MA in Preservation Studies

Selection of courses and the overall direction of the student's program are designed in consultation with the Program director. Students must complete twelve courses or 48 credits at the 500 level or above, including the five core courses, distribution requirements, and a major project, described below. Students must achieve a grade of B- or above in each course. Course work may be completed in three full-time semesters, but students may also choose to enroll on a part-time basis.  

For more information on university requirements, see "General Requirements for the MA" in the Bulletin of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Core Courses

Five courses are required of all students in the Program:

Distribution Requirements and Electives

Students are also required to take at least three courses in architectural history and the built environment from those offered by the American Studies Program or the Art History Department on the list of Courses. In addition, students take two or three electives, depending on their plans for a major project, described below. Electives include advanced preservation courses beyond the material offered in the core: AM 748 Seminar in Adaptive Use, AM 750 Neighborhood Conservation, or AM 755 Preservation Planning Colloquium, the changing offerings of AM 780 Problems in Historic Preservation, or practica (AM 945 or 946) and directed studies (AM 901 or 902) with members of the faculty. Related courses offered in allied departments are described on the list of Courses.  

Internships

Students complete a paid internship during their course of study in the Program. Internships normally consist of ten weeks of full-time paid work or its equivalent. It is commonly completed during the summer between the student's first and second year, but in some instances may be completed during the academic year. Students who have accumulated extensive experience in preservation prior to joining the Program may have this requirement waived.  

Major Project

Students will also complete a major project prior to graduation. This may be an individual master's project, a master's thesis, or a group planning project through AM 755 Preservation Planning Colloquium. Generally, the individual master's project or thesis is tailored to complement the student's coursework and career goals. The master's thesis follows University rules for academic research and its presentation, directed by a member of the American Studies faculty; see the Bulletin of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for these requirements. A master's project may adopt standards of other relevant preservation fields, such as those for survey and National Register listing, historic structure reports, preservations plans, design guidelines, economic feasibility studies, or community development reports. Most projects build upon work begun in core or advanced classes, directed studies, internships, or practica. Depending on the complexity of the project and the time required, the thesis or project may be taken for either four or eight credits.

Typical Program

Semester One:  

AM 546 Historic Preservation, AM 553 Documenting Historic Resources, and up to two electives, usually including an architectural history course.

Semester Two:

AM 751 Financing for Historic Preservation, AM 747 Building Conservation, and up to two electives, usually including an architectural history course.

Summer: 

Internship.

Semester Three:

AM 754 Planning & Preservation and up to three electives.

Semester Four:

AM 755 Preservation Planning Colloquium, master's project, or master's thesis.

• Introduction
• MA Requirements
• JD/MA Requirements
• Admissions
• Financial Aid & Tuition
• Courses
• Current Students
• Visiting Experts
• Internships
• Preservation Practice
• Recent Major Projects
• Alumni