Welcome, undergraduate students! Below you’ll find a list of the latest course offerings at UD that engage significantly with material culture. Don’t forget to check out the amazing grant opportunities sponsored by CMCS.
Spring 2026 Courses
UAPP430, Methods in Historic Preservation
Professor Catherine Morrissey
Introduces students to the critical skills and methodologies employed in the field of historic preservation. Organization is based on the steps used in preservation planning, including survey and identification of historic resources, evaluation of significance, development of historic context, and creation of preservation treatment alternatives.
ART 382 – Darkroom Photographic Processes
Professor Jonathan Cox
Component: Studio
Investigates alternatives within analog and digital media to create unique images exploring 18th – 20th century photographic processes and alternatives. Emphasizes concepts of light-sensitive imaging and investigations of classic and current materials, augmenting traditional darkroom photographic processes.PREREQ: ART 280 or ART 284 or ART 289.
ANTH/MCST216 – Introduction to Material Culture Studies
Professor Neri de Kramer
Introduces the field of material culture studies, the study of all the things people make and the ways people alter the physical world. Considers numerous approaches to understanding material and physical dimensions of life, including architecture, technology, consumer goods, and place. Case studies are drawn from around the world. Wilmington Campus.
ARTC 302-010/080 – Care and Preservation of Cultural Property II
Professor Nina Owczarek
This undergraduate course serves as an introduction to identifying condition issues and the practice of conservation documentation. The class provides students with a basic knowledge of conservation terminology, conservation literature, and research resources, methods of conservation documentation, and prepares students for conservation internships. You must complete this class before taking any internships!
ARTC 464-016 – Emergency Management for Collections Internship
Professor Madeline Cooper
Art Conservation Majors Only.
This course provides a practical introduction to emergency management for museums, libraries, archives, and public art collections. Students learn the full emergency management cycle—risk assessment, planning, response, and recovery—through case studies and hands-on projects.
ARTC 467-015 – Technology of Cultural Materials: Basketry
Professor Nina Owczarek
Basketry is an art form which often combines both utilitarian and aesthetic qualities. They are made for a variety of purposes, including food gathering and storage, furnishings, garments, ceremonial uses, and for sale. This course will explore the nature of raw materials and processing methods, methods of construction, care principles, and documentation approaches for basketry materials. Case studies of basketry objects from a wide variety of cultural traditions and techniques will be considered from the point of view of technology and functions. Art Conservation majors can count this course towards your ARTC elective or art requirement.
ARTC 467-020 – Studio in the Materials and Techniques of Textiles II
Professor Madeline Hagerman
Studio course on terminology and techniques of textile making. Students will complete a variety of small projects from processing, spinning, and dyeing natural fibers, to advanced embroidery techniques such as metal thread and needle lace. Students will explore a variety of tools and manufacturing methods from around the world and learn basic stitches that can be used in craft as well as conservation practice. Class will include brief lectures and student-led research as well as plenty of time for making! This course will count towards your ARTC art requirement.
ARTC 488 – Studio Materials and Techniques of Painting I
Professor Brian Baade
Major masters and materials, tools and techniques of indirect and direct oil painting. Time frame: 1500 to present. Major topics include development of canvas, brushes, oil paint, mediums, varnishes, solvents and complex relationship between indirect and direct techniques. Includes studio reconstruction of masterworks, lectures and library research.
ANTH 344 / MCST 344 Anthropology of Clothing and Fashion
Professor Kedron Thomas