Summary of Historic Preservation Concentrations
Students in the Department of Historic Preservation can choose between four concentrations: Architectural Conservation, Preservation Design, Preservation Planning and Public History of the Built Environment. Dual degree and MSD-HP students do not need to declare a concentration.
Architectural Conservation
Architectural Conservation encompasses the physical documentation, analysis, conditions diagnosis, testing, monitoring, treatment, and preventive maintenance of buildings, structures and sites. It is the technical means by which a wide spectrum of preservation interventions are conducted on all built heritage to address a broad range of issues from material deterioration to historical interpretation. As one specialization within the broader field of Historic Preservation, it is distinguished by the application of scientific method in the study of historic buildings and sites in accordance with a clearly defined theoretical and methodological approach. Work opportunities within this specialization include private practice such as architectural and technical consulting firms as well as public institutions such as federal and state agencies and non-governmental organizations that own or manage heritage places.
More information about the MSHP Architectural Conservation Concentration
| Architectural Conservation Required Electives | |||
| Fall Year 1 | HSPV 5550 | Introduction to Architectural Conservation | 1 cu |
| Spring Year 1 | HSPV 5510 | Building Pathology | 1 cu |
| Choose TWO of the Following |
HSPV 7400 | Conservation Seminar: Finishes* HSPV 7380 | Conservation Seminar: Wood** HSPV 7390 | Conservation Seminar: Masonry HSPV 7470 | Conservation of Archaeological Sites*** HSPV 7410 | Conservation Seminar: Concrete*** |
2 cus | |
*only offered even years
** only offered odd years
***not offered every year
Preservation Design
The Preservation Design concentration prepares students with previous training in design, engineering, and planning to apply preservation principles and methods to design practices. Unlike typical graduate-level design programs, Weitzman School’s concentration applies these tools to the existing built environment, in a manner informed by current historic preservation theory and practice. In the last decade, the preservation and design fields have evolved much more complex and intense points of engagement – reflected in the ascendance of the creative reuse of historic structures and places as design problems, greater focus on technical understanding and modelling of the performance of existing buildings, and, at the scale of community, landscape and urbanism, much greater attention to conservation as a tool to achieve resilience.
This concentration prepares students for careers in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, engineering and planning, as well as project review at the local, state or national level or with non-profits.
More information about the MSHP Preservation Design Concentration
| Preservation Design Required Electives | |||
| Fall Year 1 | HSPV 6400 | Contemporary Design in Historic Settings | 1 cu |
| Spring | HSPV 5510 | Building Pathology | 1 cu |
| Choose TWO of the Following |
HSPV 7030, HSPV 7050, or HSPV 7210 | Advanced Research Studio HSPV 5720 | Preservation through Public Policy HSPV 6250 | Preservation Economics Selected ARCH Courses, talk to your academic advisor |
2 cus | |
Preservation Planning
Preservation Planning uses policy and planning tools to carry out preservation at larger scales – of neighborhoods, cities, towns, and cultural landscapes. Issues of larger-scale preservation -- and how they connect with other planning, development, environmental and social issues – continue to grow as strategically important parts of preservation practice.
Work in the preservation planning concentration focuses on decision-making processes relating to the management and financing of heritage places through time, as well as the integration of heritage values into territorial planning and policy systems. Community planning, adaptive reuse proposals, policy analysis and innovation are typical project types. The professional pathways for those focusing on preservation planning include: public policy (including regulatory and survey work), city and town planning (including urban revitalization, economic development and community development), real-estate development and consulting, advocacy, and creative placemaking.
Correspondingly, preservation planning graduates secure jobs in a broad range of organizations: governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, foundations, not-for-profit corporations, developers, and consulting firms.
More information about the MSHP Preservation Planning Concentration
| Preservation Planning Required Electives | |||
| Fall Year 1 | HSPV 5720 | Preservation Through Public Policy | 1 cu |
| Spring Year 1 | HSPV 6250 | Preservation Economics | 1 cu |
| Spring Even Year | HSPV 6710 | Preservation Law* | 1 cu |
| Choose ONE of the following GIS Courses |
CPLN 5030 | Modeling Geographical Objects Relevant GIS courses in other departments, such as SWRK or ENVS, may also be approved. Please consult HSPV department for approval |
1 cu | |
*only offered even years
Public History of the Built Environment
The Public History of the Built Environment (PHBE) concentration prepares students to put the study of urban and architectural history in service to publicly-oriented historic preservation practice. Unlike more general graduate-level public history programs, Weitzman School’s concentration focuses on the built environment, in a manner informed by other aspects of current historic preservation practice. Our emphasis is on the American cultural landscape—using Philadelphia as our laboratory—but the tools and skills covered will be relevant for international application across diverse geographies. This concentration prepares students for careers in government such as the National Park Service (NPS), State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), public history museums, historic sites, archives, cultural resources management (CRM) firms, and design offices specializing in Historic Preservation.
More information about the MSHP Public History of the Built Environment Concentration
| Public History of the Built Environment Required Electives | |||
| Fall Odd Year | HSPV 6060** | Historic Site Management | 1 cu |
| Spring Year 1 | HSPV 5340 | Public History of the Built Environment | 1 cu |
| Choose TWO of the Following |
HSPV 5310 | American Domestic Interiors* HSPV 5380 | Cultural Landscapes and Landscape Preservation*** HSPV 6200 | Seminar in American Architecture HSPV 6380 | Special Topics in Historic Preservation Seminar HSPV 5720 | Preservation through Public Policy HSPV 5840 | World Heritage in Global Conflict HSPV 5850 | Ruins & Reconstruction HSPV 6500 | Material Histories and Ethnographic Methods HSPV 6510 | Migratory Urbanism HSPV 8200 | Readings in Urban and Planning History*** |
2 cus | |
*only offered even years
**only offered odd years
***not offered every year