Art Conservation (MS)

Important dates regarding the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation 2025 admissions process:

• Completed applications due: January 15, 2025, by 11:59pm (EST)
• Notification sent to those invited for an interview: Early February 2025
• Virtual interview dates: March 17-21, 2025
• Decisions shared: April 15, 202​5​
• Final response from applicants required: One week after notification of acceptance 
• Start date for the Class of 2028: TBD (typically mid-August)​​

The Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation is committed to addressing social equity in conservation education and to reduce barriers to our graduate program. Working with our faculty, students, alums, and other professional colleagues we aim to make our educational experiences more diverse and by extension, our profession.

To that end, we have reevaluated our admissions requirements recognizing that there are multiple ways to demonstrate a sustained commitment to the cultural heritage sector while also learning whether graduate conservation education is the best path forward. Academic and experiential requirements can be found in the following sections: Admissions Requirements, Application, and Interview and Portfolio. Please note: the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is no longer required.​​

Bachelor's Degree 

Applicants must have a BA, BFA, or BS (or the international equivalent) to apply from a regionally accredited college with an overall academic index (on a 4.0-point scale) of at least 2.5 and an index of 3.0 in their field of concentration. The latter figure is computed from the junior and senior years.

Applications to the program must be filed by January 15. Admission is selective and competitive based on the number of well qualified applicants and the limits of available faculty and facilities. Those who meet stated minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission.

Required Courses

18 undergraduate semester credits in material culture-related studies

• Some examples include, but are not limited to anthropology, archaeology, art history, history, textile history, book history, museum studies, or library or information studies. Ideally three or more will be upper-level courses.

16 undergraduate science credits (4 courses)

• General Chemistry I and II (8 semester credits): 2 courses each with laboratory.
  
• Organic Chemistry (4 semester credits): 1 course with a laboratory.
  
• Survey courses for nursing, medical technology students, and other health professionals are accepted, in addition to courses designed for chemistry or biology majors.
  
• A fourth science course (4 semester credits). Some examples include, but are not limited to:
  • ​Biochemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Material science
  • Microbiology
  • Mineralogy
  • Organic Chemistry II
  • Quantitative Analysis
  • Physical chemistry
  • Physics
  • Polymer science

4 courses in studio art, craft, or design

• Appl​icants may fulfill this requirement with either 3-credit academic courses or formal studio courses taught at museums or other community centers. These experiences can be enriched with additional hours at home or independently in a studio, as necessary and feasible. The goal for each studio art course is 72 hours of supervised or concentrated studio/at-home work. A distribution of at least one course in two-dimensional and one course in three-dimensional design is preferred; we will consider favorably different combinations of studio coursework. Some examples include, but are not limited to:
  • ​Architectural drawing 
  • Bookbinding/book arts
  • Ceramics
  • Drawing
  • Graphic design/CAD
  • Metalsmithing
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Printmaking
  • Sculpture
  • Textile/fashion arts
  • Videography
  • Woodworking

Applications must be made through the Graduate Studies Office at the University of Delaware using their online application. All application materials listed below must be uploaded electronically through this online platform. The application deadline is 11:59pm EST on January 15, 2025.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns to Danielle Kelley (dnkelley@udel.edu) in case technical assistance is needed submitting the application.

Supplemental Documents

• Supplemental Document 1-Courses and Conservation Experiences Form (Indicate required courses you have taken or will be taking in the spring semester and your 400 hours of conservation/collections care experience.)
• Supplemental Document 2-Application Information Form (Indicate your education, conservation experience, other professional/volunteer experience, professional development, workshops, and memberships.)

Supplemental documents may be requested via email from Danielle Kelley at: dnkelley@udel.edu. Please enter in the subject line “Request for Supplemental Documents.”

To fill in the PDF forms you will need Adobe Acrobat. If you are on a Mac platform, save the blank PDF forms to your own computer first, then open the files from your own computer to fill in and save. (Macs will not allow you to save changes made to the forms online.)

Three (3) Short-answer Questions

• How do you define material culture and why do you believe it should be preserved?
• How do you deal with adversity or challenges? This could be academic, professional, or personal. 
• Describe a situation when knowledge you gained in one context proved valuable in a different setting.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must submit 3 letters of recommendation. At least one of these letters should be from a practicing collections professional who has supervised the applicant's conservation work.

Applicants should ask recommenders to speak to some specific points below, giving examples where possible, in addition to commenting on their conservation skills and knowledge.

