Please Note
You may enroll in courses individually.
Collections Management for Costume and Textiles
A Professional Designation Program
Registration for course modules I - IV is now open for the 2022-23 cohort.
This dynamic, interactive program is the first of its kind to specialize in training collections managers for costume and textiles. After completing the six modules, you will be prepared to help meet the growing demand for skilled professionals to work with museums, studio archives, and private and corporate collections. The program culminates in mentor-sponsored fieldwork where you will have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with professionals in a variety of notable institutions.
Career professionals from museums, academia, and historic sites will teach the skills and key aspects of materials and agents of deterioration, care and storage, and management issues that are the foundation of collections management.
Students who successfully complete this program are eligible to receive a Digital Badge from CSULB’s College of Professional and Continuing Education. Each Digital Badge is embedded with a link to secure and specific information confirming that the participant has obtained the necessary skills and competencies as described in the program. The badge also includes the participant’s name, the course title, and date of completion. Badges are shareable and can be uploaded to CVs, resumes, social media profiles, or other digital platforms. Click here to learn more about Digital Badges.
- Collections professionals who wish to augment their expertise
- Museum and archive professionals
- Volunteers and docents
- Private collectors
- Career professionals in the costume, apparel, and textile fields who wish to retool their skill sets
- Those interested in pursuing a career in textiles and collections management
- Complete the first five online modules
- Modules must be taken in order
- Complete the 120 hour Fieldwork experience within 16 weeks, following the prescribed expectations and standards that will be discussed prior to your site assignment
- Provide an evaluation of this internship experience at the end of the course
Amanda Smith Curator of Textiles and Fashion, Tennessee State Museum Collections Management for Costume and Textiles
“I entered the Professional Certificate program for Textile Collections Management at CSULB without knowing what to expect. I found a rigorous, challenging, and dynamic academic program that prepared me for a new career in the museum world. Because of the fieldwork module, my internship with the Tennessee State Museum became a permanent position as their new Curator of Textiles and Fashion. I am grateful that I chose this program because the skills I gained are invaluable and essential to my new career as a curator.”
Bridget Campos Assistant Registrar, Southwest Museum of the American Indian Collections Management for Costume and Textiles"Through the Collections Management for Costume and Textiles program at CSULB, I learned valuable information specific to museums and special collections that was unavailable to me in other classes. The program also pairs all students with a local museum for hands-on experience, which provides a great opportunity to make connections and apply the knowledge from this program to experience in the real world."
Program Outline
Required Courses (complete all six in order):
This course will provide an overview of critical areas in the field of collections management.
Topics Include:
- What is collections management?
- Various types of collections & the purposes they serve
- Career opportunities
- Professional organizations
This course will provide you with an understanding of the basic elements of textile composition and the environmental factors that lead to deterioration, both of which affect handling and storage of collections.
Topics Include:
- Types of textiles and associated materials
- Basic textile and fiber terminology
- Environmental factors: light, humidity, pollutants, and pests
- The relationship between environment and materials
The inner workings of a museum are known by few outside the field. This module explores costume and textiles as artifacts and objects of history and culture, as well as the interaction and roles of museum personnel.
Topics Include:
- The role of the collections manager within the museum staff
- The utilization of a costume or textiles object based on its collection’s mission statement
- The development of a successful exhibition
- How does fashion fit into a museum collection?
The focus of this course will be the handling, storage, and exhibiting of costume and textile objects. Evaluation of artifacts and proper cataloging will be explained and practiced. Emphasis will be placed on the effects of object composition on storage choices and housing materials. Specific storage methods and materials will be discussed.
Topics Include:
- Safe handling of objects
- Health and safety issues
- Accession, cataloging process, and condition reports
- Understanding the relationship between the type of object, its use, and storage planning
The logistics of managing a costume collection extend beyond the objects themselves. Issues that the museum world faces reflect those of the world-at-large. This module will explore the impact of those concerns on collections management and the museum as a whole.
Topics Include:
- Ethical issues
- Legal issues
- Financial concerns
- Insurance and security
In this intense field experience, you will assume a para-professional role in a collections setting. Mentors will monitor and evaluate your work based on pre-established criteria determined by the instructors and the hosting institution. You will also evaluate your experience at the end of the course.
Please note:
- A minimum of eight hours per week, Monday through Friday during regular business hours, is required for Fieldwork in Collections Management. Hours will be arranged between you and the hosting institution.
- You must have access to reliable personal or public transportation to the location of the hosting institution.
- You must be available for an interview.
- You may be asked to complete an online application to your institution, as part of its protocol.
- You must pass any background checks required of the institution, and provide insurance information, if requested by them.
Jessica Butler Mount Maker, Costume and Textiles, LACMA Collections Management for Costume and Textiles"The Collections Management for Costume and Textiles program was a terrific opportunity for me to take my college education in fashion design to a higher level. I initially was unsure about a completely online course but quickly discovered that high-quality teaching transcends the limits of a computer-based classroom. It was because of this thorough training that I was able to successfully secure my present employment."
