In addition to the five required core courses , students in the MA in Preservation Studies must take a total of seven other courses: five in their chosen Concentration and two other relevant Electives. The program’s core faculty periodically offers specialized preservation courses, such as under the following Preservation menu.
Preservation
CAS AH 548 Global Heritage Conservation Examining global approaches towards heritage conservation through a study of concepts, charters and case studies, using themes such as world heritage, cultural tourism, historic towns, new design, intangible heritage, authenticity, integrity, recent past, historic landscapes, conflict, disasters, revitalization and reconstruction.
CAS AM 501 Special Topics in American Studies: Reading and Envisioning Historical Landscapes As living heritage, historic landscapes require careful preservation planning and maintenance in order to be safeguarded and remain relevant. The course explores through the use and study of case studies, the multi-disciplinary approaches that are part of the preparation of landscape management and maintenance plans and visions, such as Cultural Landscape Reports. Methods to research, document and analyze landscapes are will be studied, and one significant landscape in the Boston area functions as the main hands-on project site.
CAS AM 501 Research Seminar in American Studies, Special Topic: Adaptive Reuse and Revitalization This seminar course critically explores and analyzes American examples of completed projects and employed design approaches, with a comparison of international practices. Class discussion and analysis of projects and readings are be combined with field trips. As a final project each class member explores an adaptive reuse or revitalization project.
CAS AM 502 Research Seminar in American Studies, Special Topic: Preservation and the Vernacular Environment This seminar explores the unique challenges and solutions for preserving the vernacular environment—broadly construed as “everyday” buildings and landscapes—that many established preservation tools are ill-equipped to serve. From triple-deckers to rural farmsteads to postwar suburbs to fieldstone dams, this course demonstrates the importance of the mundane in the built environment and how to save ensure its survival.
CAS AM 502 Research Seminar in American Studies, Special Topic: Ethics of Preservation This course focuses on the laws and policies of historic preservation on a national and international level and connects those laws and policies to ethical issues in myriad venues. What are the ethical and legal dimensions of historic preservation? Who should control historically significant places and things? To whom and to what are preservationists accountable? This course addresses these issues and more by examining how the past is employed for social, political, and economic purposes in the context of legal and policy frameworks.
CFA AR 535 Landscape Design and Preservation Studio An introduction to landscape design in the context of a historical landscape through a sequence of projects. Students will learn design, documentation and presentation techniques as they create a concept and redevelopment vision, while incorporating narratives, context, genius loci and public uses. Work will be advanced through studio exploration with critical discussions and presentations with the instructor, peers and guest critics.
Courses offered by other departments
Many Concentration and Elective courses are offered by our affiliated departments and programs. Below is a selection of sample courses for our Electives or Concentrations that are listed under the following departments and programs. Visit the departments’ websites to explore all their courses and to see which ones are being available in the upcoming semester as courses are offered on a rotational basis.
Note: Graduate students must take classes at the 500+ level. Courses at 300+ level are occasionally approved as graduate level Directed Study courses with permission of the instructor and Preservation Studies Director.
American Studies
See the full range of scheduled American Studies courses here .
CAS AM 867 4 credits.
Graduate Prerequisites: graduate standing or consent of instructor. - Introduction to the theory and practice of the interdisciplinary study of material culture, which includes everything we make and use, from food and clothing to art and buildings. Explore contemporary scholarship from a range of disciplines. Also offered as GRS AH 867.
Archaeology
See the full range of scheduled Archaeology courses here .
CAS AR 506 4 credits.
BU Hub Learn More Historical Consciousness Research and Information Literacy Social Inquiry II
Undergraduate Prerequisites: one archaeology course or consent of instructor. - Graduate Prerequisites: one archaeology course or consent of instructor. - Use of advanced computer (GIS) techniques to address regional archaeological problems.This applied course examines digital encoding and manipulation of archaeological and environmental data, and methods for testing hypotheses, analyzing, and modeling the archaeological record. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Social Inquiry II, Research and Information Literacy.
CAS AR 507 4 credits.
