Professional art conservators tend to be drawn to the integration of arts, history, and sciences and combine intellectual curiosity with problem-solving ability and manual/visual talent. Most art conservators earn an undergraduate degree in studio art, art history, archaeology or chemistry, and then pursue additional coursework and training under the supervision of an art conservator before applying to a master’s degree program. Many art conservators also receive advanced training as foundation fellows in museum or regional center laboratories after graduation. Art conservators are often involved in developing special opportunities to offer and partake of continuing education.

Art conservation graduate degree programs in the United States have extensive entrance requirements and rigorous curricula, and truly are not for the meek or for the hobbyist/crafter. Interested students are advised to do some in-depth reading on respected Internet sites and contact a professional art conservator for guidance. For a list of other programs in North America, visit the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) website American Institute for Conservation.

Art conservation master’s degree programs in the USA are
(in alphabetical order):

Buffalo State College
Art Conservation Department, RH 230
1300 Elmwood Avenue.
Buffalo, NY  14222-1095
(716) 878-5025
artcon@buffalostate.edu

The Institute of Fine Arts
New York University
1 East 78th Street
New York, NY  10075
(212) 992-5800
ifa.program@nyu.edu

Winterthur/ University of Delaware Program
in Art Conservation
303 Old College
University of Delaware
Newark, DE  19716-2515
(302) 831-3489
art-conservation@udel.edu