Program Overview

Art (Museum Conservation) - Bachelor of Fine Arts

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Museum Conservation provides an academic structure within which students master specific sets of practical skills while developing broad professional and theoretical perspectives toward the issue of conserving objects in a museum or collection setting. By combining theory with practice, the program offers students the interpretive, quantitative, and administrative skills needed for careers as conservators, curators, registrars, collections managers, exhibit designers, and museum administrators.

Requirements

• General Education requirements
• Viewing a Wider World requirements
• Elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above
• Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework

Course List

General Education

• Area I: Communications (10 credits)
  • English Composition - Level 1
  • English Composition - Level 2
  • Oral Communication
• Area II: Mathematics (3-4 credits)
• Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences (10-11 credits)
  • CHEM 1215G: General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • CHEM 1225G: General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • Area IV: Social Behavioral Science Course (3 credits)
• Area V: Humanities (3 credits)
• Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts
  • ARTH 2110G: History of Art I
  • ARTH 2120G: History of Art II
• Viewing A Wider World (6 credits)

Departmental/College Requirements

• Both ARTH 2110G and ARTH 2120G count towards Area VI and the General Education elective and Departmental/College Requirements
• Both CHEM 1215G and CHEM 1225G count towards Area III and Area III-IV General Education elective and Department/College Requirements
• Science: Select Option A or Option B (16 credits)
  • Option A
    • CHEM 313: Organic Chemistry I
    • CHEM 314: Organic Chemistry II
    • Choose one sequence from the following for eight credits
  • Option B
    • CHEM 1215G: General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
    • CHEM 1225G: General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
    • CHEM 2120: Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
    • BIOL 2110G & BIOL 2110L: Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory
• Art Department requirements
  • ARTS 1121: STUDIO CORE I: Concept Development--Process and Play
  • ARTS 1630: Painting I
  • ARTS 1610: Drawing I
  • ARTH 2136: Writing in Art
  • ARTS 401: Museum Conservation Techniques I
  • ARTS 402: Museum Conservation Techniques II
  • ARTS 403: Preventative Conservation/Collections Care
  • ARTS 490: Museum Conservation Internship
  • Choose three 300-400 ARTH courses
  • Choose two ARTS courses or 300-400 level ARTS course
• Non-Departmental Requirements (in addition to Gen.Ed/VWW)
  • History/Anthropology
    • ANTH 315: Introduction to Archaeology
    • Select three credits of HIST with the approval of the program advisor
    • Select nine credits of ANTH with the approval of the program advisor
• Second Language Requirement: Not required
• Electives, to bring the total credits to 120

Suggested Plan of Study

Two options are provided for a suggested plan of study, Option A and Option B, each detailing a four-year course plan to complete the degree requirements.

Option A

• Freshman year: General Education courses, English Composition, Mathematics, Social/Behavioral Sciences, General Chemistry I, STUDIO CORE I, History of Art I, and elective courses
• Sophomore year: General Chemistry II, Drawing I, Painting I, History of Art II, Organic Chemistry I, and elective courses
• Junior year: Viewing a Wider World courses, Organic Chemistry II, Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Introduction to Archaeology, Preventative Conservation/Collections Care, and elective courses
• Senior year: Museum Conservation Techniques I, Museum Conservation Techniques II, Museum Conservation Internship, and elective courses

Option B

• Freshman year: Similar to Option A with adjustments in the sequence of art and science courses
• Sophomore year: General Chemistry II, Drawing I, Painting I, History of Art II, Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, and elective courses
• Junior year: Viewing a Wider World courses, Introduction to Archaeology, Principles of Biology, Preventative Conservation/Collections Care, Museum Conservation Techniques I, and elective courses
• Senior year: Viewing a Wider World, ANTH elective courses, Museum Conservation Techniques II, and elective courses

Notes

• For students interested in graduate school in this major, it is highly recommended to obtain a B- or better for all Museum Conservation Requirements.
• The roadmap assumes student placement in ENGL 1110G Composition I and may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English.
• Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.
• Students should work with their program advisor to select approved courses to meet specific requirements.