Stuart Weitzman School of Design
102 Meyerson Hall
210 South 34th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
A message from the Chair, Randall Mason
"Every day, all around us, our work, our ideas, our relationships are shaped by the built environment. The deliberate curating and use of the inherited built environment -- a big part of what all societies think of as "heritage" -- is historic preservation's professional domain. Preservationists draw on, and collaborate with, other professions and publics in pursuit of creating/keeping built environments that convey cultural meaning. The preservation enterprise thrives on the insights of historians, the creativity of designers, the explorations of scientists, and the solutions of planners and curators, At Penn's Weitzman School, historic preservation embodies all these modes of scholarship and more. The Department of Historic Preservation has long contributed to the School's varied team of scholars and practitioners, advocating for heritage places that serve the public and embody Penn's mission "In Principle and Practice."
The field of historic preservation is central to the design, adaptive use, planning, and management of buildings, cultural sites, communities, cities, and regions. By understanding the time dimension in human culture, preservation professionals activate cultural value as an integrated component of the continuous change responsible for the material, psychological, and symbolic qualities and functions 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 processes are the core subjects of the Department's work, which students build upon in defining their personal focus on building conservation, site management, landscape preservation, preservation planning, or preservation design.
Through courses, studios, fieldwork, and laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design -- and supported by partnerships with local, national, and international institutions and agencies -- students have unparalleled opportunities for study, internships, and applied research. Our graduates pursue careers focused on all aspects of preservation, across the US and the world, with every kind of organization imaginable. The impact of Penn's Department of Historic Preservation has never been greater, and demand for it more greatly needed."
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.
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.
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.
