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Cultural and Historic Preservation

Salve Regina's cultural and historic preservation program provides an understanding and appreciation of archaeology, architectural history and historic preservation planning through an exciting mixture of coursework and fieldwork.

As one of only 10 undergraduate historic preservation programs nationwide certified by the National Council for Preservation Education, we offer our students a unique opportunity to explore the relationship between the past and present as well as participate in local and global preservation projects.

Centered in historic Newport, we urge students to get involved in meaningful projects on campus and in the community. Whether restoring an old cemetery, documenting an African-American church or excavating and analyzing remains during our summer Archeological Field School, our students gain extensive hands-on experience in the living laboratory of our city.

Students are also exposed to the global nature of historic preservation through courses like World Heritage Management, and we encourage majors to study abroad to enhance their learning experience. In addition, our active academic club transports students to culturally significant sites around the world.

Our program boasts an exceptional graduate school placement record, with the majority of our majors entering directly into such advanced degree programs as preservation, archaeology and urban planning.

Photo of Preservation of Historic Cemeteries

Featured Course

Preservation of Historic Cemeteries
Cultural and Historic Preservation

The American landscape is rich in cemeteries, ranging from 17th-century family burying grounds to 18th-century churchyards to "garden cemeteries" from the time of the American Civil War. This course introduces students to cemetery landscapes, iconographic analysis of markers and techniques of preservation. Students and faculty collaborate on a thorough study of a local cemetery, tracing its history and mapping its preservation needs. During the fall 2010 semester, students will complete a preservation plan for St. Mary's Cemetery, a Roman Catholic cemetery on Newport's Warner Street that dates from the 1850s.

Cultural and Historic Preservation

Alumni Spotlight

Photo of Angela Wheeler
Angela Wheeler
Fulbright U.S. Student Fellow in the Republic of Georgia
Class of: 2012

During her time at Salve Regina, Angela Wheeler ’12 studied abroad in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she took intensive courses in Russian language and history and interned at the State Hermitage Museum. Last spring, she was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Fellowship to pursue research in the Republic of Georgia.

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Did you know?

Internships are encouraged
Internships are encouraged

We encourage students to pursue internships with local agencies, providing them with the opportunity to test their interest and skills in specific fields of preservation. Recent placements have included the Newport Restoration Foundation, the Coggeshall Farm Museum, the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission and the National Park Service.

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Cultural Preservation Lab

Related Groups and Organizations

  • CHP Club
    The CHP club promotes awareness in archaeology, preservation, landscape history and museum studies by sponsoring field trips, guest speakers and other activities related to cultural and historic preservation.