Material Culture Conservation - Arab Academy fo

The Material Culture Conservation program is an interdisciplinary field of study that focuses on the preservation, analysis, and care of cultural materials, encompassing various materials and civilizations. Through hands-on learning and research, students develop advanced skills in conservation methods, scientific analysis, and preservation techniques to prepare them for careers in museums, archaeological sites, and research institutions. The program also explores ethical and legal aspects of conservation and offers elective options in conservation cultural materials and architectural conservation.

Program Outline

Material Culture Conservation Program Extraction:

Degree Overview:

Program Description: The Material Culture Conservation program is an applied and systematic study of the history and techniques of cultural materials in various civilizations of the ancient world.
Objectives:
Provide students with modern and advanced methods and techniques of examination and analysis of archaeological cultural materials through an interdisciplinary approach.
Equip students with modern methods of care and conservation of cultural materials.
Develop students' administrative and technical skills to actively participate in preserving cultural materials in museums, public libraries, and archaeological sites.
Learning Outcomes:
Attain adequate knowledge of preservation, conservation, and restoration techniques for material culture.
Conduct applied research using library research, museums, laboratory investigation, and fieldwork.
Understand modern applied scientific methods in conservation of cultural materials.
Create practical methods in the field of conservation of cultural materials.
Acquire working knowledge of museums and site management, and preservation of cultural heritage theory and practice.
Formulate an academic opinion on different theories of preservation, conservation, and restoration of cultural materials.
Develop a strategic plan for the care and conservation of material culture in archaeological sites, museums, and archaeometric laboratories.
Attain a working knowledge of the different dynamics of laws and legislations of material culture conservation.

Outline:

Structure: The program is composed of a core curriculum, a concentration, and electives.
Course Schedule: The program spans 8 terms.
Individual Modules:
Term 1:
HT1031: Rhetoric in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage I
HT1011: Introduction to Heritage Theory and Practice
CB 100: Introduction to Surveying
HT1061: Introduction to Egyptian Archaeology
Term 2:
HT1032: Rhetoric in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage II
HT1044: World Archaeology II
HT1021: Archaeological Illustration
HT1042: Introduction to Biology
HT1041: Science and Technology of the Ancient Societies
HT1091: Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology
Term 3:
HT2063: Introduction to the History of the Classical World
HT1071: Introduction to African Archaeology
HT2045: World Archaeology II
HT2012: Introduction to Museum and Exhibition Management
HT2022: Digital Heritage
HT2062: Introduction to Coptic Archaeology
Term 4:
HT2081: Introduction to Islamic Archaeology
HT2014: Heritage Site Management and Fundamentals of Conservation
LED905: Personal Leadership Development
HT2046: Archaeology Theory and Practice
HT2013: Advanced and Critical Museology
HT2033: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Term 5:
HT3015: Heritage Ethics and Politics
HT3034: Heritage and Media I
HT3051: Introduction to Conservation and Restoration Theory and Practice
HT3052: Care and Conservation of Oil Paintings
HT3053: Restoration and Conservation of Wooden Material Culture
HT3054: Minerals and Rocks in Archaeology
Term 6:
HT3047: Archaeological Chemistry
HT3035: Heritage and Media II
HT3055: Restoration and Conservation of Archaeological Textile and Rugs
HT3056: Restoration and Conservation of Mural Paintings
HT3057: Restoration and Conservation of Stones
HT3058: Examination and Analysis of Inorganic Materials
HT4040: Practicum
Term 7:
HT4016: Critical Heritage Studies
HT4048: Bioarchaeology
HT4051: Care and Conservation of Manuscripts I: Archaeological Papyrus and Parchment
HT4052: Restoration and Conservation of Material Culture: Metals and Alloys
Term 8:
HT4036: Ethnoarchaeology and Archaeological Ethnography
HT4023: Computational Archaeology: GIS, 3D Scanning and Remote Sensing
HT4053: Care and Conservation of Manuscripts II: Books and Archival Documents
HT4050: Bachelor Thesis
Elective Courses:
Conservation Cultural Materials:
HT4057: Care and Conservation of Ethnographic Objects
HT4058: Methods of Pests Control in Material Culture
HT4059: Minerals and Rocks in Archaeology
HT4054: Preventive Conservation for Organic Material Culture
HT4055: Care and Conservation of Photographic Materials
HT4056: Care and Conservation of Mummy Portraits, Icons and Cartonnage
Architectural Conservation:
HT40513: Conservation of Underwater Archaeological Material Culture
HT40514: Care and Conservation of Human Remains
HT40515: Restoration and Conservation of Archaeological Pottery and Glass
HT40510: Preventive Conservation for Organic Material Culture
HT40511: Conservation Techniques of Plastered Artefacts
HT40512: Analysis, Techniques and Conservation of Mudbrick

Careers:

Potential Career Paths:
Pursue graduate studies and work in academia as researchers or instructors.
Work as a conservator on foreign missions and salvage projects.
Work for international funding boards in the cultural sector (USAID, EU Commission, UNDP, World Bank, the Agha Khan Foundation, UNESCO).
Work on cultural heritage management projects post-conflict.
Work as a professional writer and media expert in conservation of cultural materials.
Work in governmental entities worldwide concerned with the conservation of material culture.
Work on research projects in libraries, museums, and archaeological sites.
Work in the tourism industry on study tours.
Work in private and public companies specializing in the preservation, conservation, and restoration of material culture.

Other:

Prerequisites: Students must have a "Science" high school degree in Thanawiya Amma or its equivalent.
Accreditation and Cooperation: Data will be available soon.