Instructors
With years of experience in both film costuming and leading art institutions, Jessica Butler-Roberts currently oversees publication projects and artwork photography for a private collection of over 19,000 objects. She completed her fieldwork at the Research Library and Archive at Western Costume Company, followed by several years at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). She has worked on major exhibitions including Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear 1715-2015; Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters; and Chagall: Fantasies for the Stage. Jessica has a BA in Fashion Design and Merchandising and a MA in Art History, specializing in the intersection of dress, photography, and identity in 19th Century Paris. She also completed the CSULB's Collections Management for Costume and Textiles program.
Jessica Butler-Roberts,
Publication Coordinator, Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation
Tawny Sherrill has taught fashion history and design in the Fashion Merchandising and Design program at CSULB for many years. She has served as a consultant to costume collections and exhibitions, and catalogued the costume and textiles collection of the Fullerton Museum Center. As a dress historian, her particular area of expertise is sixteenth-century Italian women's dress, a subject on which she has published a number of articles and served as a consultant to the research of art historians. She is a founding committee member of the Collections Management for Costume and Textiles program at CSULB.
Tawny Sherrill,
Program Coordinator & Instructor
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This is a professional development program and admittance to the university is not required.
Courses I-V are offered completely online. The last course, Fieldwork in Collections Management, is a hands-on course where you will be assigned to a specific institution. During this phase of the program you will be required to log in once a week to discuss your fieldwork progress.
The program takes about one year to complete, depending upon the number of hours logged per week during the Fieldwork assignment.
The courses need to be taken in order, as each course curriculum builds on the next.
There are six courses. The first five are fully online and the last one is the Fieldwork course, a hands-on course where you will be assigned to a specific institution.
To earn the designation you must:
- Successfully complete the first five courses.
- Successfully complete the Fieldwork course (120 hours within the 16-week timeframe).
The first course, Introduction to Collections Management, can be taken any time it is offered. The other courses must be taken in order. You will not receive the Designation without taking all six courses.
The courses must be taken in order, but can be taken in different semesters. We recommend completing the program in two years.
- Discussion Questions – Generally, you will be asked to respond to one or more discussion questions. The questions require you to apply what you have learned.
- Weekly Assignments – Generally, there will be assignments each week in courses I-V. These can include hands-on tasks (with materials provided to you), short papers, participation in online discussions, and/or visits to a museum or other institution.
- Weekly Reading – Most weeks will include a reading assignment in courses I-V.
During the Fieldwork course, each student is placed with an organization, institution, or studio to complete 120 hours of supervised activity during the 16-week timeframe. Fieldwork placements are based on several factors including, but not limited to:
- the fit of the institution with the career goals of the student;
- the availability of meaningful work/projects within an institution to provide the student with experiences for them to utilize their training;
- and the availability of appropriate supervision of each student.
The first five courses must be completed before one can enroll in the Fieldwork course.
There is no letter grade for any of the courses. You will earn the Collections Management for Costume and Textiles Professional Designation upon successful completion of all courses, including the Fieldwork course. You will receive a certificate of completion that will serve as a permanent record of your accomplishment.
Yes. Courses I-V of the program use three books that also serve as resource material during and after the Fieldwork course. Please contact the program staff for more information.
Each course has an instructor who is an expert in that particular topic. During the Fieldwork course, there will be two instructors working with you on your fieldwork assignment and participating in discussions.
Yes, to a certain degree. Topics will be released one at a time at the beginning of each week. Therefore, you may not work ahead in the course. In addition, you will be expected to complete tasks by a certain day each week. You will be able to work at your own pace in the sense that you can choose when during the day or week it is most convenient for you to work on the course.
No. There will be other students in the course, dependent upon enrollment. You will be expected to interact with your classmates and the instructor each week.
Plan on spending approximately 5-10 hours per week for reading (online and off-line), engaging in assigned tasks and/or writing, and participating in class discussion. Actual time will vary from person to person due to each person’s amount of previous background experience in a topic and reading speed.
The instructor in each course will provide information on how often you will need to log in each week.
The online week has seven days:
- Day 1 Sunday
- Day 2 Monday
- Day 3 Tuesday
- Day 4 Wednesday
- Day 5 Thursday
- Day 6 Friday
- Day 7 Saturday
Participation is when you are actively involved in discussions, which are posted on the discussion board by the instructor, and contributing in meaningful ways, such as:
- Contributing new and relevant information to the discussions from personal experience
- Building on the remarks of your fellow students
- Posing questions for your fellow students
- Sharing articles, news items, websites, and other supplementary information
Our Academic Technology Services Center is available for technical support by phone or email Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
- (562) 985-4959
- helpdesk@csulb.edu
Included in each course are all directions needed to use the required features of Beachboard, our virtual classroom software.
Participants will need reliable Internet access and a PC computer with the latest Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox browser, or a Macintosh computer with the latest version of Internet Explorer to access your class.
In addition, you will need Broadband Internet connection (DSL or faster) and a soundcard (for videos included in some of the courses).
You will also need to have the latest Flash Player to access the animations and some graphics. Both of these items are available as free downloads from the Microsoft, Mozilla, and Adobe web sites.
Our Technology Enhanced Learning Center will be able to assist you with locating, downloading, and installing the browser and the player. For more detailed information specific to these online course technical requirements, call the CPIE Help Desk at (562) 985-2900.
