Material Culture and Museum Studies
UndergraduateMAQ-AHIX30012025
Explore how ancient cultures made things and how they’re displayed in museums today. From ceramics to weapons, you’ll reflect on various materials and technologies. Think ethically about exhibiting artefacts, considering forgeries and illicit trade.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 20 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 28 July 2025
- Price from
- $2,160
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Material Culture and Museum Studies
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, you will be able to
- Understand ancient materials and the cultural contexts in which they were used. To examine the origin of materials and how things were made.
- Evaluate methodological and ethical issues associated with the role of Museums in the collection and exhibition of artifacts
- Acquire skills necessary for research analysis and interpretations. Conducting independent research and synthesize acquired knowledge.
- Deliver a power point oral presentation paper ( a “Conference Paper”) and communicate effectively with teaching staff and peers though class presentation.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
An advanced level study of some of the most common categories of material in the ancient world, including metals, stones, clay, animal and plant based fibers, timber and ivory, and various genres of materials production such as architecture, ceramics, sculpture, weaponry and equestrian equipment, with particular emphasis on technology, manufacture, function, style, iconography, chronology and spatial distribution. Material will normally be drawn from a diverse range of cultures, with specific physical examples from the collections of the Museum of Ancient Cultures, and may vary from year to year. Relying on this background, and in parallel, students will also be introduced to the history of museums and museum collections, the illicit trade of antiquities, the manufacture of forgeries, the participation of public museums and private collectors and related repercussions for the reconstruction of the historical record.
- Quiz on weekly lectures and set readings (30%)
- Media presentation (35%)
- Research Essay (35%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
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- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 11
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- 10
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
Others
Pre-requisite: AHIX1250 and AHIX2251
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMAQ-ART-DEG
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