Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Naval Museums and Heritage Course

This course immerses you in maritime history through the study of its objects and stories. You will learn to value, conserve and communicate naval heritage, from historic ships and shipbuilding to famous naval battles, and to master collection management, the design of engaging exhibitions and heritage interpretation strategies that connect with the public.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
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About the program

What is the Naval Museums and Heritage Course?

This short course gives you a complete view of naval and maritime heritage and of the museums that care for it. You will study the concept of naval heritage and its historical, technical and symbolic value; its tangible and intangible forms, from vessels, charts and instruments to trades, rituals and sea vocabulary; floating museums, fortifications, lighthouses, shipyards and ports; naval museology, curatorial narrative and types of maritime museum; inventory, cataloguing and provenance of collections; preventive conservation against humidity, salinity, light and other agents; the treatment of wood, metal, textiles, paper and composites; museum ships and naval archives; and underwater cultural heritage and maritime archaeology.

What sets this course apart: it combines museology, conservation and archaeology in a single program focused on the sea; it treats intangible heritage, such as trades, traditions and the memory of coastal communities, with the same care as objects and ships; it covers the specific challenges of conserving historic vessels and objects recovered from water, such as desalination and stabilization; it works with case studies of naval heritage management in different settings; and it ends with a final project in which you diagnose a museum, collection or heritage site and design a proposal to manage, interpret or enhance it.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Naval heritage foundations: tangible and intangible heritage and its link with coastal identity.
  • Naval museology: curatorial narrative, types of maritime museum and exhibition storytelling.
  • Collection management: inventory, cataloguing, classification and documented provenance.
  • Conservation and restoration: preventive conservation, materials, museum ships and naval archives.
  • Underwater heritage: wrecks, maritime archaeology, looting risks and treatment of recovered objects.
  • Final project: diagnosis and enhancement proposal for a museum, collection or heritage site.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Naval Museums and Heritage Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Historical, conceptual and cultural foundations of naval and maritime heritage as tangible and intangible assets

  • 1.1. The concept of naval and maritime heritage: definitions, scope, categories and historical, technical and symbolic value
  • 1.2. Historical evolution of naval heritage: arsenals, ships, charts, instruments, archives and the memory of maritime communities
  • 1.3. Tangible and intangible heritage of the naval world: vessels, uniforms, rituals, trades, vocabulary and sea traditions
  • 1.4. The relationship between naval heritage, collective identity and the construction of historical memory in coastal and port societies
  • 1.5. Main types of naval heritage assets: floating museums, fortifications, lighthouses, shipyards, ports and specialized collections
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Naval museology, collection management and criteria for interpreting maritime heritage in exhibition spaces

  • 2.1. Foundations of museology applied to the naval field: institutional mission, curatorial narrative and construction of the exhibition discourse
  • 2.2. Types of naval and maritime museum: historical, technical, military, port and archaeological museums and interpretation centers
  • 2.3. Management of naval collections: inventory, cataloguing, classification, provenance and documentary traceability of objects
  • 2.4. Criteria for heritage interpretation: historical context, technical value, symbolic relevance and mediation with the public
  • 2.5. Design of exhibition narratives about navies, ships, exploration, trade and naval conflicts
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Conservation, restoration and technical documentation of tangible naval heritage in museums, archives and repositories

  • 3.1. Principles of preventive conservation applied to naval heritage: humidity, salinity, temperature, light and agents of deterioration
  • 3.2. Conservation of naval materials: wood, metals, textiles, paper, leather, paints and composite materials of maritime origin
  • 3.3. Restoration of historic naval objects: intervention criteria, authenticity, reversibility and technical documentation of the process
  • 3.4. Conservation of historic vessels and museum ships: structures, decks, machinery, interiors and heritage stability
  • 3.5. Management of archives, plans, nautical charts, logbooks and historical documentation of naval value
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Underwater naval heritage, maritime archaeology and protection of historic remains linked to the sea

