Additional Information

Course Number

ANTH GR5361x

Course Level

Course Description

Museum professionals make decisions with ethical and legal implications regularly, seldom giving these judgments little thought. In part this is because these decisions are based upon values that become second nature. Occasionally, they confront especially difficult or challenging dilemmas and stop to think about ethics. Perhaps the circumstances for making the decision have changed. For example, constraints due to the current economic climate might make a decision more difficult, or the changing demographics of a museum's audiences might call into a question the advisability of relying upon accepted practice. Then, one must consider what is the right or wrong thing to do. How should we assess the possible consequences of our actions? Enrollment limit is 14. Instructor approval: Necessary for undergraduates and for students not enrolled in the Museum Anthropology program.

Syllabus Available

No

Notes

Course description listed on the Department of Anthropology website. Please contact department or instructor for further information.

Additional tags: museum ethics; ethical dilemmas

Taxonomies

RPA Codes & Standards

• Archaeologist's Responsibility to Colleagues, Employees, and Students
• Archaeologist's Responsibility to Employers and Clients
• Archaeologist's Responsibility to the Public
• Integrity of Research Methodology
• Specimen and Research Record Storage

CIfA Codes

• Principle 1: Adherence to ethical and responsible behaviour in archaeological affairs
• Principle 5: Recognition of aspirations of employees, colleagues and helpers in all matters of employment

Keywords & Terms

• Accountability
• Conservation
• Museum, Collection, Curation and Display Standards

Topics & Issues

• Ethical Case Studies
• Ethical Dilemmas
• Ethical Responsibilities of Archaeologists
• Museum and Display Ethics