• Hand skills, spatial understanding
• Intellectual curiosity, problem-solving, and research skills
• Function in shared workspace (examples: work with shared equipment, clean space after using, comfort with teamwork)
• Communication skills
• Ability to give and receive constructive criticism and feedback
• Organization, attention to a focused task, multitasking, and time management
• Ability to work with others and independently

Transcript(s)
Tra​nscripts from all post-high school academic institutions must be uploaded to the online application. Unofficial transcripts or scans of official transcripts may be used. Do not mail official transcripts to the University of Delaware.

Reminder that the University’s offices will be closed for Winter break from December 24, 2024-January 1, 2025.

The curriculum of the first year provides students with an overview of the conservation field and its varied specialties: the history of art and artifact technology, the essential physical and chemical properties of materials, mechanisms of deterioration, the conservation treatment of cultural property, and the fundamentals of preventive conservation. At the end of the first year, students choose their major specialization. Specializations include furniture, library and archives, objects, paintings, paper, photographic materials, and textiles. Students in all specialties can also declare one additional concentration, such as preventive conservation.

In their second year, students focus on their specialty of choice with the objective of continuing to develop: basic hand skills, a thorough ability to examine and document the condition of cultural property, problem solving and ethical treatment decision making, and an understanding of the care and preservation of specialty objects.

The entire third year, or internship year, is spent under the supervision and mentoring of a conservation professional(s) at one or more host institution(s) or private laboratories, where students should function as cooperative and productive staff members. The fundamental objectives of this phase are to broaden students' exposure to specialty object problems and treatments, refine hand skills, build confidence in object assessment and decision-making, improve report-writing skills, and develop responsible professionalism.​

View a list of specializations

Curriculum Goals

Twelve courses, including an eleven-month internship and two 8-week summer work projects, give the student in-depth instruction in basic examination and treatment techniques. Credits, listed parenthetically after the course title, do not indicate the actual hours required to complete the course.

First Year, Science

ARTC 615 Properties and Structure of Art Materials I ​(3 credit hours, Fall semester)

This course explores the fundamental physical and chemical properties of art and cultural materials, ensuring a basic familiarity with their mechanical and chemical behavior, the causes and mechanisms of their deterioration, and the range of materials and processes used for their conservation and restoration. The fall semester emphasizes organic materials such as, proteins and cellulose, solvent theory, and polymer chemistry.

ARTC 616 Conservation Research Methods ​(3 credit hours, Spring semester)

This course explores the fundamental physical and chemical properties of art and cultural materials, ensuring a basic familiarity with their physical, mechanical and chemical behavior, the causes and mechanisms of their deterioration, and the range of materials and processes used for their conservation and restoration. The spring semester emphasizes inorganic materials such as metals, glass, ceramics, stone, pigments, plasters, and cements.

ARTC 670 Chemical and Physical Techniques Used in the Examination of Art Materials I ​(3 credit hours, Fall semester)

This course is designed to coordinate its content with material taught in the concurrent specialty-specific blocks, focusing on the conservation science applications most directly relevant to a specific material or discipline. Applied science topics in the fall semester may include fiber identification, alkaline reserve treatments, iron gall ink corrosion, wet-cleaning techniques for textiles, dye chemistry and analysis, and the mechanical properties of historic and modern fibers.

ARTC 671 Chemical and Physical Techniques Used in the Examination of Art Materials II (3 credit hours, Spring semester)

This course is designed to coordinate its content with material taught in the concurrent specialty-specific blocks, focusing on the conservation science applications most directly relevant to a specific material or discipline. Applied science topics in the spring semester may include corrosion chemistry, mechanisms of glass and bronze diseases, and cleaning metal, glass, and ceramics.

First Year, Block

ARTC 656 Conservation Principles 1 (6 credit hours, Fall semester)

This course is divided into a sequence of specialty-specific blocks that cover each major area of conservation plus principles of preventive conservation. During the fall semester, these typically include paper, textiles, organic objects, and books and library material. Students work with faculty members in each specialty, learn the basic techniques of object examination, study the causes of deterioration, gain experience recommending treatment options for a variety of conservation problems, and establish a foundation for general collections care. Examination and documentation techniques covered during the semester include polarized light microscopy, ultraviolet light examination, and digital photo documentation.

ARTC 657 ​Conservation Principles 2 (6 credit hours, Spring semester)

This course is divided into a sequence of specialty-specific blocks that cover each major area of conservation. During the spring semester, these typically include photographic materials, wooden artifacts, inorganic objects, and paintings conservation. Students work with faculty members in each specialty, learn the basic techniques of object examination, study the causes of deterioration, gain experience recommending treatment options for a variety of conservation problems, and establish a foundation for general collections’ care. Examination and documentation techniques covered during the semester include cross-section microscopy, x-radiography, and digital photo documentation.

