This is an Interdisciplinary Minor in Heritage Studies (HSM) offers broad coverage of different approaches to heritage theory and practice, including interdisciplinary perspectives from Anthropology, Archaeology, Landscape Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture, History, Geography, Education, and other fields. Heritage studies faculty work collaboratively with each other and across the globe, focusing on a range of cultures and time periods from prehistoric to contemporary.

As this is a dual Graduate Minor program, further information can also be found at the Department of Landscape Architecture website. The HSM appears on the student’s transcript.

Students must be admitted to the graduate program of an academic department (the department in which they will pursue their MA or PhD) in order to participate in the HSM. A student interested in the HSM should clearly indicate this in the application statement to the University and, upon matriculation, should inform the HSM Committee of the intent to pursue the HSM and begin planning how to satisfy the HSM requirements. The student’s home department must approve the student’s intent to pursue the HSM. Students already enrolled in one of the UIUC graduate programs may also apply for admission to the HSM at any time, but are advised to do so early in their graduate career at UIUC so as to have time to complete the required and elective coursework as well as the culminating project or paper.

There are no prerequisites for admission to the HSM other than admission to a university graduate program. The HSM does not require prior practical experience in heritage work for admission. However, the HSM will encourage students to obtain such practical experience during their graduate work at the University of Illinois. The HSM Committee reviews student progress in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. 

The HSM is pursued at the graduate level through completion of four courses (4 hours each) plus a culminating project or culminating research paper. The project or paper must be approved by the HSM Committee before the student commences work on it. See below for the explanation.

To complete the Minor in Heritage Studies, students must take 2 of the following 4 courses:

• ANTH 420: Case Studies in Global Heritage
• ANTH 460 / LA460: Heritage Management
• LA 594 / ANTH 594: Cultural Heritage
• RST 570 / ANTH 570: Cultural Aspects of Tourism

Two elective courses (or 1 more elective course if they have taken 3 of the required courses listed above).

• Elective courses must relate to Heritage Studies in pertinent ways and must be pre-approved. Graduate students in Landscape Architecture should consult with Dr. Lori Davis; those in all other units should consult with Prof. Helaine Silverman.

Final Paper or Project

• In addition to coursework, the minor requires students to complete a final project or paper (e.g., expanding work completed in a course) in consultation with the Director of CHAMP and the relevant faculty advisor.

Dr. Helaine Silverman, Department of Anthropology Contact  
Department of Anthropology
University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign
109 Davenport Hall (MC‐148)
607 Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: 217-333-1315
Email: helaine@illinois.edu

Dr. Lori Davis, Department of Landscape Architecture Contact
Department of Landscape Architecture
University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign
Phone: 217-300-6613
Email: drlori@illinois.edu