Waystation Certificate Program Core Course

Examination of rapidly evolving views regarding ownership, sale, stewardship, and interpretation of the world's cultural heritage. Critical examination of evolving ethics, legal instruments, and institutional definitions that are shaping current efforts to protect and interpret cultural heritage. Study includes working directly with cultural objects by exploring resources and methods for provenance research and learning to identify and preserve the heritage material. Participation in the effort to return cultural objects to the nation or community of origin. Exploration and critical examination of current debates about stewardship, repatriation and returns, authenticity and identity, community engagement and the importance of traditional knowledge, the illicit trade, and international law; and consideration of the ethical implications of collecting, buying and selling, and curating cultural objects.

Letter grading.