The certificate in material culture studies has two interrelated goals. First, students will become acquainted with the field of material culture studies and its methodologies. They will learn what kinds of objects are considered in the study of material culture (from small, intimate artifacts of daily life to large cultural landscapes) and how scholars and professionals from different fields and in different contexts enlist material culture in their research and activities. They will gain an appreciation for the information artifacts can provide. They will learn the kinds of questions that can be asked of objects and the kind of information that artifacts can show us. They will become familiar with (and able to distinguish between) descriptive and interpretive components of material culture study, and gain an awareness of the variety of methods. Second, students will gain an appreciation for the ways that “things” help us to connect to the world and see it in a new way, and the ways “things” give meaning to our lives and the lives of those around us.
Note for students who are thinking about declaring the material culture certificate as well as the art history certificate: Undergraduate students may request permission to complete both the material culture certificate and the art history certificate but only one course can overlap between the two certificates. Please consult with the undergraduate advisor, Teddy Kaul (ejkaul@wisc.edu), with any questions.
Students are required to declare the material culture studies certificate with the program's certificate faculty director, Professor Ann Smart Martin, or the undergraduate program advisor in the Department of Art History, Teddy Kaul. Students are strongly urged to meet with the faculty director, or the undergraduate advisor, at their earliest convenience to declare the certificate.
Professor Smart Martin can be reached at asmartin@wisc.edu or by phone at 608-263-5684 to set up an appointment. Teddy Kaul is located in the Conrad A. Elvehjem Building in room 222; he can be reached at ejkaul@wisc.edu, or by phone at 608-263-2373, to set up an appointment.
*Note for students who are thinking about declaring the Material Culture Certificate as well as the Art History Certificate: Undergraduate students may request permission to complete both the Material Culture certificate and the Art History certificate but only one course can overlap between the two certificates. Please consult with the undergraduate advisor, Teddy Kaul (ejkaul@wisc.edu), with any questions.
Certificate Requirements
The Material Culture Studies Certificate Program requires that students complete 13 credits, which includes the two core courses and two elective courses from the list below. An internship/practicum experience is recommended, but not required.
Goal of Certificate Requirements
The goal of the certificate requirements is to provide students with a set of interdisciplinary skills, including the development of visual literacy, and an understanding of specific methods and theories of material culture analysis as they are most often practiced. A student might select electives to specialize in a particular geographic area of study or type of object, or to provide maximum depth in a certain period of time.
Quality of Work and Residency Requirements
A cumulative 2.000 GPA required for all certificate coursework.
7 credits, counting for the certificate, taken in residence at UW–Madison.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses (select two): | ||
| ART HIST/ANTHRO/DS/HISTORY/LAND ARC 264 | Dimensions of Material Culture 1 | 4 |
| ART HIST 563 | Proseminar in Material Culture 2 | 3 |
| Electives: | ||
| Select at least two courses to reach 13 credit minimum: 3 | 6 | |
| ANTHRO 212 | Principles of Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 337 | Lithics and Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 352 | Ancient Technology and Invention | 3 |
| ANTHRO/AMER IND 354 | Archaeology of Wisconsin | 3 |
| ANTHRO 370 | Field Course in Archaeology | 3-6 |
| ANTHRO 391 | Bones for the Archaeologist | 3 |
| ANTHRO 696 | Archaeological Methods of Curation | 1-3 |
| ART HIST 210 | A History of the World in 20 Buildings | 3 |
| ART HIST/CLASSICS 300 | The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece | 3-4 |
| ART HIST/CLASSICS 304 | The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 305 | History of Islamic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ART HIST 307 | From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition | 3 |
| ART HIST 308 | The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods | 3 |
| ART HIST/DS 363 | American Decorative Arts and Interiors: 1620-1840 | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 364 | History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present | 3-4 |
| ART HIST/RELIG ST 373 | Great Cities of Islam | 3 |
| ART HIST/ASIAN 379 | Cities of Asia | 3 |
| ART HIST 413 | Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs | 3 |
