The parallel course structure of the curriculum provides students with simultaneous instruction in the department's paintings, paper, and objects specialties as well as in their various subspecialties including ethnographic and archaeological materials, photograph, and book conservation. In addition, in their first two years of study, students complete four course sequences in examination and documentation techniques and conservation science. This program structure encourages students to integrate techniques and materials of all conservation specialties in developing solutions to conservation problems.

The department believes that the greatest educational benefit results when the student is exposed to the full range of problems involved in conservation work and is given experience in selecting and using the appropriate materials and methods. It requires, therefore, that each treatment undertaken by a student be carried through to completion by that student, including consideration of proper housing, display, and, where appropriate, packing and shipping. Each student carries out at least one full treatment in each major area of specialization and a number in his or her conservation specialty.

The department faculty includes nationally and internationally recognized conservators and other conservation specialists with extensive experience in conservation education. All of its instructors have full-time teaching assignments in the department, allowing them to provide students with uninterrupted guidance both in the classroom and outside scheduled class periods. In order to augment the instruction provided by the faculty, adjunct faculty and consultants in specialized areas of conservation and allied fields are invited throughout the year to enrich the instructional program through lectures, demonstrations, and workshops.