Diploma Program
Creating the Heritage Professionals of Tomorrow
The heart of Willowbank is our three-year Diploma Program in Heritage Conservation. Our experiential approach to learning embraces innovation, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and an integrated study of people, practice and place. Taught by a faculty of leading practitioners, our progressive and unconventional model enables students to gain knowledge beyond the classroom by engaging with the real world.
Willowbank’s focus on providing a well-rounded education in heritage conservation and sustainability is made possible by the exceptional faculty who steward students through its dynamic program. These talented faculty associates are leaders in their fields and represent a variety of disciplines ranging from archaeology, architecture, geology and geometry, to masonry, timber-framing and contemporary design. The range of disciplines span the three areas of Willowbank’s diploma curriculum:
RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION
PLANNING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
CRAFT AND DESIGN SKILLS
Our students learn by doing:
Exploring new ways of teaching and learning
Combining the best of academic and apprenticeship traditions
Learning about bringing new life to old places
Our students are passionate about history, conservation, traditional building methods, sustainability and community design. After graduating from our three-year diploma, our students work in a wide range of industries, including:
Construction
Architecture
Planning
Government planning offices
Personal consultancies
Academia (research and teaching)
Heritage trades
Willowbank is home for the evolution, development and expression of our innovative approach, a new paradigm that will have a deep and lasting impact on the world.
Overview of Three-Year Program
First Year
FIRST AND SECOND SEMESTER COURSES
FIRST SEMESTER COURSES
• Health & Safety Training
• Architecture & Cultural Traditions
• Archaeology in Ontario
• History of Architecture
• Introduction to Technical Drawing
• Foundational Principles & Standards
• Masonry I
• Drystone Walling
• Cultural Landscape I
• Research Methods
SECOND SEMESTER COURSES
• Cultural Landscape II
• Heritage Building Maintenance
• Sustainability
• Drafting
• Heritage Design
• Traditional Craft Skills I (includes: Stained Glass I, Stone Carving I, Wood Carving and Blacksmithing)
• Window Conservation
• Heritage Finishes
• Heritage Flooring
• Carpentry I
Second Year
THIRD AND FOURTH SEMESTER COURSES
THIRD SEMESTER COURSES
• Conservation Management Plan
• Conservation & Communities
• Heritage Project Management
• Traditional Craft Skills II (includes: Stained Glass II, Stone Carving II, Furniture Restoration)
• Heritage Planning & Municipal Designation
• Masonry II
• Heritage Structural Systems
• Canadian Heritage Legislation, Policies & Guidelines
• Heritage Framing & Roofing
FOURTH SEMESTER COURSES
• Conservation Management Plan
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• World Heritage Conservation
• Monument Restoration
• Carpentry II
• Plaster
• Historic Structures Report
• Emerging Trends in Heritage Conservation & Professional Development
• Business Models in Heritage Conservation
• Accessible Heritage
Third Year
INDUSTRY INTERNSHIP OR RESEARCH PROJECT
INDUSTRY INTERNSHIP:
The Industry Internship is an integral part of the Heritage Conservation program, whereby students are required to hold a position in the heritage conservation field (conservation planning, trades). This position needs to be in the form of a paid internship, an apprenticeship, employment, or a combination of these. The industry internship must be paid. The total number of hours needs to be a minimum of 600 hours. Program Requirement (ePortfolio): daily logs, monthly reports, final report duly signed by industry supervisor.
ePortfolio is a requirement of the industry internship as part of the Heritage Conservation program. ePortfolio is an online archive that contains evidence of student’s academic achievement, reflections on their learning experiences from the program years, and records of their professional development. At the end of third year, students will be required to present the ePortfolio and the learnings from their industry internship.
RESEARCH PROJECT:
Students will select a thesis project within the domain of Heritage Conservation (research and documentation, conservation planning, trades) to be conducted under supervision of a faculty supervisor and an industry supervisor, during the final year.
We can all see that heritage in Ontario and elsewhere is undergoing a transition with an uncertain outome. The most impactful thing we can do preserve our cultural heritage is to inspire and prepare passionate young professionals to enter the sector and every level of government. Willowbank School is uniquely positioned to do that.
Andrew Humeniuk - Executive Director of the Humeniuk Foundation and The Brown Homestead
