Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

Completion of the taught modules specific to the following MA programmes: Museum Studies (4007), Art Museum and Gallery Studies (5829) and Heritage Studies (4139), and successful completion of Continuous Assessment.

Not all students will be given a place on MCH8600. Students will be required to apply for a place on these modules. Selection for the modules will be based on an interview with a clear set of criteria.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aims of the module are to:

Provide an opportunity for a sustained piece of applied research and work-related tasks within a 25-day work placement that relates to appropriate theory and practice raised during the taught modules of the programme.

Provide an opportunity to develop the appropriate applied and vocational research skills to go on to work in the Museum/Gallery/Heritage sector.

Outline Of Syllabus

The students are required to attend briefings and lectures.
In addition, students will have regular meetings with their allocated supervisor.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module a typical graduate will have:

Understood the nature of Museum/Gallery/Heritage applied research related to work experience; and

Understood the theory, practices and methods appropriate to Museum/Gallery/Heritage work, through being able to critically reflect on their placement experiences in the light of the materials taught in Semesters 1 & 2, and collect relevant information/evidence/data and the processes used to analyse this material in order to solve problems and undertake work in the sector.

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module a typical graduate will have:
- Engaged in critical, reflective practice
- Practiced appropriate work-based research and information-gathering techniques;
- Practiced problem-solving and analytical skills; and
- Practiced writing and presentational skills.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture: On-campus structured guided learning to help students on the module to plan the various stages of the assignment: developing reflective practice, formulating a research question, developing a research strategy and writing up research findings.

Module Talk: On-campus introduction to the module, the placement process and to placements.

Workshops: On-campus writing workshops to support development of methods and writing skills.

Employer-Based Learning: 25 Days practice/ placement in a relevant venue negotiated with the placement manager. Undertaking work outside the university to collect data and develop skills e.g. Work Placement; site visits; visits to museums and galleries.

Project-Related Supervision: 1:1 individual supervision meeting to support the research work placement project development. These will include meetings with the supervisor at Newcastle University and the supervisor in the host Museum/Gallery/Heritage organization as well as progress meetings after the completion of the practice/ placement element.

Independent Study: This broad category refers to independent student activity and covers the range from reading and preparation through to situations where students are required to work without staff supervision or where students are required to undertake very specific pieces of work.

Assessment Preparation and Completion: This is work carried out independently to undertake the assessment associated with this module.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The Research & Practice Portfolio comprises of three inter-related parts which are designed to lead the student to document, reflect on and research aspects of their placement experience.
The Log of Practice - students must document their placement experience and highlight challenges experienced during the placement
The Critical Reflection - students must reflect on their experiences of the placements and the placement host organisation.
The Practice Based Enquiry - students must produce an original piece of work that responds to a practical/theoretical challenge facing the cultural sector, and which can be explored in the context of their placement organisation and/or the wider museum/gallery/heritage sector. The Practice Based Enquiry should consider the implications of the research for M/G/H practices and may include policy recommendations.

To be successful the work placement reflective report will need careful planning and preparation and will need a high level of informed critical reflection.

General Notes

Under normal circumstances, each student will be offered a placement chosen by the Placement Manager from the student’s list of their 4 preferred placements.

Under special circumstances, the students will be asked to complete a work-related project based within the University and under the supervision of a member of staff.

Regarding lectures in Semester 1: The module formally runs in Semester 2 & 3 but the process of arranging the placements begins in Semester 1. Mostly this is an administrative process. However, it does involve the students as they are required to submit a CV, undertake an interview, and select & submit their placement preferences from a prescribed list. As such, there are 'process' lectures in Semester 1. These involve lectures from Module Leaders explaining the process and a lecture from Careers Service about how to prepare a CV.