Preservation Studies (PhD)

Requirements for the Degrees

Upon their acceptance into the Program, students will meet with their advisors to formalize their curricula. They will choose approved courses relevant to their area of concentration and projected course of study. Areas of concentration include: Historic Preservation Planning (including Structures, Landscape, and Preservation of Social and Cultural Context), Preservation Technologies, Conservation Research and Technical Studies, and Heritage Management. Each student’s curriculum must include a balance of courses that provide an introduction to the wide range of theoretical and methodological issues as well as courses supporting individual preservation research endeavors. Theoretical and methodological breadth ensures that all students in Preservation Studies are familiar with basic procedures of research design and data handling and analysis needed to conduct dissertation research. Eighteen credits of coursework are required. A non-credit seminar for presentation of research in progress will also be required for three semesters (PRES 801 ). Three courses will be required as approved by the advisor, selected in consultation with the student. There will be three electives. Once advanced to candidacy, students must register for at least 9 credits of PhD dissertation credit (PRES 969 ). (A total of 27 course credits.) Proficiency in one or more foreign languages may be required for certain areas of concentration and/or dissertation topics and will be determined by the chair of the dissertation committee. Likewise, proficiency in certain practical laboratory techniques may be necessary for certain concentrations.

After 18 credits of course work have been graded, the student must pass a written qualifying examination in the areas of concentration, supervised by senior faculty from the appropriate departments. The scope and content of the examination will be determined by the dissertation committee chair in consultation with the PSP director and members of the committee and/or professors of courses the student has completed for the concentration requirement. The qualifying examination must be passed before the student proceeds to candidacy. One semester after passing the qualifying examination, the student must submit a formal dissertation proposal (of about 10-15 pages) to his or her dissertation committee. The completed dissertation is expected to reflect the results of original and high quality research of significance to preservation studies, written in a scholarly and literary manner worthy of publication. The student will conduct an oral defense of the dissertation to all members of the dissertation committee.