About the Undergraduate Program

The University of Delaware's Art Conservation department offers the only undergraduate degree in art conservation taught solely by professional conservators! Our degree helps prepare students for museum careers and graduate-level study in the conservation of material culture, historic preservation, museum studies, library science, and other allied fields. Material culture includes all objects made or modified by humans—from photographs and archival documents, to decorative and fine art objects like paintings, from clothing and domestic possessions to archaeological and natural history specimens and more! Our Value Statement reflects our commitment to educating professionals skilled in the analysis, treatment, and preservation of cultural artifacts by connecting disciplines in the arts, humanities, and sciences. ​

The undergraduate major in art conservation began in 1971 as an interdepartmental degree based in art history and chemistry. Today, the undergraduate degree in art conservation has around 75 undergraduate majors in all four years of study. Approximately 50% of our graduates attend art conservation graduate programs, but many choose to go into related fields or into graduate programs, such as: libraries, archives, historic preservation, museum studies, art history, or anthropology. Our undergraduate degree is truly interdisciplinary and makes the most of a liberal arts education!​