Idaho Museum of Natural History

Faculty:
Director, Research Curator and Anthropology Division Head; Director, Idaho Virtualization Laboratory; Director, Center for Archaeology, Materials, and Applied Spectroscopy, and Anthropology Research Professor: Maschner
Research Curator and Earth Sciences Division Head:  Tapanila
Research Curator Ray J. Davis Herbarium and Life Science Division Head:  Williams
Education Resources Coordinator:  Thorne-Ferrel
Director, Crabtree Experimental Archaeology Lab  (Vacant)
Affiliate Research Curators:  Anderson, Betts, Crosby, Dudgeon, Fortsch, R. Holmer, Holte, Keeley, Link, Misarti, Peterson, Ray, Rountree, Schou, Thackray
Emeriti: Akersten, Holte, Trost

Staff:
Registrar: Kimbrel
Education Resources Coordinator:  Thorne-Ferrel
Collections Managers: Bala, Comendador-Dudgeon, Tews, Thompson
Idaho Virtualization Laboratory:  Clement, N. Holmer, Schlader

 Faculty Information    
Courses    
 Idaho Museum of Natural History Website   

About the Museum

The Idaho Museum of Natural History was founded by legislative proclamation in 1977. At that time, the Museum received its State-mandated mission to enhance in the citizens of Idaho and visitors an understanding of and delight in Idaho’s natural and cultural heritage. The Museum has four divisions: Anthropology, Earth Science, Life Science, and Public Programs. Each of the first three divisions is headed by a Research Curator, with other affiliate curators and collections managers. Significant collections include the Anthropology ethnographic collections, the Earl R. Swanson Archaeological Repository, extensive collections in vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, and the Ray J. Davis Herbarium. The Museum houses the Idaho Virtualization Laboratory. Affiliated research institutes include the Center for Archaeology, Materials, and Applied Spectroscopy (CAMAS), the GIS Training and Research Center, the Informatics Research Institute, and the Don Crabtree Experimental Archaeology Lab.

Curators in Anthropology, Earth Science and Life Science lead national and international research. Our active research profile supports acquisition and use of collections for all areas of natural history research and education. ISU faculty and students have access to Museum collections for instruction, training, and graduate theses and dissertations.

The Public Programs Division develops and implements programs and exhibitions on a wide range of science topics, emphasizing current Museum research and environmental and ecological themes. These programs are both university level and for K-12 education.

The Museum offers undergraduate and graduate students educational credits under the Museum subject code and through courses in Anthropology, Biology, Education, Geosciences, History, and other affiliated Idaho State University departments. See course descriptions in the College of Arts and Letters section of the catalog.

The Idaho Museum of Natural History gallery is open from 12:30 - 5 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, 10-5 p.m. Saturday, except for Federal and State holidays. There is no admission fee.

Museum Courses

MUSE 4411 Introduction to Museum Studies 2 credits. History, philosophy, purposes, organization and administration of museums. Practical work in collections management and museum interpretation. D

MUSE 4412 Advanced Topics in Museum Studies 3 credits. Study and analysis of selected, varying advanced topics in museum studies.  Emerging issues in museum professional practice.  Students will explore the chosen topics through current research, theory, and best practice in museums.  Potential topics include: conservation and preservation, documentation, funding sources, legal and ethical issues, security, standards, education, or technology. May be repeated with different content for a total of 6 credits.  PREREQ:  MUSE 4411. F, S, Su

MUSE 4450 Independent Study in Museum Methods 1-3 credits. Individual projects based on student's background and interests. Could include, but not limited to, advanced work in collections management, exhibit design and construction, museum education, or administration. May be repeated up to 6 credits. PREREQ: MUSE 4411 or permission of instructor. D

MUSE 4451 Internship in Museum Studies 3-6 credits. Supervised internship in museum studies where students work with faculty and museum staff on a specific set of museum activities. The internship potential encompasses, but is not limited to: practica in anthropology / archaeology, paleontology, geology, biology, and education. The internship would include investigation of best practice in museum documentation, collections care, archival care, database development, conservation of objects, educational practice in the museum setting, exhibition practice in museum setting, and the development of specific faculty and student selected practicum experiences. May be repeated for a total of 6 credits. F, S, Su

MUSE 4460 Museum Field Research 3-6 credits. Supervised fieldwork in museum field studies in a given museum research field setting where students and faculty work on a specific set of field problems. Research potential encompasses, but is not limited to: field research in anthropology, at specific archaeological, paleontological, geological, or biological sites, or in an interdisciplinary field setting.  May also include investigation of best practice in museum documentation, collections care, archival care, database development, conservation of objects, education in the museum setting, exhibition practice in museum setting, and research into specific faculty and student selected research topics. PREREQ: Permission of Instructor. F, S, Su

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY Academic Information  Contact: webmaster@isu.edu Revised: March 2012