Historic preservation topics were presented by guest speakers during nine lunch bag seminars held during the school. Experts in the field gave informal presentations on topics covering primary research, historic site administration, French archaeology, African-American heritage, Missouri's historic sites, national landmark documentation, animal archaeology, Ste. Genevieve architecture and researching Marie LaPorte, a well-known citizen of Ste. Most of the participants attending the field school were students at Southeast Missouri State University majoring in historic preservation, and ranged from freshmen to graduate students. Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau is one of only four schools in the nation that offers a four-year degree program in historic preservation.
Students can also earn a master's degree in history with an emphasis in historic preservation.