Course Requirements
A minimum of 30 credits is required for completion of the MGMM degree. A final program portfolio of completed course and capstone projects is also required.
All students must complete the following courses and residencies:
Summer Prior to Fall Semester Start Date:
MGMM 600, 3 credits, Orientation and Practicum
Fall Semester:
MGMM 601 Gallery Principles I | 3 credits |
MGMM 612 Business Principles I | 3 credits |
MGMM 621 Curatorship Principles I | 3 credits |
MGMM 631 Curating the Past | 3 credits |
Spring Semester:
MGMM 602 Gallery Principles II | 3 credits |
MGMM 613 Business Principles II | 3 credits |
MGMM 622 Curatorship Principles II | 3 credits |
Spring or summer or second fall semester:
MGMM 699 Program Internship | 3 credits |
MGMM 691 Capstone Project | 3 credits |
Students may optionally undertake the following residency for professional development:
MGMM 698 Independent Internship | 0 credits |
MGMM Course Descriptions
Scheduled fourteen days prior to Fall semester start date, this on-campus residency provides an introduction to and fundamentals for the entire program of study, and initiates network development. This intensive course includes a one-day program orientation, practicum instruction in on-site gallery and studio classroom settings, field trips and workshops with arts professionals.
Prerequisite: acceptance into the MGMM graduate program.
Professional careers in the contemporary gallery world require a number of practical skills. This course addresses those demands by building upon fundamentals covered in the summer practicum, with in-depth practical explorations of design, installation, preparatorship and the management of the gallery space and contemporary art exhibits.
Prerequisite: MGMM 600
Professional careers in gallery administration are increasingly complex and demanding. A key aspect of building and growing successful art galleries or museums is professional relationships. This course principally focuses on professional relationships and relationship building in the contemporary art world: artists, patrons, collectors, diverse artists, audiences and stake-holders.
Prerequisite: MGMM 601
Considerable planning, entrepreneurship, and bureaucratic skill are required in the building and development of successful for-profit or non-profit art galleries. This course addresses entrepreneurial approaches and business models, mission relevance, recruitment, governance, development, procurement, staffing, budget and finances, for-profit and not-for-profit business registration and compliance with multiple policies and laws.
Prerequisite: MGMM 600
Gallery administrators must be adept in all aspects of management, including marketing and promotion and leading and managing staff and volunteers, to grow successful for-profit and not-for-profit galleries. Students in this class learn how to gain market share through innovations in gallery marketing and managerial skills enabling them to effectively manage human resources, in the art gallery and museum sector.
Prerequisite: MGMM 612
This course examines curatorial scholarship and practices that underpin collections development, research and analysis, and the exhibition process, and relates those to the evolving roles of galleries and museums in contemporary society. Subjects covered in the class include collections development, object-based research, exhibition development and analysis, and curatorial approaches to tangible and intangible heritage.
Prerequisite: MGMM 600
This course explores the roles and responsibilities of contemporary curators as investigators, negotiators, and mediators in gallery and museum environments. Students engage in dialogue and debate about ethical questions relating to acquisitions, access, ownership, copyright, knowledge systems, exhibition themes, new digital technologies, international collaborations and partnerships and the integration of new scholarship and ideas with traditional curatorial skills.
Prerequisite: MGMM 621
Archaeological research relies upon sound curatorial practice; curatorship is often the only tangible evidence of cultural heritage for some peoples and most collections are in the public trust. This class explores those responsibilities through engaging with archaeological and cultural materials curation: technical information, laws and regulations, case studies, archaeological or anthropological exhibition process, integration of theory and practice.
Prerequisite: MGMM 600
An art gallery or art museum proposal, including: research, theoretical application, considerations for location, audience and demographics, thoughtful application of aesthetic and branding/identity considerations, detailed designs for the space and exhibits employing CAD, compliances with applicable laws and regulations, staffing plan, marketing plan and community building strategies.
Prerequisites: Completion of all program coursework (excluding internship).
Independent internships are arranged by students at their choice of gallery, museum, or arts institution, to develop their professional experience and network. Independent internships may be recorded on student transcripts with a 0-credit S/U grade. Independent internships must meet a minimum of three documented program learning outcomes to be recorded on transcripts.
Prerequisite: approval by the program director.
The MGMM program requires three credits of internship residency at one arranged external internship site. Program internship placements are crafted with our partnering institutions to address distinctive career paths and learning experiences. Students may arrange with the program director to undertake their program internship at a gallery, museum or art institution in their vicinity or elsewhere.
Prerequisites: 15 credits of program coursework and program director approval.
Take the Next Step
Apply to Western
We understand that applying to a university can be daunting, which is why we make our admission process as simple and straightforward as possible. Learn more about applying to your program of choice at Western.
Visit Western
The best way to find out what makes Western such a special place is to experience it for yourself. Our student-led tours give you an insider’s perspective on everything from academics to student life.
Alumni Community
We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.
Request Information
Want to discover more about Western? Request information today to get in touch with the admissions team.