Center for Historic Preservation

 

Student Academic Support
Effective 8/1/2005, Updated 1/17/2006

The Center for Historic Preservation (CHP) supports undergraduate and graduate education and student-centered learning through student programs for fellows, associates, and assistants.  Staff-directed projects provide interdisciplinary and applied working experiences.  For a complete list of current and past Fellows, click here.

Fellows, Associates, and Assistants will work directly with the CHP staff both in their project design and completion.  The following list suggests the types of projects that could be completed: National Register of Historic Places nominations, historic resource surveys, preservation planning documents, heritage education studies, heritage tourism plans, museum exhibits, feasibility studies, and local histories.  The student may also work with the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area (TCWNHA), a statewide Congressionally-designated program dedicated to the interpretation and preservation of Tennessee’s Civil War and Reconstruction legacies. 

The CHP supports four programs designed to provide professional training and experience:

          I.  The James K. Huhta Doctoral Fellowship Program
          II.  The Center for Historic Preservation Fellowship Program
          III.  The Graduate Research Associate Program
          IV.  The Research Assistant Program

Selection for all programs is competitive and based on academic performance, experience, and interest in historic preservation.  Eligibility, program requirements, and pay vary between programs.

To apply, submit a completed Application for Student Academic Support.  Completed forms are to be mailed to Nancy Smotherman, Center for Historic Preservation, Box 80, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN  37132.

For more information, contact Dr. Carroll Van West at cwest@mtsu.edu.

I.  The James K. Huhta Doctoral Fellowship Program at the Center for Historic Preservation is designed for a candidate pursuing a Ph.D. in a discipline related to historic preservation.  The selected fellow will design and complete a preservation project in collaboration with the CHP staff that fulfills both the goals of the fellow and the CHP.  The fellowship will be awarded for a twelve-month term and includes the cost of tuition plus an additional stipend.  This fellowship is highly competitive and will be awarded by merit.

II.  The Center for Historic Preservation Fellowship Program is a semester-long research fellowship designed to provide professional historic preservation training and experience to post-master or post-doctoral individuals in fields related to historic preservation.  The selected fellow will design and complete a preservation project in collaboration with the CHP staff that fulfills both the goals of the fellow and the CHP.  Fellowships are available for the spring, summer, and fall semesters in the year following their selection.  The fellow will receive a stipend of $3,000-$4,000 typically given as a single-semester award.  Fellowships are renewable based on merit.  Up to three fellows will be chosen during each application cycle.

III.  The Graduate Research Associate Program at the Center for Historic Preservation is designed to provide professional historic preservation training and experience to a graduate student in a field related to historic preservation at Middle Tennessee State University.  The selected associate will design and complete a preservation project in collaboration with the CHP staff that fulfills both the goals of the fellow and the CHP.  The award is for a nine-month term and includes the cost of tuition plus an additional stipend.  Summer support is available, depending on funding.  The associate’s term is renewable on a yearly basis for up to two years depending on performance.  Typically one associate will be chosen per year.

IV.  The Research Assistant Program at the Center for Historic Preservation is designed to provide professional historic preservation training and experience to students currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate degree programs.  The selected assistants will design and complete a preservation project in collaboration with the CHP staff that fulfills both the goals of the assistant and the CHP.  The assistantship is available for 9 to 12 month terms and is renewable, depending on performance, on a semester basis.  The assistant will be expected to work 10 to 25 hours per week and will receive $8 to $12 per hour depending on skills, experience, and discipline.  A number of awards are available depending on CHP needs and funding.

Support to other MTSU Departments

As a research and public service institution at Middle Tennessee State University, the Center for Historic Preservation supports the mission of MTSU through teaching, training, applied public service, and scholarship.  Center staff regularly teach historic preservation courses, offer special lectures in the Historic Preservation/Public History Program of the Department of History and the Department of Education, and direct a large number of theses and dissertations.

The Department of History offers the Masters of Arts in History with an Emphasis in Public History and the Doctor of Arts in History with an Emphasis in Historic Preservation.

To receive a catalog and information about studies and degree programs send a letter of inquiry to:

Graduate Director
Public History Program
Department of History
Box 23, MTSU
Murfreesboro, TN  37132

 

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