Hocbigg - Heritage Studies
Contents
Summary
The Heritage Studies curriculum is a complete education in Heritage Studies using online materials.
Heritage Studies is an interdisciplinary field examining the identification, interpretation, preservation, management, and contestation of cultural and natural heritage. It draws from anthropology, history, archaeology, museum studies, law, policy, and sociology, emphasizing both tangible (sites, objects) and intangible (traditions, practices) elements.
Note: When there are courses or books that don't fit into the curriculum but are otherwise of high quality, they belong in extras/courses, extras/readings.
Communities
- Heritage Workspace
- Subreddits:
- You can also interact through GitHub issues. If there is a problem with a course, or a change needs to be made to the curriculum, this is the place to start the conversation. Read more here.
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Join our Discord server (for discussions around this and other curricula):
Curriculum
Foundations of Heritage Studies
| Subject | Why study? | Book / Text | Online Resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. What Is Heritage? | Core definitions, scope, and debates. | The Uses of Heritage – Laurajane Smith (optional) | What is Heritage? – OpenLearn (Open University) |
| 2. Culture, Memory, and Identity | Understanding heritage as socially constructed. | Perspectives: An Open Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | Introduction to Anthropology – MIT OpenCourseWare |
| 3. Global Historical Contexts | Colonialism, nationalism, globalization. | A History of the World in 100 Objects – Neil MacGregor | A History of the World in 100 Objects – BBC series |
Heritage Methods and Evidence
| Subject | Why study? | Book / Text | Online Resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Archaeology and Material Culture | Tangible heritage and material analysis. | Renfrew & Bahn, Archaeology (optional) | The Human Past – MIT OpenCourseWare |
| 5. Heritage Documentation and Conservation Methods | Recording, preservation ethics, intervention limits. | Muñoz Viñas | ICCROM – Introduction to Conservation of Cultural Heritage (general portal; see also related courses and publications on conservation basics) |
| 6. Intangible and Living Heritage | Practices, traditions, transmission. | UNESCO framework: 2003 Convention explanatory texts | Living Heritage and Sustainable Development – UNESCO / SDG Academy (related ICCROM/UNESCO guidance on living heritage) |
Institutions, Governance, and Practice
| Subject | Why study? | Book / Text | Online Resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. Museums, Archives, and Collections | Institutional stewardship of heritage. | — | Behind the Scenes at the 21st Century Museum – University of Leicester + Smithsonian Learning Lab (Smithsonian resources; Leicester course materials may require access) |
| 8. Heritage Law, Policy, and Rights | Legal frameworks and power structures. | Craig Forrest | UNESCO 1972 & 2003 Conventions (official guides) + UNESCO repatriation case studies (1972); see also 2003 ICH Convention at UNESCO site |
| 9. Heritage Management and Planning | Practical governance and sustainability. | — | UNESCO – Managing Cultural World Heritage (open manual) + ICCROM – First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (search for First Aid programme) |
Interpretation, Ethics, and Public Engagement
| Subject | Why study? | Book / Text | Online Resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. Public History and Interpretation | Communicating heritage to diverse publics. | The Public History Reader (optional) | Ethics of Cultural Heritage – OpenLearn |
| 11. Politics, Ethics, and Decolonial Heritage | Contestation, ownership, identity. | — | OpenLearn – The Ethics of Cultural Heritage + ICOM Code of Ethics |
| 12. Community and Indigenous Heritage | Participation, co-curation, authority. | Community-based heritage management guides | Creating Meaningful and Inclusive Museum Practices – ICOM / FutureLearn (related inclusive practices) |
Global, Digital, and Sustainable Futures
| Subject | Why study? | Book / Text | Online Resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. World Heritage Systems | Universal value, critique, geopolitics. | Galla, World Heritage: Benefits Beyond Borders (related UNESCO resources) + World Heritage – OpenLearn | — |
| 14. Digital Heritage | Access, preservation, ethics of digitization. | — | Digital Education with Cultural Heritage – Europeana + Europeana open collections |
| 15. Heritage, Tourism, Environment, and Risk | Sustainability, climate, economics. | UNESCO climate & heritage reports | Living Heritage and Sustainable Development – UNESCO |
Final Project
Independent applied work demonstrating mastery. Options:
- Research paper on a heritage site/case study (e.g., analyzing politics of a UNESCO listing).
- Heritage management plan for a local site.
- Curatorial proposal or interpretive exhibit design.
- Critical essay on a contemporary issue (e.g., repatriation or intangible heritage safeguarding).