StudyQA — Master: Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

The MA is a two-year degree program (30 credits) that emphasizes the development of a broad understanding of heritage contexts and policies along with development of professional skills. It is open as a stand-alone program to students with a bachelor degree or its equivalent. The program welcomes application from interested students in a variety of majors. Students currently enrolled in graduate programs and wishing to pursue cultural heritage issues as a complementary field are also welcome to apply. Application to the program is competitive.

CHAPS provides a unique opportunity for students to study cultural heritage preservation within a global context. In 2013, the program entered into a five year renewable Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCO. Working in partnership with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, this collaboration provides opportunities for collaborative research projects and exchanges, summer programs and workshops, as well as events and activities such as exhibitions and conferences. We are certain that, as in many other fields, a global view will increasingly inform 21st century national, state, and local preservation policy.

There is a strong multidisciplinary and cross-cultural emphasis as well. Faculty includes member of the Departments of Art History, History, Anthropology, American Studies, The Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, among others, as well as visiting academics and professionals in relevant fields. Courses are also offered through CHAPS Abroad, which emphasizes interaction with faculty and heritage professionals within the host country.

A major focus is practical professional experiences, which includes internship or fieldwork experience with an appropriate cultural institution, firm, or governmental agency. Opportunities are available at local, national and international levels, and reflect the student's area of focus, which is determined at the end of the first year. Areas of focus might include: Architectural Preservation; Landscape and Site Preservation; Collections Management, Cultural Resources Preservation/Management; Museum/Heritage Management, Policy and Ethics.

A Master's thesis demonstrating the student's ability to design and carry out a research project of significance to cultural heritage preservation is required for completion of the degree.

All students have the opportunity of pursuing a summer abroad experience through CHAPS Abroad. Students wishing to focus on international cultural heritage issues have the option of pursuing the "global focus", which requires a period of international study (summer or semester) in an approved university or academic program associated with CHAPS Abroad.

30 credits (9 at 600 level)
Two required courses: 6 credits
Four electives in three areas: 12 credits
Internship/Field work component: 6 credits
Thesis project: 6 credits
Proficiency in one foreign language at intermediate level

Two courses are required core courses:

Seminar in Cultural Heritage Preservation
Development and Preservation in Large Cities: An International Perspective or Historic Preservation in the US: History and Evolution

Four elective courses must be selected from the following general categories:

Theoretical/Historical Aspects of Cultural Heritage Preservation
Approaches to Managing and Sustaining Cultural Heritage
Values, Stakeholders and Custodianship
Administration/Ethics and Policy Issues

Courses originating in the Department of Art History and courses anchored in other departments and units can be used to fulfill this requirement. Many courses fill requirements in more than one category. Students choose which category they want a course to satisfy in consultation with their advisor. The internship/fieldwork component is designed in consultation with the advisor and must be approved by the Director of the program.

The foreign language requirement may by fulfilled by providing evidence of successful completion of two years of a foreign language beyond the introductory level or by passing a language exam in any language useful to the student's area of study. Reading courses are available from the various language departments at the university. The exam should be completed by the end of the student's first year.