Heritage Studies is an exciting and intensive programme that investigates the many ways heritage is involved in the key contemporary challenges facing society. 

The programme will challenge you to think about thow the past is used in the present, what we choose to take from the past with us into the future, how places and things develop heritage value, and how heritage is used and managed. What is the difference between tangible and intangible heritage? Should we reconstruct heritage that was destroyed in war? Is authenticity important? 

Heritage's importance

We all make an effort to live with tomorrow in mind. Almost everyone wants to make their mark on history so that people will remember them in the future. Every action we take, both consciously and unconsciously, is linked to our heritage. The scientific, technological, cultural, historical, and other heritage passed down from generation to generation is largely responsible for the development of humanity.

Besides, society needs roots to feel complete and strong. Every newborn person needs to have an identity and know who their ancestors are. Nations and countries are built with the sole idea of maintaining their historical past, culture, and traditions. Without the common Heritage, communities can’t have strong ties and walk toward the same goals. It would be hard to organize public life if the members of the society do not have something valuable in common. 

Program description

Heritage Studies treats the notion of cultural heritage, together with its ideational emergence, organization, function and social role through a historical and contemporary perspective.

The Cultural Heritage Studies Program combines theoretical and practical education, offering a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches with a strong emphasis on practical knowledge and skills based on fieldwork, and internships with local, regional and global heritage organizations. Graduates of the program will be capable of working at various levels in cultural heritage and resource research, protection, and management.

The program focuses on developing aptitudes for the critical assessment of tangible structures and objects such as buildings, monuments, archaeological sites, and works of art; on intangible heritage like traditions, languages, and knowledge; and on environmental heritage connected to human-nature interactions.

Skills and knowledge

The program in Heritage Studies aims to provide advanced training in the field of Heritage Sciences, in particular in the fields of Archaeology, Art History and Museology, supporting the renewal of knowledge and synergies between specialized programs with a long teaching tradition in the Faculty.

With this program, students are expected to:

• Obtain a solid theoretical background in the field of Cultural Heritage in general, and particularly in their area of ​​expertise;

• Be able to lead fundamental and applied research programs, either in their area of ​​expertise, and in the interface between archaeology, art history and museology;

• Obtain skills for the practice of scientific communication, higher education teaching and other advanced training;

• Be able to play consultancy roles in institutions, businesses and other public and private organizations in the area of ​​Heritage Studies.

Career opportunities

The Cultural Heritage Studies Program degree should be broadly convertible, future professionals might include policy and management experts, urbanists, environmental professionals, architects, art historians, archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, museum curators, archivists, librarians, conservators of artifacts and monuments, and so on. Heritage-related activities can be connected to various types of institutions or organizational structures, with special emphasis on governmental decision-making bodies (policy issues) and networks of NGOs in the field of cultural heritage management.