Programs & Degrees
The Program in Heritage Conservation Science builds on strengths in the MSE department. These include ceramics and metallurgy, glass and polymer degradation and metal corrosion, optical and laser science and instrumentation development, atomic force and electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. Our new program adds experimental knowledge of materials-based preservation problems to a museum conservation laboratory component that involves materials identification, artifact technical studies, and the stabilization and treatment of objects of art and archaeology.

Our new program builds on the University of Arizona tradition of interdisciplinary studies of culture, science and technology studies, an undergraduate concentration in cultural materials offered by MSE as well as a doctoral program in in Heritage Conservation Science in MSE. David Kingery (1926-2000) proposed this program for the University of Arizona in 1988 after having spent a year studying materials culture as a Regent’s scholar at the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Kingery, whose career spanned more than 50 years, is widely recognized as the 20th century's most influential figure in ceramics education, research and technology. During fifteen years at the University of Arizona, he fostered interdepartmental and interdisciplinary studies of material culture, materials characterization and understanding of the discovery process and technological innovation.

The Graduate Program in Heritage Conservation Science
Areas of concentration include
- Conservation Science
- Archaeological Materials Analysis
- Preservation of Architecture and Landscapes
- Instrumentation Development
- for more info on curricula, click here

In addition to the required MSE graduate course load that includes thermodynamics, corrosion and materials analysis, the program will have three components. One area is problem-solving experience that emphasizes experimental and instrumental analysis, procedures and interpretation. A second component is knowledge of craft practice and characterization of the organic or geological resource base related to each student’s research. The third area of competence is knowledge of conservation research, treatment, and management within legal, ethical and ethnic contexts. This will require a supervised internship in one of the museum conservation laboratories. The aim of the program is to produce multi-disciplinary scientists who use the methods of the qualitative and quantitative sciences to produce data relevant to the understanding, the preservation and the management of cultural heritage.

The Interdisciplinary Degree (in development)
A graduate interdisciplinary program is being developed in Heritage Conservation Science among the Departments of MSE, Chemistry, Anthropology, and the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. The aim of the program is to cross disciplinary boundaries to develop creative, novel and integrated approaches to problem solving in conservation science.
We believe that some students will seek to expand on a master’s level conservation or historical preservation degree and will not wish to devote extra years to the rigorous math and physics prerequisite requirements of the standard MSE degree program. We propose to offer an Interdisciplinary Program (IDP) starting in 2007 or 2008 for qualified students who have graduated from Art Conservation, Historic Preservation, or Archaeological Science programs and wish to seek additional expertise in the areas of scientific problem formulation and creative problem solving in the areas of material culture and its preservation. In the Fall 2005 academic term we plan to complete a proposal for an interdisciplinary program among the Materials Science, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Chemistry and Anthropology departments. Additional faculty from the other departments and the Arizona State Museum will also participate. While development of the proposal has begun, the evaluation process is long and must be approved by the University of Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents and the Legislature of State of Arizona.

Admission
Application - UA Graduate Catalog
Application - Department of Material Science and Engineering
Application - MSE teaching / research
- GPA 3.0
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- GRE scores
- International applicants must also provide: TOEFL 550 (CBT 213)

Curriculum for MSE M.S. – Thesis Option 30 Units Total plus the thesis defense
- 18 units of regularly scheduled (A,B,C) graduate courses, including MSE 510 (thermodynamics), a kinetics or physical chemistry course, and a structure/property course; of this a minimum of 9 units must be 500 level MSE courses
- 4 units of other relevant graduate courses, including MSE 595 each semester;
- 8 units of thesis.

Curriculum for MSE Ph.D. - 63 Units Total plus dissertation defense
- 36 units of graduate courses beyond the masters, at least 30 earned at the University of Arizona, including MSE 510, MSE 572 or MSE 512, MSE 531A.
- 36 units of research in the major subject and, a minimum of 9 units of minor program. These would include the required courses for the certificate in Heritage Conservation Science.
- MSE 502 and 18 units of dissertation.
- MSE 595, during Fall and Spring semesters.
Curriculum for MSE Ph.D. IDP – 63 Units Total plus dissertation defense
Same as above except students would combine a mix of specific department required classes from each of the IDP departments with the required courses for the certificate in Heritage Conservation Science.

The Undergraduate Track in Cultural Materials, Their Technologies and Preservation
This program is one of many undergraduate specialities in the Department of Materials Science that leads to a degree in MSE with a Certificate of Specialization. Other areas include microscopy, electronic materials, biomaterials, and others.
Areas of emphasis in the Cultural Materials Track include
- Art and Archaeological Materials
- Traditional Technologies
- Corrosion and Degradation Studies