University museums play a unique role in science popularization education. The development of science popularization courses in these museums not only extends formal education but also serves as a vital channel for disseminating scientific knowledge. In the new era，it is essential to explore how university museums can effectively utilize their rich and distinctive collections for educational purposes. This study focuses on the University of Southern California Pacific Asia Museum as a case study to examine its practice and experience in developing science popularization courses based on constructivist theory. The findings reveal that the museum’s courses feature clear goals，diverse content，a varied teaching staff，and a robust evaluation system. The study proposes a four-dimensional approach to course development in university museums：setting clear course objectives，infusing distinctive content，ensuring adequate faculty support，and enhancing development through evaluation. This framework aims to provide guidance for developing science popularization courses in Chinese university museums and to support the effective implementation of science education activities in these institutions.

constructivism  /  university museum  /  science popularization courses  /  University of Southern California Pacific Asia Museum