The Ontario Museum Association Certificate in Museum Studies (CMS) is one of the only museum studies training programs offered on a part-time basis for museum workers, both paid and volunteer. A Certificate in Museum Studies is awarded to participants after successful completion of the nine required courses that cover museum operation at the basic level.

In order to be as accessible as possible to OMA members from all parts of Ontario, courses are offered as either three-day workshops onsite at museums across the province (face to face), or over several weeks online. See course descriptions below.

Faculty
Each course is delivered by a highly qualified Course Director who brings both solid theoretical knowledge and extensive practical experience in the museum community.

Registration
Registration for Certificate in Museum Studies courses is open to OMA Individual Members and Commercial Consultant Members. Not a member? Join today! Click here to find out more about the benefits of membership in the OMA.

Each course accommodates between 15 and 25 students.

Registration is accepted by mail, phone, fax and email beginning no earlier than 9:00 a.m. on the registration opening date. (see Professional Development Calendar for registration opening dates). Download the CMS Registration Form.

Regardless of payment method, registration is on a first-come, first-served basis starting on the registration opening date and continuing until the course is full.

Fees
2012-2013 Fees are $337.87 ($299.00 + $38.87 HST) per course*

Payment:

Payment can be made by VISA, MasterCard, cheque or money order, and must accompany all registrations.

Regardless of payment method, all registration details must be received by the OMA once registration opens for the course.

• Credit card payments will be processed immediately.
• If an employer is paying the registratoin fee by cheque, written confirmation must accompany the registration
• Employer cheques must be received at the OMA office no more than 30 days following the date of registration.

Payments received by mail before the registration opening date will not hold a spot in the course. If registering by mail, the registrant must call the OMA on the day that registration opens to secure a spot in the course.

Cancellation

Registrants may cancel up to ten business days in advance of a course and receive a full refund minus 25 per cent. After this date, no refunds will be issued. Fees are not transferable.

*Registration fees may be subject to change as a result of funding and budget reviews and the changing economy.

Financial Assistance
The OMA offers one Certificate in Museum Studies Bursary each year to cover registration fees for one certificate course. Five courses must already be completed by applicant. Read more about the CMS Bursary.

The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) offers bursaries to assist museum professionals to attend professional development activities such as courses, seminars, workshops or other related museum studies programs. For more details on the CMA Bursary Program, please visit CMA website at www.museums.ca, or contact the CMA directly at 1-888-822-2907.

Course Cancellation
The OMA reserves the right to cancel any course at any time for any reason. The Association cannot guarantee continuation of any program should funding cease. The availability, date and location of the course offerings are subject to change at any time. Contact the OMA Secretariat for the most current information.

Program Funding
This project has been made possible in part through a contribution from the Museums Assistance Program, Department of Canadian Heritage.

Course Descriptions

Artifacts
Format: Face to Face
This is the first of two courses which deals with the subject of preventive conservation. The artifact is examined and described in terms of material, manufacture, and condition. Types and causes of deterioration are also identified. Consideration of the environment focuses on phenomena that present themselves as potential hazards to the artifact. Core topics: Introduction to preventive conservation; introduction to the materials (Cellulosic, Proteinaceous, Inorganic); agents of deterioration (light, relative humidity, pollutants, pests, physical forces, dissociation); how to write a condition report, artifact handling, artifact labeling.
This course is the prerequisite for Care of Collections.

Care of Collections
Formats: Face to Face and Online
This course is the second of two courses on the subject of preventive conservation. Participants will acquire the principles and techniques needed to prevent damage to artifacts during storage, display, handling, packing, and shipping. Differentiation between preventive conservation and treatment conservation will be examined, with practical suggestions for dealing with damaged artifacts provided. Core topics: Preventive Conservation/Treatment Conservation/Restoration; safe storage methods; disaster planning; handling collections; safe exhibition methods; packing & shipping artifacts; stable and unstable materials for exhibits and storage; conservation resources; how to hire a conservator; role of the conservator vs. the non-conservator when caring for collections; basic cleaning of paper, textiles, ceramics, wood, glass, leather, fire detection and prevention.
Prerequisite: Artifacts

Collections Management
Formats: Face to Face and Online
Participants will gain information and skills required to manage acquisitions, disposals, and loans, and to create and maintain the body of documentation which is the infrastructure of the collections. Core topics: Purpose of Collections Management (public trust, activities in collections management, collections policy); planning for collections growth; loans; acquisitions; repatriation; deaccessioning; access & security; fine arts insurance; risk management; appraisals/tax receipts; record keeping including computerized collections data management.

Education Programs
Format: Face to Face
Participants will identify the basic learning principles affecting different groups of museum visitors and will acquire the knowledge required to design and implement education programs for their own museums. Core topics: Interpretation & Education Policy & Standards; programming for the public; the ins & outs of interpretation; learning principles for students K-6; adolescent learners; museums and school curricula; practical program development for museums; teachers & museums; adult education; developing visual literacy skills.

Exhibit Planning and Design
Format: Face to Face
Participants will learn to create vibrant, attractive exhibits that welcome and engage visitors of all ages and abilities. Through hands-on activities, participants will gain an understanding of the exhibit development process from idea assessment and concept development to production and installation on a budget. Core topics: the visitor experience, exhibit policy and standards, planning for families, writing text, showcase styles, physical accessibility, anatomy of a graphics panel, and creative costing, with a focus on creating an effective interpretive plan to guide the process.

Museums and the Community
Formats: Face to Face
Participants will gain the knowledge and skills required to coordinate the objectives and activities of the museum with the specific needs of its communities. The course looks at the historical contexts that gave rise to museums in Canada and the rapidly changing social, political and cultural environments in which they now exist. The course is designed to look at a wide range of issues facing museums in their search for audiences and support. Emphasis will be placed on finding practical solutions. Core topics: relationships between Canadian museums and their communities in a rapidly-changing social, political and cultural environment re: programming, audience development and fundraising; tools and practical solutions to negotiate support from potential sponsors and to communicate effectively with target audiences.

Museums in Context
Format: Online and Correspondence
Participants are introduced to the social history and development of museums through an exploration of a series of themes and contexts. These include: The Historical Context (museum origins; Towards a Contemporary Definition of "Museum"), The Professional Context (Changing Nature of the Museum Workforce; Tools to Support Professionalism), The Social Context (Museums & Forces of Change, Envisioning the Future of Museums).

Museums in Historic Buildings (Facilities Management)
Format: Face to Face
Participants will acquire the knowledge and techniques required to manage a museum within the context of an historic building, and to care for the historic building as an artifact. The objective of this course is to familiarize participants with the activities and concerns involved in the careful conservation of the historic building, particularly as they relate to the building’s use as a museum. Core topics: researching a building, the historic building as artifact, planning museum space & system needs, realizing a capital project, museum as a public facility, maintenance of building and grounds, programming the historic building.

Organization and Management of Museums
Formats: Face to Face and Online
Participants will acquire an understanding of the objectives of museum and gallery management and how to apply these to the administration of museums and galleries in Canada. Through readings, lectures, case studies, group projects and classroom discussion, course participants will develop skills required for effective museum and gallery management. Core topics: Museum management; museum organization; strategic management; human resources - paid and volunteer; financial resources; information management; current issues and strategies in managing community museums.