Bobi Garland Director of Research and Costume Archive for Western Costume Collections Management for Costume and Textiles"For the past two years, Collections Management for Costume and Textiles has been integral to the restoration of Western Costume Company’s Star Collection. Housing more than 6,000 costumes worn by actors from Fred Astaire to Rudolph Valentino, WCC’s archives is preparing for a Centennial Exhibition in 2012. The fieldwork students have consistently shown that the program’s emphasis on organization and careful planning works. The students have been instrumental in anticipating problems, envisioning realistic results, and diligently executing a plan with admirable professionalism. We have accomplished much together."
Module I - Introduction to Collections Management
This course will provide an overview of critical areas in the field of collections management.
Topics Include:
- What is collections management?
- Various types of collections and the purposes they serve
- Career opportunities
- Professional organizations
Section Number:
ENT_106.(2224-1)
Dates:
Aug 28, '22 - Sep 24, '22
Schedule:
Location:
CSULB Online
Cost:
$350.00
Last Day to Enroll:
Aug 21, '22
Status:
Available
Class Schedule for Section Number ENT_106.(2224-1)
| Date | Time | Day | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, '22 | 12:00PM - 12:01PM | Sunday | Lecture |
Virtual Classroom, Online CSULB Online |
| Sep 24, '22 | 12:00PM - 12:01PM | Saturday | Lecture |
Virtual Classroom, Online CSULB Online |
Module II - Nature of Materials and Agents of Deterioration
This course will provide you with an understanding of the basic elements of textile composition and the environmental factors that lead to deterioration, both of which affect storage and handling of collections.
Topics Include:
- Types of textiles and associated materials
- Basic textile and fiber terminology
- Environmental factors: light, humidity, pollutants, and pests
- The relationship between environment and materials
Section Number:
ENT_107.(2224-1)
Dates:
Sep 25, '22 - Nov 5, '22
Schedule:
Location:
CSULB Online
Cost:
$550.00
Last Day to Enroll:
Sep 24, '22
Status:
Available
Class Schedule for Section Number ENT_107.(2224-1)
| Date | Time | Day | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, '22 | 12:00PM - 12:01PM | Sunday | Lecture |
Virtual Classroom, Online CSULB Online |
| Nov 5, '22 | 12:00PM - 12:01PM | Saturday | Lecture |
Virtual Classroom, Online CSULB Online |
Module III - The Museum World: A Further Exploration
The inner workings of a museum are known by few outside the field. This module explores costume and textiles as artifacts and objects of history and culture, as well as the interaction and roles of museum personnel.
Topics Include:
- The role of the collections manager within the museum staff
- The utilization of a costume or textiles object based on its collection’s mission statement
- The development of a successful exhibition
- How does fashion fit into a museum collection?
Section Number:
ENT_140.(2224-1)
Dates:
Nov 6, '22 - Dec 10, '22
Schedule:
Location:
CSULB Online
Cost:
$350.00
Last Day to Enroll:
Nov 5, '22
Status:
Available
Class Schedule for Section Number ENT_140.(2224-1)
| Date | Time | Day | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, '22 | 12:00PM - 12:01PM | Sunday | Lecture |
Virtual Classroom, Online CSULB Online |
| Dec 10, '22 | 12:00PM - 12:01PM | Saturday | Lecture |
Virtual Classroom, Online CSULB Online |
Module IV - Care and Storage
The focus of this course will be the handling, storage, and exhibition of costume and textile objects. Evaluation of artifacts and proper cataloging will be explained and practiced. Emphasis will be placed on the effects of object composition on storage choices and housing materials. Specific storage methods and materials will be discussed.
Topics Include:
- Safe handling of objects
- Health and safety issues
- Accession, cataloging process, and condition reports
- Understanding the relationship between the type of object, its use, and storage planning
Offerings of this program have either started or are under development. Please check back for information on the next offering email cpace-info@csulb.edu.
Module V - Issues of Collections Management
The logistics of managing a costume collection extend beyond the objects themselves. Issues that the museum world faces reflect those of the world at large. This module will explore the impact of those concerns on collections management and the museum as a whole.
Topics Include:
- Ethical issues
- Legal issues
- Financial concerns
- Insurance and security
Offerings of this program have either started or are under development. Please check back for information on the next offering email cpace-info@csulb.edu.
Module VI - Fieldwork in Collections Management
In this intense field experience, you will assume a para-professional role in a collections setting. Mentors will monitor and evaluate your work based on pre-established criteria determined by the instructors and the hosting institution. You will also evaluate your experience at the end of the course.
Please note:
- A minimum of eight hours per week, Monday through Friday during regular business hours, is required for Fieldwork in Collections Management. Hours will be arranged between you and the hosting institution.
- You must have access to reliable personal or public transportation to the location of the hosting institution.
- You must be available for an interview.
- You may be asked to complete an online application to your institution, as part of its protocol.
- You must pass any background checks required of the institution, and provide insurance information, if requested by them.
Offerings of this program have either started or are under development. Please check back for information on the next offering email cpace-info@csulb.edu.
