There are five required Preservation Core Courses. These courses are offered each Fall or Spring semester.
CAS AM 546 Places of Memory: Historic Preservation Theory and Practice (Fall)
Covers key aspects of the history, theory, and practice of historic preservation. Preservation is discussed in the context of cultural history and the changing relationship between existing buildings and landscapes and attitudes toward history, memory, invented tradition, and place. Also offered as CAS AH 546 and CAS HI 546. Typically offered in the Fall semester.
CAS AM 554 Preservation Planning (Spring)
Introduces students to local, state, and national government policies and practices intended to protect historically and aesthetically significant structures. In addition, the course covers planning approaches aimed at managing redevelopment in established neighborhoods, to create livable and sustainable communities. Typically offered in the Spring semester.
CAS AM 555 Boston Architectural and Community History Workshop (Fall)
Focuses on class readings, lectures, and research on a single neighborhood or community in Boston (or Greater Boston). Greatest emphasis is on using primary sources– land titles and deeds, building permits, fire insurance atlases and other maps. Explores places and sources that help assess and narrate the rich history of architectural and urban development. Typically offered in the Fall semester.
CAS AH 585 Twentieth-Century Architecture and Urbanism (or comparable architectural history survey) (Fall or Spring)
This course provides an introduction to the major developments in architecture and urban planning from ca. 1900 to the present. It traces the proliferation of modernist thought through key projects but also to everyday buildings and landscapes. Courses satisfying this requirement are typically offered in either Fall or Spring semester.
GRS AM 775 Independent Research Project Colloquium (capstone project/major project) (Fall or Spring, final semester of the MA)
Generally undertaken as a capstone in the final semester of the program. The project is tailored to complement the student’s coursework and career goals and provide evidence to prospective employers of the student’s interests and competence. The project can include a survey and National Register listing, historic structure reports, preservation plans, design guidelines, economic feasibility studies, or community development reports. Most projects build upon work begun in earlier coursework, directed studies, or internships.
Courses Offered by Other Departments
In addition to the five core courses noted above, students in the Preservation Studies Program take courses from other departments or programs with affiliated faculty. Click here for a list of sample Preservation Electives and Concentration courses, or consult the Graduate Bulletin for a detailed list of courses from other departments.
Note: Graduate students must take classes at the 500+ level.