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Application Guidelines
Undergraduate Degree | Course Prerequisites | Language | GRE
Experience | Portfolio | Statement of Purpose | Writing Sample
Letters of Recommendation | Interview | Fellowships
Undergraduate Degree:
A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree is required for admission to the program. Degree majors in the followìng areas of study are preferred: archaeology, anthropology, art history, cultural history, the sciences, or fields related to the study of past societies. Applicants, including those with degrees in other disciplines, may need to take a number of university courses in anthropology and/or science in order to meet admissions requirements. Transcripts for all university work must be submitted with the application for admission.
Course Prerequisites:
A minimum of one academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters) of study is required in each of the following areas:
Language:
Proficiency in one modern foreign Language must be demonstrated (see Plan of Study). Applicants for whom English is not the first language are required to submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE):
Each applicant is required to submit results from the Graduate Record Examination General Test.
Experience:
Between 200-400 hours (the equivalent of 5 to 10 weeks of full-time work) of documented practical experience in conservation is required for admission to the program. The requirement is meant to ensure the applicant's familiarity with conservation as a career option. Appropriate experience (volunteer, paid, or a combination) includes field work, laboratory experience, exhibit preparation, or similar responsibilities performed under the supervision of a professional conservator. A letter of recommendation is required from at least one conservation supervisor (see Letters of Recommendation).
Portfolio:
Each applicant is required to submit a portfolio that demonstrates an understanding of the characteristics of materials and dexterity in their handling, fabrication, and preservation.
Because of their common application in the conservation field, it is recommended that the portfolio include samples of representational drawing, photography, and/or scientific illustration. These samples should demonstrate the use of drawing and photography for documentation purposes, particularly those produced during an applicant’s experience in a conservation lab, fieldwork, or exhibition preparation. Samples of other studio arts and crafts may also be included, such as painting, ceramics, sculpture, weaving, papermaking, woodworking, basketry, etc.
The portfolios must not exceed an 8-1/2"x11" format and should include only those examples that best represent the applicant's skill.
Evaluation of the portfolio will consider the applicant's familiarity with materials and their handling, technical aptitude, and clarity of presentation.
Statement of Purpose:
Each applicant is required to submit a "Statement of Purpose" that describes his or her previous experìence in conservation and related fields, plan of study, and professional goals.
Writing Sample:
Each applicant is required to supply a written sample of previous research in archaeology, anthropology, art history, conservation, the sciences, or related fields. This may be in the form of one or more publications, papers for college courses, conservation reports, etc.
Letters of Recommendation:
Three letters of recommendation must be submitted by each applicant. One letter must be from a conservation supervisor, and one must be from a former professor.