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASAR 100 OR CASAR 190) and CASAR 307; or consent of instructor. - Hands-on introduction to "low-impact" analytical methodologies employed in archaeology. Integrates field learning with conceptual and case-study readings, classroom instruction, and computer-based data manipulation and analyses. Introductions to GIS, field survey, UAV-based aerial photogrammetry, aerial imagery, subsurface prospection methods, dendroarchaeological sampling. Effective Spring 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Teamwork/Collaboration.
CAS AR 508 4 credits.
Undergraduate Prerequisites: First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or 120) - A seminar-style introduction to "landscape archaeology," a theoretical and methodological approach that explores how past and present communities create (and are in turn affected by) "cultural landscapes" formed through the interplay of sociocultural values and the natural environment. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU HUB areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking.
CAS AR 565 4 credits.
BU Hub Learn More Creativity/Innovation Digital/Multimedia Expression Historical Consciousness
Memorials and the spaces around them are charged zones, time portals where past and present co-exist.The decision to erect a memorial is a statement on many levels -- of cultural stamina, political will, social need, and above all of historical consciousness. In this course we focus on the development of memorial culture in America, along with a comparative examination of the worlds of ancient Greece and Rome. The distance afforded by stepping outside our own time and place provides perspectives on aspects of form and message, as well as on how the meanings of memorial can change. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Historical Consciousness, Creativity/Innovation.
CAS AR 591 4 credits.
BU Hub Learn More Critical Thinking Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy Social Inquiry II
Undergraduate Prerequisites: at least two archaeological studies courses at the 200 level or above, senior status, or consent of instructor. - Seminar dealing with the intellectual history of the discipline, research methods, concepts, and problems in archaeological theory, and the formulation of research designs. Effective Fall 2024 fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Critical Thinking, Global Citizenship, Social Inquiry II.
CAS AR 592 4 credits.
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. - In this course students examine archaeology and professional ethics; archaeology as public interest; legal organization of archaeology; international approaches to heritage management; looting, collecting and the antiquities market; maritime law and underwater archaeology; cultural resource management in the United States. Effective Fall 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Ethical Reasoning.
CAS AR 595 4 credits.
BU Hub Learn More Ethical Reasoning Oral and/or Signed Communication Teamwork/Collaboration
A degree in archaeology can get you in the door at museums, the National Park Service, US Customs and other federal agencies, research laboratories, international NGO's, organizations focused on international art law, historical site management, heritage tourism -- and more. For such careers, you need skills that allow you to build on your understanding of archaeological remains and techniques, communicate to a wider public, and create pathways that link subjects and remains of the past to interests and needs in the present. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas Oral and/or Signed Communication, Ethical Reasoning, Teamwork/Collaboration.
CAS AR 795 4 credits.
BU Hub Learn More Digital/Multimedia Expression Ethical Reasoning Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
Undergraduate Prerequisites: graduate standing. - Historical exploration of the interplay among political/nationalistic pressures and the design, implementation, and interpretation of archaeological research and its public presentation through publications, museum exhibitions, and international expositions. Spring 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Ethical Reasoning, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
Arts Administration and Museum Studies
See the full range of scheduled Arts Administration courses here and for Museum Studies here .
CAS AH 507 4 credits.
BU Hub Learn More Aesthetic Exploration Creativity/Innovation Digital/Multimedia Expression
Before national parks, wild locations attracted artists, photographers and poets. Their works made these areas known to tourist-viewers. Prepare a digital exhibition and map artist- advocates as they explored mountains, forests and waterfalls. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Digital/Multimedia Expression, Creativity/Innovation.
CAS AH 520 4 credits.
History, present realities, and future possibilities of museums and historical agencies, using Boston's excellent examples. Issues and debates confronting museums today examined in the light of historical development and changing communities. Emphasis on collecting, display and interpretation.
CAS AH 521 4 credits.
Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor. - Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor. - Topic for Spring 2025: Students research and prepare for an upcoming exhibition at the MFA on Rembrandt and Dutch Jews in the seventeenth century. Conducted primarily at the MFA¿s Center for Netherlandish Art (CNA), classes introduce students to curatorial strategies and the pragmatics of exhibition-making.
MET AR 550 4 credits.
