This course focuses on the development of independent research projects relating to cultural heritage places and institutional collections of material culture. Students will be guided through processes relating to research project development, data collection and analysis, and the interpretation of results. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this course will explore the ways that different academic disciplines have approached the study of heritage places and collections. It will draw upon best practice case studies from around the world and explore the ethics of heritage place and collections research in our contemporary setting. Students will develop their own research project during this course. This will allow students to apply the conceptual and methodological skills they have developed in their graduate program to a particular research question or case study linked to their academic or professional interests.

1. skills in written and verbal expression for a variety of relevant academic and / or professional purposes.
2. skills in interdisciplinary thinking and the ability to apply diverse theoretical and practical ideas to individual research projects.
3. skills required to independently undertake research into cultural heritage places and/or institutional collections. This includes data-collection and analysis of results.
4. skills to undertake verbal and written presentation of their results at the standard of a postgraduate degree.
5. an understanding of current best practice in cultural heritage and collections research.
6. a commitment to ethical practice in regard to cultural heritage and collections research.