Second Year, Science

ARTC 672 Chemical and Physical Techniques Used in the Examination of Art Materials III ​(3 credit hours, Fall semester)

During the second year, the student will gain a basic familiarity, hands-on experience, and fundamental understanding of the instrumental methods of analysis most commonly used in art conservation. In the first semester, specific emphasis will be placed on the spectroscopic techniques that are routinely employed in museum laboratories, including, for example, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. A technical analysis of an object of art will be undertaken in the second year with the student gaining individual mentoring and hands-on experience using instrumental methods of analysis to characterize the materials used to make and conserve objects of art. This will include experience interpreting data and working with complementary methods of analysis.

ARTC 673 Chemical and Physical Techniques Used in the Examination of Art Materials IV ​(3 credit hours, Spring semester)

During the second semester, the student will gain a basic familiarity and understanding of the chromatographic methods of analysis most closely related to conservation. Specific emphasis will be placed on the techniques that are most commonly found in museum laboratories, including, for example, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography. A technical analysis of an object of art will be undertaken in the second year with the student gaining hands-on experience using instrumental methods of analysis to characterize the materials used to make and conserve objects of art.

Second Year, Major Coursework

ARTC 658 Topics in Advanced Apprenticeship and Research in Conservation I ​(6 credit hours, Fall semester)

This course provides one-on-one instruction in one of the major areas of specialization, which consist of the following: furniture, library and archival materials, organic and inorganic objects, paintings, paper, photographs, preventive conservation, and textiles. One minor concentration, such as preventive conservation, may also be elected. Focusing on the chosen specialty, the course continues the development of basic hand skills, establishes a thorough ability to examine and document the condition of cultural property, hones problem-solving and ethical decision-making skills in treatments, and reinforces a solid understanding of the care and preservation issues within the specialty. Original works of art and artifacts are examined, studied, and treated in consultation with the responsible curator, institution, or owner as part of the course work.

ARTC 659 Topics in Advanced Apprenticeship and Research in Art Conservation II​ (6 credit hours, Spring semester)

This course provides one-on-one instruction in one of the offered major areas of specialization, which consist of the following: furniture, library and archival materials, organic and inorganic objects, paintings, paper, photographs, preventive conservation, and textiles. One minor concentration, such as preventive conservation or painted surfaces, may also be elected. Focusing on the chosen specialty, the course continues the development of basic hand skills, establishes a thorough ability to examine and document the condition of cultural property, hones problem-solving and ethical decision-making skills in treatments, and reinforces a solid understanding of the care and preservation issues within the specialty. Original works of art and artifacts are examined, studied, and treated in consultation with the responsible curator, institution, or owner as part of the course work.

Second Year, Seminar

ARTC 650 Seminar in Art Conservation (1 credit hour, Fall and Spring semesters)

As a means of developing their communication skills, students will present talks and write a report on their summer projects; in the spring visiting lecturers, chosen and hosted by the students, will speak on art conservation, curatorial decisions, and science, and faculty will conduct sessions on philosophy and ethics of conservation. Fall and Spring.

Second Year, Electives

Elective Course (3 credit hours)

During the second year of study, students must choose one three-credit elective course during the fall semester and one during the spring semester. Elective courses are meant to address a student’s individual interests or apply to a minor concentration. With approval of the major advisor, electives include course offerings in art conservation or in other relevant departments/programs at the University of Delaware, such as art history, anthropology, museum studies, chemistry, or history. Alternatively, students may opt to complete an independent study of their design (see ARTC 666).

ARTC 666 Independent Study (3 credit hours, Fall or Spring semester)

This course is designed by the student, under faculty supervision, to study cultural context, material science, conservation practice or history of technology. The student must submit a proposal to be approved by the supervising faculty member who will evaluate it for appropriate academic rigor and relevance to the student’s course of study.

Summer Work Projects

Each student completes two 8-week summer work projects during the first and second summer in the program. The work project locations are approved by the program to provide additional experiences in conservation principles and practice.

All enrolled WUDPAC students receive a yearly stipend and full tuition scholarship.

Partnerships

We partner with 200+ museums, donors, and foundations to secure ongoing funding for our students.