| ART HIST/ASIAN 428 | Visual Cultures of India | 3 |
| ART HIST 440 | Art and Power in the Arab World | 3 |
| ART HIST 457 | History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes | 3 |
| ART HIST 463 | Topics in American Material Culture | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 468 | Frank Lloyd Wright | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 475 | Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts | 3 |
| ART HIST/RELIG ST 478 | Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan | 3 |
| ART HIST 506 | Curatorial Studies Exhibition Practice (Both 601 & 602) | 3 |
| ART HIST 601 | Introduction to Museum Studies I (Must complete both 601 & 602) | 3 |
| ART HIST 602 | Introduction to Museum Studies II (Must complete both 601 & 602) | 3 |
| ART HIST/HISTORY/JOURN/L I S 650 | History of Books and Print Culture in Europe and North America | 3 |
| DS 355 | History of Fashion, 1400-Present | 3 |
| DS 360 | 3 | |
| DS 420 | Twentieth Century Design | 3 |
| DS 421 | History of Architecture and Interiors I: Antiquity through 18th Century | 3 |
| DS 422 | History of Architecture & Interiors II: 19th and 20th Centuries | 3 |
| DS 430 | History of Textiles | 3 |
| DS 642 | Taste | 3 |
| DS 655 | 3 | |
| FOLKLORE 320 | Folklore of Wisconsin | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 439 | Foodways | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/L I S 490 | Field Methods and the Public Presentation of Folklore | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/ANTHRO 520 | Ethnic Representations in Wisconsin | 4 |
| FOLKLORE/MUSIC 535 | American Folk and Vernacular Music | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/ANTHRO/MUSIC/THEATRE 539 | The Folklore of Festivals and Celebrations | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 540 | Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/ANTHRO 639 | Field School: Ethnography of Wisconsin Festivals | 6-8 |
| FOLKLORE 655 | 3 | |
| GEOG/URB R PL 305 | Introduction to the City | 3-4 |
| GEOG 342 | Geography of Wisconsin | 3 |
| GEOG 508 | Landscape and Settlement in the North American Past | 3 |
| HIST SCI 222 | Technology and Social Change in History | 3 |
| HIST SCI 337 | History of Technology | 3 |
| JOURN/HISTORY 560 | History of U.S. Media | 4 |
| LAND ARC 260 | History of Landscape Architecture | 3 |
| LAND ARC 677 | Cultural Resource Preservation and Landscape History | 3 |
| SCAND ST 284 | 3 | |
| SCAND ST 296 | The Scandinavian Heritage in America | 3 |
| SCAND ST/FOLKLORE 440 | Scandinavian American Folklore | 3 |
| THEATRE 327 | History of Costume for the Stage | 3 |
| 1 | Prerequisite: no prerequisites. Course is rotated among teams of two faculty members from the core material culture staff. The course explores the field of material culture, introducing the range of approaches and topics within it. Faculty, staff, and professionals from different disciplines and fields are invited to discuss their work and perspective, and discuss current literature. |
| 2 | The intent of this requirement is to have an intensive small-size seminar to teach the methods used by material culture scholars, a set of tools for analysis, hands-on training and more familiarity with material culture theories, themes and objects. |
| 3 | Choices should be clustered around a focus. For example, one strategy is to take a range of courses related to a specific geographic area, specialization, or time period. Other students may choose to pursue a cluster of courses that emphasizes nationally emerging specializations within the field of material culture including courses related to museums/exhibitions, historic preservation, archival technology, or product design. Students should work with a material culture faculty member to develop this focus. Other courses can be selected as electives from traditional disciplinary approaches and content, but must be approved by the chair of the Material Culture Advisory Committee. Students must work closely with both their advisor within their home major and an advisor among material culture advisors to assure that both major and certificate requirements are fulfilled. |
Certificate COMPLETION REQUIREMENT
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
- Acquisition of skills to describe and analyze objects of multiple types, scales and media that constitute the material world across time and space.
- Understanding of the complex and multiple ways that objects and people relate in both the past and in the present using trans-disciplinary perspectives.
- Ability to interpret and otherwise make meaning from objects using methods and theories from multiple disciplines including but not limited to art history, archaeology, anthropology, design, folklore/folklife studies, geography, history, literary studies, landscape history, and science studies.
- Discernment of the importance of materiality and making in the production and shaping of culture.
