CONS512 THEORY OF REST.AND CONSERVATION
| Course Code: | 8560512 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Graduate Program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Assoc.Prof.Dr. AYŞEM BERRİN ÇAKMAKLI |
| Offered Semester: | Fall Semesters. |
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will:
- Explain and analyze the evolving scope and definitions of cultural heritage, considering historical, social, and legal contexts.
- Establish a critical framework for assessing how conservation theories and principles influence conservation approaches and implementations across different geographical and cultural contexts, including Turkey.
- Assess and critique real-world conservation projects by applying theoretical, contextual, and ethical considerations.
- Critically evaluate the impact of global challenges—such as climate change, crises, conflicts and wars, and mass migrations—on conservation projects and implementations at different scales.
- Examine and compare the roles, needs, and values of diverse stakeholders in conservation, integrating perspectives on both human and more-than-human agents.
Course Content
The historical background of restoration and conservation in different countries are discussed and compared to evaluate the contemporary scopes. The evaluation and discussed on the theoretical approaches towards restoration and conservation aim to reach a comprehensive theoretical approach relevant for Turkey. The practices in different countries, including Turkey are also questioned within this framework.
Course Learning Outcomes
Student, who passed the course satisfactorily will be able to:
- Define and examine the evolving scope, typologies, and definitions of cultural heritage within historical, social, and legal contexts.
- Identify and assess key theoretical frameworks in conservation and restoration, evaluating their relevance in contemporary debates.
- Analyze how cultural, political, technological, and environmental shifts—including the digital era, post-anthropocentric perspectives, and global crises—have influenced heritage conservation.
- Examine the roles, responsibilities, and values of various stakeholders in conservation, including policymakers, professionals, local communities, and more-than-human agents.
- Critically assess conflicts, negotiations, and ethical dilemmas in conservation decision-making.
- Evaluate the impact of global challenges—such as climate change, conflicts, disasters, and mass migrations—on conservation policies and practices.
- Assess case studies from Turkey and other countries to explore the application and adaptation of conservation principles in diverse contexts.
- Investigate how digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and emerging tools are reshaping conservation practices and heritage engagement.
- Develop a multi-perspective, context-sensitive, and ethical approach to evaluating contemporary conservation theory and practices in response to current heritage challenges.
- Communicate complex conservation issues effectively through discussions, presentations, and written analyses.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Develops and deepens local and international knowledge in the field of cultural heritage conservation at an expert level based on undergraduate qualifications in various disciplines related to the conservation of the built environment. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Understands the interactions between the disciplines related to cultural heritage and conservation. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Produces comprehensive projects by utilizing theoretical and practical knowledge related to cultural heritage and conservation (by preparing the outcomes of documentation, evaluation/interpretation, and project design processes at building and site scales in different formats). | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Uses information and communication technologies (gis, laser scanning, etc.) Along with current and advanced tools required for documentation, information management, and decision-making processes. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Produces original knowledge for the conservation of cultural heritage, solves problems by systematically evaluating information from a holistic perspective, and develops conservation decisions. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Structures and conducts academic research in the field of cultural heritage conservation in a systematic and critical manner. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Acts independently (impartially) in learning and practice settings related to cultural heritage conservation; takes responsibility; independently defines, coordinates, and manages work requiring complex and original strategic approaches in both learning and practice settings. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Utilizes theoretical and practical knowledge in cultural heritage conservation processes with an interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary/transdisciplinary approach. | ✔ | |||
| 9 | Shares the findings and results of the studies carried out in the field of cultural heritage and conservation, and the knowledge and methods underlying them, with expert and non-expert groups in an open and systematic manner (in both Turkish and English). | ✔ | |||
| 10 | Shares the results of a research or project on cultural heritage conservation in national and/or international settings (in both Turkish and English). | ✔ | |||
| 11 | Considers social, scientific and cultural norms in the stages of collecting, interpreting, implementing and announcing data related to the field of cultural heritage conservation; observes ethical values; pioneers for change. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution