Graduate Studies in Cultural and Heritage Resource Management

The Master of Professional Studies in Cultural and Heritage Resource Management, Online is offered through the Department of Anthropology in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. The department has established itself as a cutting-edge leader for preparing practicing professionals entering careers outside of academia with its Masters in Applied Anthropology, and by creating partnerships and educational opportunities with the community of practicing professionals.

Mentoring and advising are an essential part of the program. Students meet with faculty and the academic program director to ensure that educational goals and career learning and development goals are met. Students should contact the Program Director Dr. Kathryn Lafrenz-Samuels via email: chrm@umd.edu.

Overview

The Master of Professional Studies in Cultural and Heritage Resource Management, Online (MPCH) has a 36-credit multi-disciplinary curriculum that provides rigorous training to broaden knowledge and understanding of cultural and heritage resource management, specifically in areas identified as critical by the practicing professionals within the field, laboratory, and management of areas of the discipline. 

• Highlights intensive research methods, ethics, communication, management, technical writing, and critical thinking skills throughout all coursework, a management-level practicum or internship, and a technical report highlighting a CHRM research project.
• The program can be completed in eighteen months of continuous full-time enrollment. Part-time enrollment is welcome. See Designation of Full-time/Part-time Status.

Program Features

• Plan of study includes eight 3-credit courses which focus on research methods, ethics, communication, management, technical writing, and critical thinking skills (24 credits); one internship/practicum course (6 credits); and one thesis course (6 credits). 
• The internship/practicum is designed to contribute to the students’ understanding of the overall process of CHRM. Students who are already working in CHRM may use their employment as their practicum if the opportunity is available for them to learn beyond the confines of their job.
• For the thesis, students write a technical report related to a CHRM research topic. The thesis will include a statement of purpose or hypothesis to be examined, a research design developed specifically for the student’s research, a broad literature review to place the research in context, original data collection and analysis, a summary and discussion of results, and a conclusion. The thesis may be based on field, lab, collections, literature analysis, or any combination thereof. An oral presentation is required, but a written comprehensive exam is not required.

Registration Overview

• See the sample plan of study below. Students should use this as a guide to develop a plan with the academic program director. 
• Actual course offerings are determined by the program and may vary semester to semester. Students should note if a course has a prerequisite or corequisite.
• Specific class meeting information (days and time) is posted on UMD’s interactive web service, Testudo. Once on that site, select “Schedule of Classes,” then the term/year. Courses are listed by academic unit.  
• The program uses specific section codes for registration, which are listed on the sample plan of study.

 Sample Plan of Study

Courses

For a listing of program courses, see the Graduate School Catalog program requirements for MPCH. For course descriptions that include prerequisites or corequisites, see ANTH.

Overall 

• Uses the term academic calendar with classes held in 12-week terms: I (fall), II (winter), III (spring), IV (summer).
• Instruction provided by University of Maryland faculty and professionals in the field.

Online Learning

• Features 100% online instruction with engaging and interactive learning.
• Using advanced audio and video technology, UMD’s online learning environment delivers dynamic and interactive content.
• Featuring convenience and flexibility, online instruction permits asynchronous or synchronous participation.
• Lectures are video-archived. Students who are unable to attend in real time can review the session through asynchronous participation.

Upon successful completion, graduates will have mastered the following competencies:

• Knowledge of the Principles of Cultural Heritage Law, Use of budgets in Cultural and Heritage Resource Management, Documentation needed during phase I, II, III of Cultural and Heritage Resource Management projects, Basic Native American/Indigenous people sensitivity, North American archaeology artifact identification, Safety training, Final report writing, Understanding of state agencies schedules, Outdoor life sense, Map reading and orienteering, Professional conduct, and ethics, Notetaking and interpretation, Soils and stratigraphy, Context and functional identification and recording, and Above ground resource recognition.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to earn employment and succeed in management-level positions in Cultural and Heritage Resource Management including: Federal, state, and tribal regulations including Section 106 and NEPA legislation; NAGPRA, NRHP legislation; Agreement documents, permitting; Local ordinances, local land management, oversight agencies; Advocacy, tribal consultation; Proposal writing, scheduling, marketing, project logistics, personnel management; Establishing site significance, data management, work plans, mitigation measures; Contracting, accounting, budget development; Crew management principles; Cultural communication; and Public outreach.