  • 4.1. The concept of underwater cultural heritage: wrecks, submerged structures, cargoes and maritime archaeological contexts
  • 4.2. Foundations of nautical and maritime archaeology: methods of location, recording, excavation and interpretation of finds
  • 4.3. Risks of deterioration, looting and loss of context at underwater sites of heritage value
  • 4.4. Conservation and display of objects recovered from water: desalination, stabilization and specialized treatment
  • 4.5. Integration of underwater heritage into naval museums and maritime interpretation centers
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Final project: management, interpretation or enhancement of a naval museum, collection or heritage site

  • 5.1. Identification and selection of the case study: naval museum, historic ship, specialized collection, archive or maritime heritage site
  • 5.2. Historical, museological and heritage diagnosis of the case: context, state of conservation, cultural value and potential audiences
  • 5.3. Design of a management, conservation or interpretation proposal: objectives, scope, methodology and intervention criteria
  • 5.4. Development of an outreach and enhancement strategy: narrative, exhibition resources, educational program and cultural reach
  • 5.5. Preparation of the final technical report: structure, documentation, critical analysis and proposal for improvement or enhancement
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Naval Museums and Heritage Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Naval Museums and Heritage Course

01Catalog and conserve naval objects, documenting the provenance, materials and condition of each piece and applying preventive and corrective conservation suited to its type and history.
02Interpret and communicate maritime history with historical rigor, placing events in context and explaining their social and economic impact on the region.
03Design and manage interactive exhibitions, turning engaging narratives into immersive visitor experiences with good circulation and universal accessibility.
04Promote understanding of the impact of navies and seafaring on society, analyzing their influence on technological, economic and cultural development.
05Develop educational programs on naval culture, designing and running interactive workshops on maritime history and shipbuilding for different audiences.
06Encourage research on naval and maritime heritage, framing well-documented projects that add to knowledge of collections, ships and historical sources.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Naval Museums and Heritage Course

01Collections managercataloguing, conservation and display of naval objects.
02Museum educator or guideeducational programs and guided tours in naval museums.
03Naval historian or researcherstudy and documentation of maritime and naval history.
04Exhibition techniciandesign and installation of exhibitions in naval museums and interpretation centers.
05Cultural project managerdevelopment and management of projects related to naval heritage.
06Naval archivistorganization and management of documentary archives related to naval history.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Naval Museums and Heritage Course

Maritime history, technology and culture: ships and shipbuilding, navigation instruments, naval conflicts, trade and exploration, and the life and traditions of seafaring communities.

Tangible heritage includes ships, objects, charts, buildings and archives; intangible heritage covers trades, rituals, vocabulary, traditions and the memory of maritime communities. The course works with both.

Yes. You will study preventive conservation, the treatment of wood, metal, textiles, paper and other materials, the restoration of historic objects and the care of museum ships and naval archives.

Yes. A full module covers wrecks and submerged sites, maritime archaeology methods, the risks of looting and deterioration, and the conservation and display of objects recovered from water.

This is a shorter course centered on naval heritage itself, its conservation and its interpretation; the diploma goes further into the management, finances and exhibition program of maritime museums.

It is helpful but not essential. A background in history, archaeology, conservation or a related field, or a strong interest in naval heritage, is enough to follow the course.

Through case studies in each module and a final project in which you diagnose a naval museum, collection or heritage site and propose how to manage, interpret or enhance it.

Related programs

More programs in Culture and heritage

View the whole area →

Short course · 300 hMaritime Legends and Folklore Course$460 · View program →Short course · 300 hNaval Battles and Maritime Conflicts Course$490 · View program →Master’s degree · 1,500 hMaster's in Museology and Maritime Heritage Management$1,540 · View program →
Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at museum professionals, historians and archaeologists interested in naval heritage, educators and tour guides, cultural heritage managers and enthusiasts of naval history and maritime culture; a degree in history, archaeology, conservation and restoration, museology, fine arts, architecture or a related field, or proven experience in museums, archives, heritage institutions or the naval sector, is recommended.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and software to view PDF documents and images.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $196 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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