This course offers an overview of cultural heritage management, in particular architectural preservation, in different parts of the world. Coursework will chart the evolution of the preservation field from a lay interest to discipline and profession and address its prevailing theories, accomplishments, and their effects. The course examines motives for preservation, its benefits, how preservation valorizes heritage sites, and how heritage protection is now truly a global concern.

This course is an investigation of indigenous, vernacular, and historical American architecture from 1500 to 1860; evolution of construction technologies, changing building forms, and finish treatments; identification of historic architectural styles and their influence on 21st-century American architecture.

Conservation Technology is an introduction to the composition and properties of historic building materials and the techniques used for their conservation. Lectures, readings and demonstrations are presented focusing on the basics of conservation science, historic building materials and preservation treatments. Students will participate in hands-on demonstrations and exercises to gain a better understanding of the materials and techniques used for architectural conservation.

The Special Topics course is used for introductory level new and onetime offerings in the Historic Preservation Program. Course content will vary from semester to semester. Contact the program for information on particular offerings. Course may be repeated unlimited times for credit.

The Special Topics course is used for introductory level new and onetime offerings in the Historic Preservation Program. Course content will vary from semester to semester. Contact the program for information on particular offerings. Course may be repeated unlimited times for credit.

In utilizing case studies for analysis and discourse, students will investigate relationships between the built environment and those of tangible and intangible heritage and culture. Studies presenting the complexities of the topics will be presented in an effort to better understand what informs notions of place and how architecture exists in accordance with, or as a reaction against, in place social norms set forth by the intrinsic cultural heritage of an environment.

This course is an introduction to documentation techniques focused on the historic built environment. Through site visits and classroom-based seminars students will learn the fundamentals of creating hand-drafted measured drawings in addition to the basics of computer-aided documentation methods. Other recording techniques such as photography and various forms of field notations will also be explored.

This course is an investigation of indigenous, vernacular, and historical American architecture from 1860 to 1980; evolution of construction technologies, changing building forms, and finish treatments; identification of historic architectural styles and their influence on twenty-first century American architecture.

The Historic Preservation Internship course requires 200 hours of work for a preservation agency, a suitable non- profit, or a restoration firm. An internship may be a special project or daily work for the organization, but the activities must be meaningful and contribute to the student’s professional development. Students gain practical experience by working in a professional situation and are required to submit a diary and a report about their work.

The Independent Study course gives upper-level undergraduate students an opportunity to work with a faculty advisor to pursue a personal academic interest with greater focus. Qualified students must develop a syllabus and schedule with the help of the faculty advisor. The course must be approved by the Historic Preservation Program Director prior to registration. Course may be repeated up to two times

The Special Topics course is used for new and onetime offerings in the Historic Preservation Program. Course content will vary from semester to semester. Contact the program for information on particular offerings. Course may be repeated unlimited times for credit.

This studio is the orientation course that examines aspects of preservation concerns related to the individual building or group of buildings. Documentation methods will be presented, and students will learn key techniques such as hand drafting, AutoCAD, and other related ways to document the built environment. Students will also learn how to analyze the condition of the building(s) and its (their) context. The studio will also examine the differences between building stabilization, adaptive reuse, renovation, and restoration. Field studies will use real life experiences to illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of preservation in the Americas.

This course immerses students in the theory and practice of planning for historic districts, cultural landscapes, and complex built environments. This advanced course emphasizes district-scale analysis, policy frameworks, and decision-making strategies that guide the long-term stewardship of historic places. Students work both independently and in teams to evaluate streetscapes, residential and commercial districts, and representative sites--assessing conditions, identifying character-defining features, and weighing interventions such as rehabilitation, infill, adaptive reuse, and new development. Through applied research, planning exercises, and engagement with contemporary preservation tools and guidelines, students develop actionable preservation plans that balance cultural significance, regulatory requirements, and community needs. The studio prepares emerging professionals to navigate the complexities of urban conservation and to contribute effectively to planning-driven roles in the preservation field.

