Date Awarded
1985
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Department
Education
Abstract
What are the differences between the continuing education programs for museum workers in the United States and Great Britain, and what do these distinctions reveal about the ways in which the role of the museum worker is perceived in these respective countries?;This study will: (1) analyze the literature surrounding these questions, literature ranging in topics from the sociology of professions to descriptions of mid-career training options, (2) compare and contrast the museums, museum studies programs, and continued learning schemes for museologists, and, finally, (3) examine the differences and similarities between two representative programs, one for each country: the Seminar for Historical Administration and the Diploma Scheme of the Museums Association in Great Britain. From these comparisons both general and specific, the investigation will conclude with an interpretation of the differences in so far as they shed light on the varying perceptions of the museum worker in the United States and Great Britain.;In the United States, museum workers are exposed to a seemingly unlimited array of mid-career training options, a veritable smorgasbord of professional learning opportunities of varying quality and usually offered by agencies quite independent of the academy. "Contest" mobility prevails. The programs are responsive to an ever-changing market. While, in Great Britain, only a few options are available, most notable is the diploma scheme with its university affiliations. When compared to the American system, a semblance of "sponsored" mobility prevails, and one is struck by the limited, single-level and insulated nature of the programs available. This dissertation identifies these distinctions and expands on their significances as they pertain to current perceptions of the museum workers in each country.
DOI
https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25774/w4-y9pt-ax22
Rights
© The Author
Recommended Citation
Tramposch, William Joseph., "A matter of degree : mid-career professional training for museum workers in the United States & Great Britain" (1985). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. William & Mary. Paper 1539618305.
https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25774/w4-y9pt-ax22
