the Discussion Board on the course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Essay 1; Contemporary conservation
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
9/04/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
This assignment should be presented as one document and submitted via the Turnitin portal in Blackboard. Total of whole assignment is 2000 words.
Essay title; Discuss contemporary approaches to museum object conservation using two case studies (meaning two different objects).
Requirements;
1. Each case study should be drawn from a different kind of collection. e.g. art collections, artefacts, natural history, paper archives. Each object should be made from different materials. e.g. shell, paper, mixed media, timber etc. You may draw on example objects already used in class.
2. Use a mixture of policy documents and academic papers to support your arguments about your two chosen objects.
Use of AI: This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Essay 2 Collection or deaccession
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
4/06/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Essay 2 - 2400 words in total.
Title: Collect or deaccession?
In the form of an essay, propose either the collection or deaccession of one object.
This can be an object that you have worked with this semester, or another one that you choose. It should be a real object not a hypothetical one. Find a lesser known object. The list of objects prohibited as your chosen object for this assessment can be viewed on the course Blackboard site.
This essay form proposal should argue for your position and include considerations of significance, the collection policy of the collecting institution, ethical and sustainable aspects. It could include the problematics of care for the object and access to it. Your essay should be informed and supported by applicable theory from this course.
Use readings from this course. You can also cite sources from your own research in addition to the course texts.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Use of AI: This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
ﾠ
ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Academic Integrity: All students must complete the Academic Integrity Modules https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/
School Guide for Written Assessments: School of Social Science Guide for Written Assessments
Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The marks and feedback for the final assessment item will only be made available to the student on the Finalisation of Grades date at the end of semester.
Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/querying-result
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
The Library has prepared a comprehensive How to Find Information in Museum Studies guide for students.
Please contact the Liaison Librarian for Museum Studies at librarians@library.uq.edu.au
The Library offers a flexibly delivered information research skills course called RAPID for postgraduate students.ﾠ For more information please see www.library.uq.edu.au/training/rapid
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 1 - Course Introduction and overview The introductory session of this course aims to familiarise students with the course aims and objectives, as well as the methods of assessment. It will discuss what the course requires from you. We also consider the nature of collections and collecting. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 2 - Behind the scenes at the museum The museum collection store has recently become the site of much research and theorising. In this session we explore the rise of the collection store as a place full of ideas as well as objects. In this week's practical we explore what can we learn from objects themselves. Using items from the campus collections, we learn about handling different kinds of objects and assessing their needs. Practical workshop with Jane Willcock, Operations co-ordinator UQ Anthropology Museum and James Donaldson curator in the UQ R D Milne Antiquities Museum and tours of the museum stores. We will visit some of the campus museum collections at the University of Queensland and meet museum curators and professional staff. Readings/Ref: Blackboard; “**Due to the University-wide closures in response to Cyclone Alfred, the teaching activity for week 2 have been revised. Please refer to the course Blackboard site for the revised teaching plan.** Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 3 - Conservation principles and practice and behind the scenes Visit to the UQ Art Museum to hear from registrar Effie Skoufa-Klesnik about object handling and care in the present exhibition.This session will explore the methods and aims in the conservation and care of museum collections along side theories about materials and materiality. Conservators develop specialist understanding of the nature and techniques in manufacturing objects and on how materials and objects change through the influence of various agents. Includes a workshop on identification and care of different materials. Visit to the UQ Art Museum to hear from Senior registrar Effie Skoufa-Klesnik about object handling and care in the present exhibition. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 4 - Conservation and the concept of care/materials In this session we learn about the concept of care in collections and the practical aspects of contemporary approaches to preventative conservation. This i, a lecture on conservation principles with Christine Ianna and a seminar on the concept of care. Readings/Ref: Blackboard; Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L05 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 5 - Disaster Planning and Risk assessment Issues of risk assessment and disaster planning are crucial aspects of collections management and care. On the one hand museums are making great advances in improving access to collections through innovative display and outreach techniques; on the other hand such developments have to be balanced against the duty to protect and preserve collections. In this session we will consider aspects of disaster preparedness and planning, the impact and likelihood of risks, how these can be mitigated and basic salvage techniques. Workshop with Christine Ianna Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 6 - Registration and classifications This session begins with an introduction to museum documentation alongside theories about classifying the categorising objects. We discuss why documentation ﾖ the management of information about collections ﾖ is so important and for whom. Different types of documentation are introduced: object catalogues, accession registers, and procedural documentation (such as loan forms). Rebecca Lush, curator of the UQ Centre for Integrated Pathology Learning outcomes: L04, L05 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 7 - Collection management systems This week's session explores different collection management systems using examples from UQ campus museums and a contrasting example from an archivist. A practical session will look at how these systems are both standardised and customised. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
No class public holiday |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Seminar |
Week 9 - Assessing significance Objects themselves contain abundant evidence about their past. Their surfaces leave inscriptions about their uses and their histories. This session asks "how do we assess the significance of objects?". It seeks to introduce students to the practice of significance reporting. The overall aim is to critically consider methods of documenting significance, and why this is important to the management and care of collections. Includes a workshop assessing objects from the UQ campus museums. Guest speaker tbc, Lindy Allen Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Seminar |
Week 10 - Collection Policy development This session will examine policy and good practice in the acquisition, loan, deaccessioning and disposal of objects in museum collections. We will explore the procedures and documentation standards for ensuring these activities are carried out appropriately, and examining the kind of information that is in place to meet the museum standards required. Students will be provided with an insight into the foundations by which the museum can effectively use objects for its stated aims, and is committed to best practice in this area. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Seminar |
Week 11 - Collection access and cultural safety Collection access has become the subject of new protocols and policies in recent years. Whilst some museum scholars may contest these policies they are set to become the norm. In this seminar we explore how to create a place of cultural safety in the museum through the work of some museum and associated sector case studies. Museums and Galleries Queensland session. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Seminar |
Week 12 - Collection management for sustainability Increasing standards of collection care have been, historically, increasingly resource hungry. This session gives an overview of efficiency initiatives in Australia and overseas. Guest lecture Amanda Paglairino QAGOMA Head of registration and conservation. Readings/Ref: Pagliarino 2020; Bean 2020 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Seminar |
week 13- Independent study |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.