 About Historic Preservation at SCAD The historic preservation program equips students with a strong academic background and the technical skills required to work in the field of historic preservation. Along with historical and technical concerns, the program addresses social issues and economic aspects of historic preservation. Students learn methods of restoration and the practical considerations involved in actually rehabilitating and reusing historic structures and areas. Following a two-year core curriculum of required introductory courses, including liberal arts/general education and fine arts foundation studies courses, undergraduate students progress into upper-level courses in their major course of study. The undergraduate curriculum stresses the basic concepts involved in historic preservation and practical skills through intensive field work. The graduate curriculum stresses advanced practical and professional skills and requires students to explore critical and contemporary issues in the field. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, coursework provides opportunities for students to become involved in various preservation projects with organizations such as Savannah’s Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center, the National Park Service, the Historic Savannah Foundation, the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority, the General Services Administration, and the Coastal Georgia Society. Working with these and other agencies, students gain firsthand experience with historic buildings, materials conservation, and building awareness of and support for historic preservation. A graduate certificate in historic preservation and the M.A. degree in historic preservation are offered in the traditional classroom and completely online via SCAD eLearning. College facilities include numerous historical buildings that have been restored or renovated by the college and adapted to contemporary uses. The college facilities are integrated into the historic fabric of the city, becoming a model for preservationists worldwide and an ideal setting for the study of historic preservation. The city of Savannah is a living laboratory, with numerous examples of adaptive reuse of 19th- and 20th-century buildings in Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District. Six additional historic districts are located in and around Savannah, and all are important resources for study. Students gain hands-on experience by participating in research and documentation projects such as the St. Augustine Survey Grant, which involved the development of a National Landmark nomination for a significant structure in St. Augustine, Fla. Through the Getty Grant Program, students participate in the identification, research and documentation of SCAD’s historic structures, as well as plans for future preservation efforts. Students also have worked at Savannah’s Roundhouse Railroad Museum, restoring and rehabilitating the buildings of an important part of Savannah’s history. Historic preservation computer facilities consist of a client/server network system connecting a number of PCs configured with a diverse range of electronic design software, including AutoCAD, Microstation and Autodesk Maya. A fully integrated intranet system offers online help, downloadable 3-D models, building use maps and Internet access. The department’s conservation laboratory, one of few such academic facilities in the United States, is equipped for testing architectural materials, analyzing restoration treatments and experimenting with conservation techniques. The department sponsors guest lecturers from such organizations as the National Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and local historical societies. Historic preservation majors are encouraged to attend preservation conferences and seek internships to enhance their career preparation. The college has been recognized as a leader in historic preservation by the Historic Savannah Foundation, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects and the International Downtown Association. |