Museology

As we all know, a museum houses and cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic or historical importance and exhibits them for public viewing. They give us a peep into the past and acquaints us with era's, even dating back to the prehistoric age. They are the embodiment of our heritage- a depiction of the qualities, traditions, features of life that have been continued over many years and passed on from one generation to another. The sociological and educational role of museums has evolved over the years, making museums more varied and imaginative. Museums are classified as art museums, history museums which include archaeological museums, and science and technological museums, maritime museums, military and war museums and so on. Museology (also called museum studies) is the study of organizing and managing museums and museum collections. In other words, museology is the science of Museums, and museum studies denote academic programs, generally graduate programs, in the management, administration, or theory of museums. Museum being the repositories of our heritage and culture, this career is most suited for those with an analytical bent of mind and those who love or have an interest to know about the past. It is a profession where history is revealed not through history books but first hand through solid artifacts of history lined across museum walls. It ensures that our precious heritage and culture are not only well-preserved but also made attractive and accessible to the layman. One who is responsible for museum management is called museologist. In a nutshell, a proper understanding of the past and disseminating information about it is the work of a museologist. Museology an allied subject of Archeology teaches museum ogranisation and management including collection, documentation and research, exhibition of contents, conservation and preservation, museum security and administration as well as museum architecture. Some years ago, museology was connected only with archaeology, art and paintings, but in recent years it has begun to represent many other aspects such as anthropology, arms and armour, numismatics, epigraphy, jewellery etc. ________________________________________ Eligibility Educational Minimum requirement for a course in museology is Graduation or Post Graduation in Science, History or Art History or Fine Arts and Archaeology. At least Fifty five percent marks at graduate and postgraduate level are needed for M.A and Ph.D courses. Knowledge of one classical or foreign language such as Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Greek, Latin, German, French and Italian is an advantage. Admission to Master’s degree program is based on admission test followed by interview. The Museology graduate program is designed to provide generalized training, knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a professional career in museum work. The program is directed toward the training of museum professionals interested in curation and management of collections in anthropology, art, botany, geology, history, and zoology as well as in interpretive programs and museum administration. Coursework is divided between the theoretical and practical aspects of museum operations. Course areas include History of Museum, Collection Management, Documentation, Presentation and Interpretation, Museum Architecture, History & Archaeology of India, History of Art, Folk art & culture of India, Preservation of Natural History specimens, Conservation of Cultural Properties etc. Classes take the form of lecture courses, seminars, special lectures by guest speakers, field trips, laboratory and collection management courses, practicum's and internships. Personal attributes Museology could be fascinating for those interested in historical past. The work requires patience and involves traveling to remote areas for field work. This field also demands lot of dedication. Aspirants must be able to recognize and appreciate arts. Museologist must be prepared to work in different cities as there are only one or two museums in one particular city.