An examination of ways to raise funds from government, foundation, corporate, and individual sources. The following topics will be addressed through lectures and case analysis: the history of philanthropy, the planning and research process, proposal and grant preparation, program evaluation, and the role of the board and staff in developing effective fundraising strategies. [4 credits] [Required course for Fundraising Management Graduate Certificate; Pre-req for MET AR 723]
MET AR 690 4 credits.
An examination of the arts institutions, issues, and forces that shape the contemporary art world. Surveys the institutions and actors that comprise the ecology of the art world, and examines significant recent trends within a model of four interrelated spheres: 1) Individual Artists; 2) Government; 3) the Nonprofit Sector; and 4) the Private Sector. Explores how stakeholders connect and interact with each other while engaging with significant institutions and the public to affect the cultural history of our time. This is the gateway course in the Arts Administration Program, and is usually taken in the first semester. [Non-Arts Administration students contact the Arts Administration Program at artsad@bu.edu. MET AR 690 is a pre-requisite for MET AR778, MET AR771, MET AR774, and MET AR720]
MET AR 730 4 credits.
This course will address the politics of arts and culture through seminars with political and cultural leaders, class discussion, readings, and research. Students will develop advocacy campaign plans and analyze how cultural organizations interact with all levels of government. [4 credits]
MET AR 740 4 credits.
The ever-evolving nature of digital technology presents opportunities and challenges in the work of arts administrators. This course will examine a range of technologies employed by arts organizations to improve their practice and extend their reach, including customer relations management, fundraising, collaboration management, ticketing, project management, and social media management. Students will examine emerging products and trends, interact with practitioners to learn how they are using these tools, and engage in a series of hands-on challenges to build competency in using emerging technologies such as interactive communication and Generative AI tools.
MET AR 750 4 credits.
Graduate Prerequisites: MET AC 630 or accounting equivalent. - Analyzes issues of accounting, finance, and economics in the context of the nonprofit organization. Stresses understanding financial statements, budget planning and control, cash flow analysis, and long term planning. [4 credits] [Required course for Fundraising Management Graduate Certificate]
MET AR 766 4 credits.
This course explores the dynamic, complex, and sometimes contradictory work of community-based arts programs, including program development and design, relationship-building, funding and financial models, evaluation, and ethics. Sharpen your orientation as a practitioner through case studies, research, and experiential learning that will deepen your understanding of community-based arts and how they can be leveraged to drive positive change in communities. [4 credits]
City Planning
See the full range of scheduled City Planning and Urban Affairs courses here .
MET UA 503 4 credits.
Surveys the factors affecting supply and price of urban housing. Examines federal, state, and municipal programs, as well as future policy options, from the standpoint of housing quality and community development goals. Analysis of selected international comparative experience.
MET UA 515 4 credits.
History, concepts, and methods of contemporary urban and regional planning practice. Governmental, nonprofit, and private settings of professional planning; plans, research, and policy development; uses and implementation of planning. Political analysis of planning issues, such as comprehensiveness, public interest, advocacy, negotiation, and future orientation. Case materials drawn from redevelopment, growth management, land use conflicts, and service delivery.
MET UA 613 4 credits.
The role of urban design in the community development process. Examines human behavior, aesthetic foundations of design methods, citizen/client participation, and public policy issues. Analysis of actual community spaces. Student design exercises.
MET UA 617 4 credits.
Sustainability generally refers to the ability of "systems" to be maintained such that they remain viable over long periods of time. As much as achieving the perfect sustainable equilibrium may be the ideal, it is important to recognize that there will be competing and conflicting interests, especially within complex hierarchical social, economic and ecological systems, particularly in light of ongoing climatic change. This field intensive course draws on the practices and theories of sustainability and climate change to understand what sustainability can mean in different contexts, and, more important, how nuanced, sustainable solutions can be achieved under varying conditions and in different systems. With an emphasis on the urban environment, the course will consist of projects in which students will identify, analyze, and develop practical proposals to real world issues. This course is intended for a wider audience from a range of disciplines.
MET UA 619 4 credits.
This course will provide students with a broad introduction to important concepts and policy issues in transportation, principally at an urban and metropolitan level. In addition, the course will explore methods planning practitioners can use to analyze transportation problems and propose solutions. The course will use specific examples of planning initiatives (both operations and capital) from transportation agencies within the Boston Metropolitan region. Guest speakers from local, regional, and state transportation agencies within the Greater Boston Metropolitan area will supplement the instructor's lectures and assigned readings.
