New Museum Studies Program Offered

Pierpont Community & Technical College of Fairmont State University is offering a new program in Museum Studies.

The new program will be offered as both a 21-hour skill set and as an associate degree (two-year) program. The skill set will include seven Museum Studies courses that provide a wide range of background for various types of technical museum work. Pierpont C&€™s School of Human Services and School of Academic Studies have also collaborated on a concentration option for the Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies that gives the Museum Studies student an opportunity to study a full range of general education courses including "Introduction to Folklore," "Anthropology," "U.S. History," "Art Appreciation," "Science in the Heart of Appalachia," "Geologic Heritage in the Field" and other courses. All aspects of museum work will be covered including an introduction to the museum world, collections management, interpretation, exhibit design and construction and museum education programming.

During the spring 2008 semester, which begins the week of Jan. 14, the "Introduction to Museums" and "Museum Collection Management" courses will be offered. These classes will explore, in an overview format, the workings of a museum, terminology, sources of funding, an introductory understanding of exhibits, interpretation, educational programming, collections management, volunteer management and more. Hands-on study will be provided through the Masquers Historic Costume Collection housed at Fairmont State and various local and regional field trips. "Introduction to Folklore" will be offered at the Gaston Caperton Center in Clarksburg.

For more information, contact Noel Tenney, Cultural Specialist and Folk Studies Instructor, at ntenney@fairmontstate.edu; Dr. Beth Newcome, Dean of the School of Human Services at bnewcome@fairmontstate.edu; or Dr. Judy P. Byers, Director of the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center, at jbyers@fairmontstate.edu.

Apply online for admission to Pierpont C&TC of FSU at www.fairmontstate.edu. For assistance with the admission process, call (304) 367-4892 or e-mail admit@fairmontstate.edu.