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Museum Science Prgram
of Texas Tech University
HERITAGE MANAGEMENT TRACK

The Heritage Management Track emphasizes extensive investigation in the field of heritage management. Graduates from the Museum Science Program's Heritage Management Track are prepared to enhance local, regional, and national sociological and scientific values, encourage preservation and stewardship of cultural and natural heritage, advocate public service, and direct educational programs designed to derive maximum advantage from innovative technology without the loss of cultural identity and biodiversity. The track is configured to allow individual students to emphasize areas of special interests such as heritage administration, conservation, interpretation, education, and utilization (ecotourism). The track offers both theoretical and practical coursework designed to prepare graduates to be leaders in the heritage management field.

The Heritage Management Track uses a variety of existing courses offered by various departments within the University to address individual educational and career goals. All students must develop competency in the core courses taught by selected members of the graduate faculty. (Competency is construed to mean an understanding of professional practices.)

A student majoring in the Museum Science Program with a Heritage Management track must take at least 12 hours from the Heritage Management core curriculum, a minimum of 15 hours prescribed elective courses, 12 of elective graduate-level courses, plus 6 hours of thesis or internship. Required core courses for the track are MUSM 5327, MUSM 5331, HMGT 5324, and HMGT 5327. (Internships are to be at locations approved by the student's Advisory Committee.) A total of 45 credit hours of graduate-level work is required for graduation. In addition, each student must pass a qualifying exam prior to beginning either the internship or thesis, and pass comprehensive written and oral exams at the conclusion of his or her studies. Students pursuing the thesis option must write and defend his or her thesis. The Museum Science Program is administered by the Executive Director of the Museum.

Following the first 9 credit hours of graduate study, each student's curriculum will be formalized through consultation with a graduate faculty advisory committee, consisting of at least three members, which reflects the student's area of emphasis. This degree plan will be approved by the Museum Science Program coordinator and the Executive Director of the Museum and will then be submitted to the Graduate School. When approved, it will serve as a tool for advising and review to assure completion of degree requirements.

HERITAGE MANAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE:

  • it facilitates retrieval of lost knowledge and advances solutions to current problems;
  • it helps create a sense of identification and affiliation;
  • it identifies, preserves, and maintains visual expressions of past events, activities, and lifeways;
  • it records the expressions of changing times;
  • it has economic and practical value.

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
The Heritage Management Track is administered through the Museum, the Graduate School, and the Office of the Provost.

HERITAGE MANAGEMENT OFFERS:

  • 45 hour degree track through the Museum of Texas Tech University
  • Optimum track composition: 50% Humanities and 50% Science

INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the Museum Science Program, numerous existing degree programs and non-degree supporting fields complement the Heritage Management Track's curriculum. The faculty from the following departments will work with Heritage Management Track students in their graduate education.

  • Museum Science
  • Biological Sciences
  • Architecture
  • History
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
  • Computer Science
  • Anthropology
  • Political Science

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE HERITAGE MANAGEMENT TRACK IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO BECOME PROFESSIONALS IN HERITAGE MANAGEMENT. THE STUDENT WILL BE EQUIPPED TO:

  • Communicate information about the sociological and scientific values represented by cultural and natural heritage;
  • Develop and promote a coherent personal and public attitude that includes cultural and natural heritage protection as an integrated and significant element;
  • Stimulate research into the practices of identifying, protecting, conserving, and documenting natural and cultural heritage and develop responsible methods of applying those practices;
  • Collaborate with other heritage management professionals and organizations;
  • Instill an understanding of the legal and ethical responsibilities associated with the care and management of cultural and natural heritage;
  • Develop a core of knowledge in the specialized management of cultural and natural heritage that is comprehensive and capable of providing leadership in the heritage management field;
  • Promote a broad-based approach to the cultural and natural heritage of the past, present, and future.

HERITAGE MANAGEMENT TRACK EMPHASIS
The Heritage Management Track has one curricular emphasis; however, it is designed to allow students to pursue individualized career objectives.

 
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