Protect the irreplaceable.
Michelangelo’s masterpieces on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, da Vinci’s The Last Supper, Rembrandt’s The Night Watch – all examples of extraordinary works preserved to be appreciated for the ages. UMW’s pre-conservation in fine art minor program – open to art history, studio art, and chemistry majors – combines these disciplines. Learn to apply basic chemistry to artifact deterioration, evaluate conservation strategies, understand the ethics of art preservation, and advocate to preserve cultural heritage. This UMW program is designed to prepare students for graduate programs in conservation.
Areas of Study
The pre-conservation in fine art minor at Mary Washington combines the disciplines of chemistry, studio art, and art history.
Career Opportunities
UMW’s pre-conservation in fine art minor is designed to prepare students for graduate programs in art conservation. Conservators work in museums, heritage institutions, libraries, archives, laboratories, and government agencies. They are administrators, educators, scientists, technicians, and collections care specialists.
Internships
Internships, offering professional experience outside the classroom, are available to students in UMW’s pre-conservation in fine art minor. Recent studio art majors, for example, have landed internships at the UMW Galleries, Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Visual Arts Center in Richmond, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Whether you major in studio art, art history, or chemistry, Honors status is available to all qualified students in UMW’s pre-conservation in fine art minor.
The minor is open only to Art History, Studio Art and Chemistry majors. The major must have been declared before the student may declare this minor. Requirements depend on selected major.
For art history majors: 28 credit, including 16 credits in chemistry and 12 credits in upper-level art history and studio art courses.
For chemistry majors: 27 credits, including 15 credits in 100- and 200-level art history, and 12 credits from 300-level art history.
For studio art majors: 28 credits, including 16 credits in chemistry and 12 credits from 300-level art history.
The Department of Art and Art History, which hosts UMW’s pre-conservation in fine art minor program, offers scholarships, undergraduate research grants, and departmental awards. A complete list of scholarship opportunities available at UMW can be found with the Office of Financial Aid.