The Heritage Risk Lab builds expertise in understanding, planning for, and mitigating the impacts of climate change as one of the greatest societal challenges of the 21st century. Heritage resources are a vital category of cultural assets that will be affected by these global events and trends. Cultural heritage--encompassing a broad array of materials and spaces, including archaeological sites, historic buildings and structures, and cultural landscapes--provides tangible connections to the past for communities, a sense of a shared identity, and crucial economic development opportunities. Ensuring their durability for future generations is pivotal for healthy, sustainable communities.

This course offers an introduction to the field of Historic Preservation in the United States through an exploration of its historical evolution, principles, ethics, theory, methodology, and contemporary practice. It further introduces components of the discipline and explains the role of each through dialogue with active practitioners and case study assessments.

This course examines the development of vernacular architectural forms from the 17th to 19th centuries in North America. The course covers a wide range of buildings and landscapes, ranging from domestic structures, public sites, and urban landscapes to churches. Taking a thematic and critical approach, this course will also explore the development of construction technologies and the evolution of building forms. Most importantly, the material will probe the differing meanings of architectural forms and spaces by people in the past. Students will read scholarship written by preeminent scholars in vernacular architectural studies and be asked to critically evaluate the field’s methods and interpretations. Class meetings will include lectures, discussions on selected topics, and student presentations.

This course serves as an introduction to the core elements of archival and documentary research with a strong focus on property records and tracking architectural modifications over time through historic and contemporary documentation. The course includes site-based visits to local archival repositories as well as an exploration of digital resources, and discussions on the interpretation and reliability of primary and secondary source data. Students will complete short assignments focused on archival literacy and proficiency, additionally they will undertake a final research project that explores the history of a property in New Orleans by utilizing the resources presented throughout the course.

This illustrated course examines New Orleans architecture from the city’s founding in 1718 to the present time, as well as its historic neighborhoods. The city’s architectural legacy will be explored from the standpoint of broad architectural stylistic trends, their relationship to national and international trends, the forces and architects that helped shape the styles, and local building types. Thirty-eight architectural styles will be examined, including Colonial, Revivals, Aesthetic, Eclectic, Arts and Crafts, and Modern Movements. Identifying characteristics and materials of each style will be discussed through numerous illustrations demonstrating the variety of each style based on the most current research.

This course will focus on detailed analysis of architectural building materials. Through hands-on experiences, lectures, readings, and laboratory exercises students will better understand the performance and physical properties of historic building materials and traditional building systems, providing a basic knowledge so that they might be able to identify deterioration mechanisms and formulate interventions.

This course will provide an overview of preservation technology and building materials conservation. This is the study of historic building materials and the technical means used to document, diagnose, analyze, and design interventions to preserve these materials. It is, in the most basic sense, the technical means by which to accomplish preservation. It involves the examination and treatment of historic and cultural resources utilizing an established system of principles and procedures based on a foundation of preservation theory and methodology.

The course provides advanced training in digital documentation technology, geographic information systems (GIS), and database platforms for the collection, management, and dissemination of preservation data and interpretation.

A one-credit professional development course will prepare students to enter the preservation workforce through the development of practical skills. Course content includes professional development workshops and guest lectures from practitioners discussing their career paths and informing students on the breadth of the field of preservation.

This course provides an in-depth examination of historic preservation legislation at the Federal, State, and Local levels including its origins, effects, and application for use in contemporary preservation practice. After an introduction of the subject including special instruction to Preservation students on how to read case law, the course reviews a variety of law cases including their precedents and results.

This course concentrates on the financial aspects of historic architectural preservation including its economic benefits, methods of valuation, and tax incentives. The course involves several guest speakers and considers the perspectives of the key players involved in preservation practice. The latter half of the course analyzes the professional practice of preservation including current trends and future directions. Strategies for entering and succeeding in the cultural heritage management profession conclude this course.

