The Western Galilee College, located in Acre, offers a B.A. degree in Conservation of Sites and Monuments . This is the only program of its kind in Israel. The program provides a wide variety of courses designed to educate the next generation of “preservationists.”
I have begun the first year of the program and am presently taking courses in subjects as varied as the History of Israel Under the Ottoman Empire, the History of Architecture in Ancient Times, the Geography of Acre and Its Development as a City, an Introduction to Preservation, and the Influence of the Sea on Cultures of the Mediterranean Sea. Next semester there will be a whole new list of courses. The program also includes guided tours of historical Acre, Haifa and Jaffa.
The importance of this new program is not only in the education of those active in the preservation of historical buildings but also in increasing awareness of the importance of the preservation of our national heritage and history. If the program succeeds, perhaps we’ll see the last of the destruction of important historical buildings.
More information about the degree can be found on the Western Galillee College website.
