Course Description

This course examines the ethical frameworks within which museum governance and leadership may be articulated and enhanced.  The museum field has lately become more reflective in a search for what relevancy and sustainability entail, and society is surrounded by new challenges and opportunities that would seem to demand a greater external accountability of museums. A series of questions constitutes the structure of this course leading to conversations about the principles and practices that are at the core of how museums of various sorts actually function.  Covered dimensions include: missions, visions and values; professional codes of ethics; roles of museum directors and board members; and lessons from controversies and crises. Assisted by fieldwork at several nearby museums, this course examines how discourse and transparency can strengthen a museum’s ethical foundations at a time when many of the field’s paradigms appear to warrant a re-examination.  Readings include materials on basic ethical theories and principles, professional codes, policies and practices, case studies, and current controversies in ethical governance and leadership. Designed for graduate level students in the museum profession programs and for museum professionals in the field.