The aim of the UCLA/Getty Master's Program on the Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials is to provide students with a solid educational base and practical training in both archaeological and ethnographic materials, as well as an appreciation of the often complex range of issues relating to significance, access, and use of these materials, which—in many cases—sets them apart from fine art or historical materials. The program facilitates an understanding of the multiple values and meanings these materials may still have for indigenous populations, and fosters a sense of partnership with stakeholder communities in relevant aspects of conservation decision making.

Background
During the 1990s, the Getty Conservation Institute began a search for a university with which to develop a graduate-level program in archaeological and ethnographic conservation that could complement existing programs and expand educational opportunities. After a series of meetings and exploratory discussions with several institutions of higher education, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), was identified as the most appropriate partner for the GCI to develop this much needed component of conservation education.

In 1999, Getty Trust President and CEO Barry Munitz and UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale formally announced their intention to work together in creating a new academic program in conservation. It was agreed that the program would be administratively housed within the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, an organized research unit at UCLA.

Overview
The UCLA/Getty Master's Program on the Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials equips students with a range of skills and knowledge that will help them respond flexibly and proactively to changing needs and conditions in the field of ethnographic and archaeological conservation. It stresses the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and decision making and prepares students to operate in a number of potential contexts—in the field or the lab, in the private or the public sector, under contract or in conventional employment.

Topics covered in the program include:

• the technology and deterioration of materials,
• the nature and history of conservation,
• preventive conservation and environmental management,
• conservation in situ and an overview of site management,
• the conservation treatment of ethnographic and archaeological materials,
• museum practice,
• scientific methods in conservation, and
• ethics and issues in conservation.

The three-year program—which leads to a master's of art degree—includes two years of classroom-based teaching and laboratory work at UCLA and at the Getty Villa, followed by a one-year supervised internship at other museums or conservation facilities. This course of study provides students with a combination of theory and practical work during the first two years, followed by a final year of concentrated practical experience.

The program is the only graduate-level academic conservation program on the West Coast of the United States and the only U.S. program with its sole focus on archaeological and ethnographic materials. The program admits both U.S. and international students, and admission to the program is offered every two years, with an incoming class size of 6 to 12 students.

For more information and application guidelines, please visit the UCLA/Getty Program in Archaeological and Ethnographic Conservation Web site.

Last updated: April 2006