Conservation of Art and Cultural Heritage and Conservation Science and Imaging, M.A./M.S.

Admission Requirements

The Garman Art Conservation Department employs a holistic admissions process to admit the most promising candidates to the dual M.A./M.S. program. We are committed to equity in the admissions process, and our requirements and criteria for assessment are explained below.

1.) Undergraduate degree with a GPA of at least 2.8 evidenced by official transcripts from accredited institutions of higher education.

2.) Course work in the three areas below. Please note that the required course credits are given in semester credit hours. To calculate quarter hours to semester hour equivalents, multiply by 2/3. For example, 6 quarter hours are equal to 4 semester hours. A grade for each class must appear, except for some qualifying studio art and craft courses (see 2c. below). We may request catalog descriptions or syllabi to determine if a course meets the requirements. For courses taken spring 2020 through spring 2021 pass/fail grades will be accepted. For courses in progress at the time of application, please provide evidence of enrollment with your application.

2a.) Art History and Cultural Heritage: 18 Semester Credit Hours (9 credits must be Art History coursework).
Course distribution: Qualifying courses require a specific focus on art and artifacts and may include courses within art history, physical anthropology, and archaeology. Examples of courses that do not meet this requirement are history, museum or collections studies, library science, literature or film studies, urban economics, human biology, evolution, languages, administration, internships. Courses in conservation may be listed under conservation experience. This requirement ensures exposure to and understanding of a wide array of artistic, cultural, and historic works, as well as critical thinking, vocabulary, and writing skills.

2b.) Science: 16 Semester Credit Hours
Course distribution: Must include two semesters of introductory/general chemistry with labs and one semester of organic chemistry with lab, or equivalent coursework. A fourth-semester science course with a lab is required and may be one of the following: organic chemistry II, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, physical chemistry, material science, mineralogy, or physics. Courses for non-science majors will not be accepted. In-person or hands-on laboratory courses are required unless your education was affected by the pandemic (Spring 2020 through Spring 2021). This requirement ensures applicants have the necessary science background, including familiarity with laboratory skills, equipment and techniques, and the scientific grounding for advanced content in each conservation specialty.

2c.) Studio Art and Craft: 12 Semester Credit Hours or equivalent (see below)
Course distribution: Hands-on courses in a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional arts and crafts. Currently, non-credit formal studio art courses taught at museums and community centers can be counted toward this requirement at the rate of approximately 25 hours of studio time for one semester credit. Please submit documentation including institution name, course description, and course duration; no grade submission is required. Note: Courses that do not meet the requirement include computer graphics, digital photography, and short one- and two-day workshops. The intent of this requirement is for the applicant to demonstrate familiarity with a range of materials and techniques, fine hand/motor skills, and manual dexterity.

3.) Portfolio of Studio Art and Craft: Please submit a total of 7-10 works in both two and three dimensions. Works submitted do not have to be the result of formal studio courses. Note: Do not submit computer graphics, photography, abstract or expressionist artworks, as they do not demonstrate the manual skills we are evaluating. Include a cover page with the following information for each work: Title, media and support (include all materials and techniques employed), year created
context (academic course, independent project, etc.). Indicate how the work shows your proficiency with the materials and/or techniques. Include detailed images where appropriate. This requirement demonstrates the applicant’s hand skills and communicates mastery of materials and techniques to the selection committee. A high level of manual proficiency is necessary to learn and perform refined conservation treatments and scientific analyses.

4.) Conservation and related experience: Hands-on experience working under the guidance of a professional conservator at a museum, library, archive, regional center, and/or in a private conservation practice is highly recommended. This experience helps develop hand skills, acquire terminology, and allowing applicants to gain familiarity with the field before committing to a graduate program. Preventive conservation, courses in conservation, conference attendance, object handling, and other museum/library/archives tasks are also beneficial experiences. Most candidates accepted into the program demonstrate an awareness of conservation ethics and principles and have basic treatment experience.

5.) Curriculum Vitae (C.V.): Please follow the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Emerging Conservation Professionals Network (ECPN) Guidelines for Resumes and CVs. https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Resume_and_Curriculum_Vitae

6.) Personal Statement: Please provide a 1,000-word statement explaining why you are pursuing art conservation as a career, your strengths, your interest in the graduate-level education provided by the Garman Art Conservation Department, and how such training relates to your goals. Previous applicants should discuss any new skills or experiences since their last application.

7.) Letters of Recommendation: Please submit (only) three letters of recommendation. Two letters must be from conservators and/or allied professionals who can indicate your level of experience and likelihood of future success in the field of conservation. One must be from a professor or other academic reference who can speak to your academic ability and likelihood of success in an intensive graduate program. We recognize that some applicants may have difficulty obtaining an academic reference, and in such cases, a reference from a professional or supervisor will be accepted.

8.) English Language Requirements: Applicants for whom English is a second language must submit documentation of English language proficiency with a score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test as documentation of English language proficiency. Applicants may be considered for admission with a minimum TOEFL score of 550 or higher on the paper exam or 79 on the Internet exam, an IELTS score of 6.0 or higher, or a Duolingo score of 100 or higher. Further information for International Applicants is available here: Graduate Studies.

Applicants should also review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in this catalog.

Application Deadline

Completed admission applications must be received by the department office no later than January 2 of the year in which admission is sought.