Historic Sites and Museum Studies
Classroom instruction is designed to introduce students to museums, historic sites, historic interpretation arenas, history publications, mass media applications to historical learning, archives and technology. Students will receive basic instruction in museum administration and learn the fundamentals of operating a non-profit institution.
To accomplish this goal, Gordon College's museum studies program takes advantage of its working relationship with Boston area historic sites and museums. The ultimate goal is to give Gordon students a leading edge over other applicants for entry-level public history positions. Recent Gordon public history students have been accepted into:
- Mystic Seaport's Munson Institute
- Tufts University's Museum Studies Program
- Peabody-Essex Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- History New England
- D.A.R. Museum and Archives, Washington, D.C.
- Plimouth Plantation
- U.S. National Park Service
Through the auspices of the Institute for Public History, students may complete an interdisciplinary minor (for non-history majors) or concentration (for history majors) in Public History and Museum Studies. Courses include:
- HI390 Introduction to Museums and Public History
- HI391 Case Studies in Museum Administration
- TH371 Historic Interpretation
- EB245 Principles of Management
- HI425 Internship
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Historical Interpretation Track
Students may opt to participate in a 24-credit special program crafted to provide instruction in the researching, writing, performing and producing of on-site historic interpretation. This inter-disciplinary full minor program in English, History and Theatre Studies offers students an on-the-job experience in historic Salem, MA. Participants will live together from mid-June through mid-November and will earn 24 credits of academic work in developing and producing existing and new scripts for Salem venues. Students work with professional actors and directors at both the Old Town Hall and Pioneer Village: Salem in 1630.