Stuart Weitzman School of Design
102 Meyerson Hall
210 South 34th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Historic preservation addresses change responsive to the historic environment. At a time when society increasingly realizes the historical and cultural value of that inherited environment and what has been lost through the destruction of buildings, landscapes, and communities, the field of historic preservation has become central to the design, adaptive use, planning, and management of buildings, cities, and regions. By understanding the time dimension in human culture, it identifies history as an integrated component of the continuous change responsible for the material, psychological, and symbolic qualities of our environment. The Department of Historic Preservation provides an integrated approach for architects, landscape architects, planners, historians, archaeologists, conservators, managers, and other professionals to understand, sustain, and transform the existing environment.
The identification and analysis of cultural places and their historic fabric, the determination of significance and value, and the design of appropriate conservation and management measures require special preparation in history, theory, documentation, technology, and planning. These subjects form the core of the program, which students build upon to define an area of emphasis including building conservation, site management, landscape preservation, preservation planning, and preservation design for those with a previous design degree.
Through coursework and dedicated studios and laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design as well as through partnerships with other national and international institutions and agencies, students have unparalleled opportunities for study, internships, and sponsored research. Graduates can look toward careers focused on the design and preservation of the world's cultural heritage including buildings, engineering works, cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, and historic towns and cities.
The Stuart Weitzman Department of Historic Preservation offers two graduate degrees: a two-year Master of Science in Historic Preservation (MSHP) and a one-year Master of Science in Design with a concentration in Historic Preservation (MSD-HP).
A Certificate in Historic Preservation is also available to students enrolled in other graduate degree programs in the Weitzman School (including Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and City Planning). The Weitzman School does not offer a specific Ph.D. program in historic preservation, but preservation faculty often work with students enrolled in the school's Ph.D. programs in Architecture and City & Regional Planning.
If you would like to apply to Penn, visit Weitzman School Admissions for application instructions.
The Master of Science in Historic Preservation combines rigorous intellectual training with practical foundational skills needed for professional practice. The degree is earned in four consecutive semesters (two years), with students taking four to five courses per semester (for a total of 19 Course Units). First-year core courses prepare students for second-year integrative courses—the Preservation Studio and individual Thesis. Each student chooses electives clustered around a concentration; ten of the 19 required Course Units are devoted to electives. A professional internship is required in the summer between the two years of study. The MSHP degree may be pursued in conjunction with other Weitzman School departments and Penn schools as part of established dual-degree programs.
View the Summary MSHP Curriculum Requirements
Students in the MSHP program must choose between four concentrations.
Dual degree and MSD-HP students do not need to declare a concentration.
The one-year Master of Science in Design with a concentration in Historic Preservation (MSD-HP) complements Weitzman School’s long-standing two-year MSHP degree.The MSD-HP directly addresses the needs of practicing design professionals seeking post-professional training, specialization, or change in career path. The MSD-HP curriculum requires 10 course units and spans one calendar year – two full-time semesters. Half of the required courses are elective; personalized curricula can accommodate advanced thesis research or additional studios. Applicants must possess a professional degree in design or planning fields (architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban planning, urban design, engineering) from an accredited university, and at least three years of professional experience.
View the Summary of MSD-HP Curriculum Requirements.
The Certificate in Historic Preservation provides an opportunity for students enrolled in other graduate degree programs in the University of Pennsylvania to gain expertise in historic preservation while completing requirements for their professional degree programs. A total of 5 HSPV course units, including HSPV 6600/6610 Theories of Historic Preservation I and II (0.50 cu each), are required for the certificate, and are selected in consultation with the HSPV faculty to develop an area of professional focus.
