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Introduction

by carolinetam — last modified April 16, 2013 02:23 PM

The UCLA/Getty Master’s Program in the Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials is a cooperative effort between UCLA and the Getty Conservation Institute. Administered through the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, the program grants a three-year M.A. degree in Conservation. The mission of the program is to educate and train students in the highest standard of conservation practice and decision-making and to prepare them to work as professionals in the preservation of archaeological and cultural materials.

The program provides a multidisciplinary education drawn from collaborations within the university, and with conservation specialists at both the Getty Conservation Institute and Getty Museum, as well as at regional museums. It is distinguished by its emphasis on materials, technologies, and cultural preservation closely associated with archaeological and ethnographic objects, found both in collections as well as on site, including rock art, wall paintings and mosaics. Stressing the importance of working within a cultural context and as part of an interdisciplinary team, the program emphasizes the collaborative nature of conservation. Program goals include enhancing the standards of conservation treatment and research through the application of both cultural understanding and scientific methods of documentation, examination, analysis, and practice.

The preparation of the students is based on a three-year intensive curriculum consisting of two years of coursework, electives within the university, independent study opportunities, and internships in museums and sites. Students complete a master’s thesis, which includes a component of innovative research in any of the fields of conservation covered in the program.

The faculty members and academic staff of the Conservation Program are:

Ioanna Kakoulli

Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

Ellen Pearlstein

Associate Professor, Information Studies and the UCLA/Getty Program in the Conservation of Ethnographic and Archaeological Materials

David A. Scott

Professor of Art History

Christian Fischer

Professor in Residence of Materials Science and Engineering

Vanessa Muros

Conservation Specialist and Lecturer, UCLA/Getty Conservation Program

Tharron Bloomfield

Visiting Professor of Information Studies

To learn more about the conservation program, check out our blog, our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

For further information on the field of conservation, visit the following Web sites: American Institute for Conservation (AIC) , Conservation OnLine (COOL) , and International Institute for Conservation (IIC) .

Contact information:

Ioanna Kakoulli
Chair

Amber Cordts-Cole
Program Coordinator

Mailing Address:

Conservation Program
Cotsen Institute of Archaeology
308 Charles E. Young Dr. North
A210 Fowler Building/Box 951510
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1510

Fax: (310) 206-4723

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