How do I Find Colleges and Universities that Offer Degrees in Historic Preservation?

Since 1973, when Columbia University offered the nation's first degree program in historic preservation, at least 55 additional institutions have developed preservation programs.   This growth was one of the many factors that led to the formation of the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE) which, in 1981, established curriculum and degree standards to ensure the quality of the program.  Please visit the NCPE website for a list of schools that offer preservation degree and certificate programs.

Because of historic preservation's interdisciplinary nature, the degree programs are varied in focus.  Preservation is frequently studied within related departments such as architecture, history, urban planning, environmental design, and geography.  Programs emphasize aspects as diverse as restoration design, administration, documentation techniques, and law.  Both graduate and undergraduate schools offer historic preservation degrees.  In addition to specific education and training, a basic understanding of business, economics, and governmental procedure is helpful, as is practical experience through internships and volunteer activities.

Jonathan Spodek, a professor in the Historic Preservation Program at Ball State University, suggests you keep the following questions in mind when deciding on a thesis topic for a graduate degree in historic preservation:

·  What issues in preservation do you hope to address through your research?

·  Are you just doing research that has been done before and applying it to another subject?  If so, what unique aspect of your research can you offer the preservation community?

·  What aspect of preservation do you want to pursue?  How does your thesis topic help you learn more about this field?

·  Can this project be completed in the time frame given to you?

Recently, many students have begun pursuing a joint degree in law and another preservation related field.  For more information, contact the National Trust's Legal Office at law@nthp.org. 

Please visit this page for a complete list of National Trust training opportunities, from lobbying to cultural heritage tourism.