GD5621 The Museum: A Social History

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Enrolment is limited to online PGT programmes.

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr B C Brulon Soares

Dr B C Brulon Soares
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Bruno Cesar Brulon Soares

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module will explore and reflect upon the social history of museums from the 18th century to the present day. Discussing the constitution of the ‘museum’ as a social category and a set of practices created in European modernity, we will travel through the history of these public institutions focusing on case-studies in Europe and beyond. From imperial devices used to materialise the nation and maintain a social order, museums have evolved into social services to various segments of society, fostering inclusivity and promoting diversity. The module will critically look into museums’ social and political history to raise some reflective questions that may help understand their recent transformation: How can museums in the present be accountable for their social history? To what extent are museums being used to redress and repair past injustices and social exclusion? How have social changes impacted the contemporary museum?

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

7 x 1 hour lecture, 2 x 2 hour seminar and 2 x 1 hour one-to-one supervision

Scheduled learning hours

13

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

132

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Critique the role of the museum in wider societal debates
  • Understand the socio-historical constitution of museums from the 18th century to the present day
  • Identify and explore the problems and ethics surrounding the inclusion and exclusion of segments of society, and their implications for museums’ collections, documentation and display
  • Engage effectively in reflective and critical thinking on the social history of the museum