MET UA 654 4 credits.
Geographic Information Systems for Planners provides an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specifically with a focus on applications in urban planning. The role of spatial analysis in local, state and regional planning has steadily increased over the last decade with the infusion of windows-based GIS software such as ESRI ArcGIS. The class focus is to prepare students to feel comfortable communicating with other GIS users, research spatial data, and produce high quality digital maps in an applied learning environment.
MET UA 703 4 credits.
Mixed-Methods Design for Urban Research is intended to develop skills in the evaluation and utilization of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches to scholarship in social-science research. The course will explore survey, experimental, observational, interview, ethnographic, and case-study research methods in depth, and students will learn how to collect, organize, and evaluate data in various forms. Students will create a fully developed research proposal drawing upon mixed-methods techniques to investigate a topic of interest.
History of Art and Architecture
See the full range of scheduled History of Art and Architecture courses here .
CAS AH 500 4 credits.
May be repeated for credit as topics change. Two topics are offered Fall 2025. Section A1: Methods and Inquiry in Architectural Studies. This seminar explores diverse research methods in architecture studies and history, covering archival, photographic, ethnographic, and more. Students engage with readings and exercises to understand various intellectual debates and methodologies, fulfilling the methods requirement. Section B1: Asian Art Seminar.
CAS AH 527 4 credits.
Topic for Fall 2025, Section A1: The Mount Auburn Cemetery. An exploration of remembrance, and the invention, appropriation, and development of imagery and landscape for commemorative monuments. Much of this seminar takes place on site in the Mount Auburn Cemetery and in regional early Burying Grounds. Walking shoes required.
CAS AH 548 4 credits.
Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor. - Examining global approaches towards heritage conservation through a study of concepts, charters and case studies, using themes such as world heritage, cultural tourism, historic towns, new design, intangible heritage, authenticity, integrity, recent past, historic landscapes, conflict, disasters, revitalization and reconstruction.
History
See the full range of scheduled History courses here .
CAS HI 500 4 credits.
May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Topics for Fall 2025-- Section A1: Global Philippines through Adobo. This seminar interrogates the limits and possibilities of telling the history of a place through food. How can reading about cooking and eating Philippine adobo reveal global histories of migration and colonialism from the early modern period through today? Section B1: The Photography of Persecution. Explores the use of photography by state and nonstate actors to criminalize, control, and crush vulnerable social groups. Examines claims of photographic objectivity, the circumstances of photographic production, and visual genres from mugshots to memes, memento mori to mass murder.
CAS HI 553 4 credits.
BU Hub Learn More Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy Historical Consciousness Oral and/or Signed Communication
From archaic humans roaming the woods of Siberia to the thunderous call of the modern revolutions, the story of the Asian continent is the story of our species and its aspirations. This course tells that story from a transnational perspective. Effective Fall 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Oral and Signed Communication.
CAS HI 568 4 credits.
BU Hub Learn More Historical Consciousness Research and Information Literacy Writing-Intensive Course
Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - Cities such as New York, Paris, London, and Shanghai captured the worst problems and most exciting possibilities of the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This course investigates how urban spaces facilitated commerce, social life, and the forging of modern identities. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy.
CAS HI 575 4 credits.
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing and consent of instructor. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - The political, economic, social, and cultural history of the United States in the formative years of the early twentieth century. Topics include Progressivism, World War I, immigration, modernism, the Scopes Trial, suffrage, the Harlem Renaissance, and the emergence of modern business practices. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy.
CAS HI 698 4 credits.
Graduate seminar in African American history surveys shifts in historiography in the last 25 years in slavery studies, Black women's, Black youth history, Great Migration, the histories of racial justice and coalitional movements (CR, BP, BLM), and the recent turn in carceral studies.
CAS HI 802 4 credits.
Topic: Readings in African American History and Black Studies. This seminar explores key themes, methods, and debates in African American history and Black Studies; engages with foundational texts and recent scholarship across a variety of topics in US history; and culminates in an interdisciplinary historiographical essay and annotated bibliography.