Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management

Program Overview:

As a Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management specialist, you will learn a wide range of techniques to save the fragile reminders and markers of the past - preserved for future generations to learn from and enjoy.

This two-year Ontario College graduate certificate is an intensive, fast-paced learning experience that you will undertake in four consecutive semesters. You'll start your classes in September and spend your first three semesters, during the fall, winter and summer, at the college. Following your introduction to the field of conservation, you will gain valuable, applied and skills-based experience in the care and handling of most common museum materials, including ceramics, glass, stone, metals, wooden objects, leather and proteinaceous materials, textiles, works of art on paper, books, archival materials, photographs and modern materials. Updated curriculum reflects a focus on hands-on skills, experienced based learning, practical applications, beyond best practices and professional standards rooted in ethical applications. Once you've learned the theory and practical skills, you'll treat museum artifacts from local, regional, and national sites. Complementary courses, workshops, assignments, and community-based projects will offer off campus opportunities to practice conservation methods. A full-time, unpaid, curriculum-based internship in your final semester (September to December) provides an invaluable learning and work experience.

Admission Requirements:

• GPA: 2.6 or above

• IELTS: Overall 6.5 with no band below than 6.0

• PTE: No band below than 58

Tuition and Fee: Click Here

Learning Outcomes:

• Adhere to recognized safety practices and professional, legal and ethical standards within the conservation profession.

• Assess, manage and control a museum environment to provide sustainable and optimal care for collections.

• Monitor, protect and maintain artifacts in storage, on display and in transit.

• Assess and complete conservation treatments on a variety of materials and media found in collections using relevant knowledge of physical sciences.

• Collect, research, document, interpret and preserve tangible and intangible heritage using current data collection methods and best practices according to industry standards.

Career Outlook:

Expect to find work in heritage, historical, or cultural organizations and centres, such as archives, museums, historic sites, cultural/heritage institutions, interpretation centres and conservation labs. The employment rate of graduates is very impressive, especially if you are willing to move for work, and take the initiative in developing a network of contacts in the field. Job titles include:

• conservation assistant

• museum assistant

• curatorial assistant

• conservator

• collections care coordinator

• museum registrar

• heritage interpreter

• preservation officer

• preparator

Program Intake: September