- Fluency in using research resources and tools appropriate for specific kinds of objects.
- Demonstration of particular skills for object-based research projects, as well as online and in-person exhibitions, using objects and collections to prepare students for careers that include positions in museums, archives, and other professional contexts.
- Coherent presentation of ideas in multiple media (oral, visual, digital, and written).
Advising
All students should meet with the certificate's faculty director (Professor Ann Smart Martin, 205 Conrad A. Elvehjem Building; asmartin@wisc.edu 608-263-5684) at or near the beginning of work on the certificate. At that meeting, students work with the director to outline their course of study, and to match a course plan with their interests. After a plan is in place, students are encouraged to stay in regular contact with the undergraduate program advisor (Teddy Kaul, 222 Conrad A. Elvehjem Building; ejkaul@wisc.edu; 608-263-2373) as they continue through the program. Each term the program's director or advisor will contact all certificate students, asking those nearing completion of their certificate coursework to send a notification that includes an estimate of when they will be completing the certificate requirements. For more information about the certificate and contact information for the advisor, see the program website.
Careers: What can material culture do for you? Life-practice and Careers
Interdisciplinary practice is central to material culture analysis. Significant engagement with material culture can have a noteworthy positive effect on students from a wide range of majors in their preparation for future careers. Understanding principles of design, analyzing the cultural meaning of physical objects, and gaining knowledge of varied systems of making, distributing, and using artifacts and consumer goods throughout history are all broadly applicable learning outcomes. The curricula of the 21st century often place extra value on science and technology, to the detriment of the study of the arts and humanities. The Material Culture Program helps integrate these and other disparate spheres into a university education. One undergraduate student summed it thus:
I ended up being able to use what I learned in material culture for my research in human computer interaction and design. I think having a background in material culture strengthened my skills as a user experience designer (which is what I will be doing at Intel after graduation).
Erica Lewis, 2016
Undergraduate certificate student
Engineering/Materials Design
Other material culture certificate holders have gone on to careers in museums, galleries, historic sites, historic preservation, digital media, design practice, universities, and business. Another former student comments:
Having worked in museums large and small, in education, exhibition design and development, collections, and interpretation—I draw on my background in Material Culture on a daily basis. As a historian, the practice of reading and contextualizing objects as primary sources is essential. But even more than an academic approach, the empathy one develops when learning to understand the world through the stuff of daily life is invaluable to the interdisciplinary collaboration of today's workplace.
Anna Altschwager, 2004
Assistant Director, Guest Experience
Old World Wisconsin
Core Faculty
Ann Smart Martin, Stanley and Polly Stone Professor, Art History
Anna V. Andrzejewski, Professor, Art History
Sarah Carter, Visiting Executive Director, Center for Design and Material Culture
Janet Gilmore, Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture
Yuhang Li, Associate Professor, Art History
Marina Moskowitz, Lynn and Gary Mecklenburg Chair in Textiles, Material Culture and Design
Mark Nelson, Professor, Design Studies
Lynn K. Nyhart, Vilas–Bablitch–Kelch Distinguished Achievement Professor, History
Jennifer Pruitt, Assistant Professor, Art History
Sissel Schroeder, Professor, Anthropology
Jonathan Senchyne, Assistant Professor, Library and Information Studies
Sarah Thal, Professor, History
Lee Palmer Wandel, Professor, History
Affiliate Faculty
William Aylward, Professor, Classics
Nicholas Cahill, Professor, Art History
Preeti Chopra, Associate Professor, Art History
Susan Cook, Director, School of Music
Thomas Dale, Professor, Art History
Sam F. Dennis, Jr, Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture
Henry Drewal, Professor, Art History
Colleen Dunlavy, Professor, Department of History
Nan Enstad, Professor, Department of History
Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, Professor, Anthropology
James Leary, Emeritus Professor, Comparative Literature and Folklore Studies
Tom Loeser, Professor, Art
Quitman Phillips, Professor, Art History
Jung-hye Shin, Associate Professor, Design Studies
Associated Museum Professionals
Jody Clowes, Director, James Watrous Gallery
Amy Gilman
Jon Prown, Director, Chipstone Foundation
Maria Saffiotti Dale, Curator, Chazen Museum of Art