Graduate Certificate in Heritage Preservation

The Advanced Certificate in Heritage Preservation builds on the idea of public history as the collection, preservation, and dissemination of information about the past, beyond the academic program and to the general public. Heritage preservation is dedicated to preserving, conserving, and protecting buildings, objects, landscapes, and other artifacts of historical significance. Preservationists and conservators (those who actively restore and rehabilitate historic artifacts) work in organizations like archives, libraries, museums, historical societies, public policy organizations, schools, government organizations and parks, churches, media, and corporations.

Program Design

The Heritage Preservation certificate consists of 12 credits (four, 3-credit courses). Courses are taught through online instruction and may include teleconference or onsite instruction.

Required Courses and Suggested Sequence

LACS 6040 Museums and Public History: Theory and Practices (3 Credits)

This web-supported course takes up historical and cultural theory to examine through interdisciplinary lenses how museums co-create history and public memory with communities. Through readings, research, discussion, and use of on-line resources, students explore institutional histories and current trends in the thinking and practices of academic and museum professionals, with a focus on identity, authority, and representation. They trace shifts in correspondent communities' and public expectations, with comparative views of venues and performance that represent history outside established institutions, including cross-cultural examples. They also consider how technology has changed certain museum practices and functions, in particular through the appraisal and comparison of on-line virtual museums and live visits to museums. This is an existing course within the Advanced Certificate in Public History.

LACS 6245 Preservation, Material and History (3 Credits)

This web-supported course allows students to become acquainted with perspectives on heritage preservation and a theoretical and methodological repertoire to realize new learning through investigation of particular subjects and issues. The study focuses on the intersections between heritage preservation and material culture (including art and architecture). Questions related to museum studies, consumption theories and patterns, the concept of cultural property, or a closer focus on a specialty topic, such as a particular type of material or artifact and its history, use, and interpretation will be considered.

LACS 6240 Preservation Policy and Law (3 Credits)

This web-supported course asks students to learn about preservation policies and laws. Questions of intellectual and cultural property, as understood within the United States and throughout the world, will be considered through study of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (including Section 106), the International Centre for the Study of the 6 Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), the US National Trust for Historic Preservation, the

National Register of Historic Places, the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and the National Park Service. Students will also learn about the history of the preservation movement and the process of nominating properties for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

LACS 7005 Internship (3 Credits)

In line with recommendations of the National Council on Public History, the mission of the internships are as follows: “Internships are an important part of public history education that allow students to gain new insights into the nature of public history practice by engaging in meaningful work under the mentorship of experienced and knowledgeable public history professionals. Successful internships provide students with work experience combined with structured opportunities to reflect on their activities and connect their practical experience with the skills and knowledge gained in their public history training.”6 Internships for the Advanced Certificate in Heritage Preservation must focus on preservation, conservation, or collection care. This is an existing course within the Advanced Certificate in Public History.

Admission and Advisement

Admission to the certificate program requires the applicant to submit an official transcript of his or her bachelor’s degree along with a complete application. Initial advising will be provided by the certificate program coordinator, Dr. Anastasia Pratt.

While the 12 credits of this certificate may be transferred into the M.A. in liberal studies, acceptance will require candidates to apply to the master’s degree program and complete the full admission process. Completion of the graduate certificate does not guarantee admission to the master’s program.

Advanced certificates may be incorporated into a related master's degree for those meeting the program admission requirements.

Apply online or request information for more details on the certificate in Heritage Preservation.