This course will examine preservation advocacy using readings, lectures, and field trips as the primary teaching tools. It is meant to be a complement to the Intro to Preservation course, where students learn about the inner workings and practice of historic preservation – this course allows them to see it in action – and as preparation for Spring’s Internship course. Students will learn about methods for the application of historic preservation practice within the United States and its effects from the individuals and organizations pursuing those methods.

This course introduces American policy and planning that shape and affect historic districts, sites, and registries, both locally and nationally. Past, present and emergent policies and plans discussed include: federal legislation, state master plans, and municipal preservation ordinances but also the rules, rubrics, and reviews by which various governmental bodies and their consultants and citizen commissions influence development, design, demolition, removal and/or relocation of buildings and other features of the built environment. The course assignments prepare students to meet US employer expectations of experience with Section 106 review and National Register eligibility evaluation and nomination.

The MSHP course requires 120 hours of work for a preservation agency, a suitable non- profit, or a restoration firm. An internship may be a special project or daily work for the organization, but the activities must be meaningful and contribute to the student’s professional development. Students gain practical experience by working in a professional situation and are required to submit a report about their work.

The Preservation Economics course explores the business of financing preservation projects through the lens of real estate development. Students will learn the language of the development community with the goal of using preservation as a tool for mindful, financially feasible projects. With an understanding of tax credits, grants, other incentive programs, and data metrics, students will be able to quantify the value of preservation and be equipped to argue for its economic benefits.

Examine the complex intersections of global power, identity, and development through the lens of UNESCO World Heritage sites across the Global South. Grounded in rigorous case studies and critical scholarship, this course investigates how preservation frameworks shape—and are shaped by—questions of equity, diplomacy, and cultural value. Students will conclude the semester with an in-depth analysis of a World Heritage site of their choosing, applying the course’s analytical tools to real-world contexts.

This course initiates the culminating research or practicum project through a structured, semester-long writing laboratory. Students develop their research questions, project scope, methodologies, and initial drafts through guided instruction, scheduled workshops, and iterative feedback sessions. Emphasizing process, accountability, and clarity of scholarly purpose, the Writing Lab ensures students build a strong, well-organized foundation for their final thesis or practicum report while meeting key benchmarks that support timely progress.

As the second stage of the year-long culminating experience, this course focuses on substantive revision, refinement, and professional preparation of the thesis or practicum report. Through structured peer review, one-on-one faculty mentorship, and targeted editing workshops, students strengthen argumentation, integrate visuals and documentation, and align their work with programmatic and professional standards. By the end of the semester, students will produce a polished, submission-ready project that reflects rigorous scholarship, clear communication, and the high-quality outcomes expected of the MSHP program.

The Independent Study course gives graduate students an opportunity to work with a faculty advisor to pursue a personal academic interest with greater focus. Qualified students must develop a syllabus and schedule with the help of the faculty advisor. The course must be approved by the Historic Preservation Program Director prior to registration. Course may be repeated up to two times.

The Special Topics course is used for new and onetime offerings in the Historic Preservation Program. Course content will vary from semester to semester. Contact the program for information on particular offerings. Course may be repeated unlimited times for credit.

The Preservation Research Seminar trains students in the methodological process of undertaking preservation research. Students write drafts of core elements of the Historic Preservation Program’s capstone project, and gain feedback from faculty, committee members, and peers.

The Practicum for the Historic Preservation Program is an alternative option to the Thesis requirement and is an important part of the MPS course of study. The Practicum is expected to be a concentrated and valuable work experience that the student chooses that must relate to the field of historic preservation. Its accomplishment must entail 480 hours (three months, full-time) work with an organization. There is wide scope with regard to the possible organizations and locations for students to pursue their practicum experience. With prior approval, students may receive a small stipend or honorarium.

The Thesis is a major course within the MPS program since it calls upon most of what a student has learned during his or her graduate school experience. There is wide scope with regard to possible topic choices and the location of a thesis subject can be anywhere, although if your thesis is site-specific, you must have some firsthand knowledge of the place by the end of the preceding semester. The thesis topic must relate to the field of historic preservation and its contents should be based mostly on primary research.

Thesis research in Preservation Studies.