We are grateful for the many federal agencies, foundations, corporations, membership organizations, and individuals who have generously supported the education and training of future conservation professionals. Our program is supported by grants from the Ahmanson Foundation, AKC Foundation, Annette Kade Charitable Trust, Bank of America Foundation, Bay Foundation, Brunschwig & Fils Corporation, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Chichester duPont Foundation, Cassman Graduate Fellow Support, Conservation Resources Inc., Crystal Trust, Eastman Kodak Company, Getty Foundation, Gould Foundation, Karen & Leo Gutmann Foundation, Mellon Foundation,​ National Endowment for the Humanities, Nation​​al Society of The Colonial Dames of America, Nielsen Bainbridge Corporation, International​ Questers, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Samuel H. Kress Foundation, Sloan Foundation, Society of Winterthur Fellows, Stockman Family Foundation, Tru Vue, UNIDEL Foundation, University Products Inc., University of Delaware Office of Women Affairs, and many individual patrons and donors.

Questions?

Please get in touch with Debra Hess Norris, Chair Department of Art Conservation at dhnorris@udel.edu or Susan Behrens at behrens@udel.edu. 

Current WUDPAC students will be provided a Policy and Procedure Guide and WUDPAC Funding Opportunities book for the current academic year in the month of August.

The University of Delaware and Winterthur Museum jointly sponsor the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation. Successful completion of the degree demands that students abide by the policies and rules of both institutions.

Because professional conservators are usually awarded access to museum collections and valued cultural property of all materials, it is expected that students will demonstrate the highest standards of honor, ethics, and academic integrity as defined by the University of Delaware Student Guide to University Policies , the University of Delaware Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog, the most recently approved American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice and the Code of Ethics of The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Inc.

Fellows must successfully complete all the required coursework, two summer work projects, and an eleven-month advanced internship. In addition, at the end of the internship, fellows are required to submit a portfolio of their Internship work, give a 25-minute oral presentation about the internship to their advisory committee, and pass an oral examination conducted by the student's advisory committee.

WUDPAC Class of 2025

Sarah Beach, Major: Objects, Third-year placement: The Biltmore (Asheville, NC)

Nicole Chausse, Major: Objects, Minor: Textiles, Third-year placement: Walters Art Museum (Baltimore, MD)

Christy Ching, Major: Objects, Minor: Textiles, Third-year placement: Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland, OH)

Kacey Green, Major: Objects, Minor: Paper, Third-year placement: Midwest Art Conservation Center (Minneapolis, MN)

Emily Landry, Major: Paintings, Third-year placement: Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY)

Brittany Murray, Major: Library and Archives, Minor: Paper, Third-year placement: Library of Congress (Washington, DC)

Kiki Peters, Major: Objects, Third-year placement: Frick Collection (New York, NY)

Gianna Puzzo, Major: Preventive, Third-year placement: International Conservation Services (Sydney, Australia) and Balboa Art Conservation Center (San Diego, CA)

Lila Reid, Major: Furniture, Third-year placement: Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, MA)

Riley Thomas, Major: Objects, Third-year placement: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, MA)

WUDPAC Class of 2025 Bios

WUDPAC Class of 2026

Zoë Avery, Major: Major: Paintings, 2024 Summer Placement: Cleveland Art Museum (Cleveland, OH)

Sam Callanta, Major: Objects, Minor: Textiles, 2024 Summer Placement: Seattle Art Museum and Seattle Asian Art Museum (Seattle, WA)

Luca Denegre, Major: Objects, 2024 Summer Placement: Flux Art Conservation (Philadelphia, PA)

Daisy Diamond, Major: Objects, 2024 Summer Placement: Princeton University Art Museum (Princeton, NJ)

Caitlyn Fong, Major: Objects, 2024 Summer Placement: St. Louis Art Museum (St. Louis, MO)

Sam Lee, Major, Paper, Minor: Library and Archives, 2024 Summer Placement: University of Washington Libraries (Seattle, WA)

Binh-An Nguyen, Major: Preventive, 2024 Summer Placement: The Hopewell Museum (Hopewell, NJ)

Taryn Nurse, Major: Paintings, 2024 Summer Placement: Balboa Art Conservation Center (San Diego, CA)

Leah Palmer, Major: Objects, 2024 Summer Placement: Intermuseum Conservation Association (Cleveland, OH)

Tatiana Shannon, Major: Paintings, 2024 Summer Placement: Williamstown Art Conservation Center (Williamstown, MA)

WUDPAC Class of 2026 Bios

WUDPAC Class of 2027

Jennifer Beetem

Allejandra Chavez

Sydney Collins

Elizabeth Glander

Anna-Colette Haynes

Luke Kelly

Sarah Lavin

Michaela Lott

Sarah Purnell

Emma Ross

WUDPAC Class of 2027 Bios