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Historic Preservation Home > Syllabi > 300 Level Courses > HISP 308 Cultural Resource Management

UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION

HISP 308   CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT


Kerri Barile
Spring 2009
Combs 025
Mondays, 1:00-3:45PM

It has been estimated that 70 percent of those employed in preservation-related fields work in Cultural Resource Management (CRM). CRM is the business side of preservation, where the hands-on application of preservation research meets legislative compliance. Although often equated with archaeology, CRM includes the identification, evaluation, investigation and coordination of all types of historic resources, from buildings to bridges and from sites to statues.  This course will introduce you to the ways and means of CRM, including why we study certain resources, how these resources are examined, what we report, and who is involved in the process. Discussions will go beyond the current state of CRM to include information on notable skill sets and what to include in a resume. The goals of the class are to provide each student with an awareness of CRM and to prepare individuals to enter the preservation workforce.

TEXTS

The following book is required and available in the college bookstore:

King, Thomas
  2008   Cultural Resource Laws & Practice, 3rd Edition.  Altamira Press, Lanham, Maryland.

One required booklet will be distributed in class:

National Park Service
  1997  How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. National Register Bulletin #15. U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Washington D.C.

In addition, several documents available on the internet will be required. Details on the assignment and availability of these resources are listed in the Schedule below.

OUT-OF-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

There are four class assignments. All will be distributed in class at least two weeks prior to the due date and will be discussed in detail at that time.

Assignment #1

Interview with a Cultural Resource Professional. Each student will interview an individual currently employed in the cultural resource management field in person or, if needed, by telephone. A sign-up list and contact information will be provided in class. A 2–3 page summary of the interview and a brief class presentation on the results are due on February 9, 2009.

Assignment #2

Phase I Historic Property Evaluations.  Students will conduct five Phase I historic property investigations. All properties will be located in Fredericksburg, unless otherwise requested. Synthesis write-ups of the five properties are due on March 23, 2009.

Assignment #3

Project Proposal and Budget. Based on class discussions, students will create a written proposal and associated budget. The topic and exact content of the proposal will be discussed in class. Written proposal and any required attachments are due on April 13, 2009.

Assignment #4/Final Project

Curriculum Vitae, Resume and Cover Letter. Using skills identified during the semester and information obtained from the previous assignments, each student will prepare a Curriculum Vitae, Resume and Cover Letter for use in their future careers. These documents are due on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 during the final exam period.

ATTENDANCE

There is no formal attendance policy for this course. I highly recommend regular attendance, however, as a large percentage of assignment material will come directly from weekly discussions and in-class hand outs. In addition, class participation is an important component of determining your final grade.

GRADING

Letter and numeric grading is based on the following ranges:  A= 94–100; A-= 90–93; B+= 87–89; B= 83–86; B-= 80–82; C+= 77–79; C= 73–76; C-= 70–72; D+= 67–69; D= 60–66; F= < 60.

No passing grade can be achieved in this course without completion of all assignments. 

Your final grade will be calculated from the following percentages:  Assignment 1 (Interview): 20 percent; Assignment 2 (Phase Is): 20 percent; Assignment 3 (Proposal): 20 percent; Assignment 4/Final Project (CV/Resume): 20 percent; Class Participation: 20 percent.  Assignments are due at the beginning of class on their stated due date. They will be marked down by a letter grade (10 percent) for each day they are late.

OFFICE INFORMATION

I can be reached by email (kbarile@dovetailcrg.com) or cell phone (540-623-5106) at any time. Since this is a seminar class with a small number of students, I will not hold regular office hours. However, I can be available whenever you need me to discuss an assignment, the class, or preservation in general. We can meet on campus, downtown, or at my business office (300 Central Road, Suite 200, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401).

CLASS SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

January 12:      Introduction to Cultural Resource Management

January 19:      No Class (Martin Luther King Day)

January 26:      What is Cultural Resource Management?   Assignment 1 Discussed.
                        Reading:   King, Preface and Chapter 1

February 2:      Cultural Resource Management & Applicable Laws
                        Reading:   King, Chapter 2, Appendix 1–3

February 9:      The National Register: Discussion of Historic Properties    Assignment 1 DUE
                        Reading:   King, Chapter 3

February 16:    The National Register: Discussion of the Section 106 Process   Assignment 2 Discussed
                        Reading:   King, Chapter 4

February 23:    Nuts and Bolts, Part 1: Historic Context, Background Review & Fieldwork

Reading:   “Guidelines for Conducting Cultural Resource Survey in Virginia” (2003), pages 1–71.  Available at: http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/review/Survey_Manual_Web.pdf

March 2:          No Class (Spring Break)

March 9:          Nuts and Bolts, Part 2: Report Production and Project Coordination
Reading:   “Guidelines for Conducting Cultural Resource Survey in Virginia” (2003), pages 72–109, Appendix A and Appendix B.  Available at: http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/
review/Survey_Manual_Web.pdf; Also, King, Appendix 4

March 16:        Evaluating Significance of Historic Properties
                        Reading:    National Register Bulletin #15

March 23:        Other Types of Resources and Cultural Politics   Assignment 2 DUE
                        Reading:   King, Chapters 5 and 6

March 30:        The Business of CRM: Proposals and Budgets   Assignment 3 Discussed

April 6:                        The Business of CRM: All the Other Fun Details
**Guest Speaker: Mike Carmody. Class will meet at Dovetail Cultural Resource Group (300 Central Road, Suite 200, Fredericksburg, Virginia).

April 13:          Multidisciplinary Studies in CRM   Assignment 3 DUE
Reading: NPS Topic Booklets (Topics Assigned on April 6). Available at: http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/publications/index.htm; Also, peruse King, Chapter 8

April 20:          Careers in CRM & Historic Preservation   Assignment 4 Discussed
                        Reading:   King, Chapter 9

April 29:          Final Exam   Assignment 4 DUE