Historic Preservation

Curriculum

Work in the Historic Preservation Program is grouped into four general areas.  Total program credit requirement is 21 credits.

• The Foundations of Preservation Core is made up of eight courses divided into three thematic groups that provide an ethical and conceptual overview of preservation. Certificate candidates take four of six courses in this core that are divided as follows: they take the one course in Group A, one of four courses in Group B, and two of three courses in Group C. (12 credits total):
  • Theory (candidates take the one course, 3 credits)
    Historic Preservation Theory and Practice, Prof. Bluestone
  • History (candidates take one of four courses, 3 credits)
    History of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Carr
    Early American Architectural History, Prof. Nelson
    19th Century American Architectural History, Prof. Wilson
    20th Century American Architectural History, Prof. Wilson
    
  • Practice (candidates take two of the three courses, 6 credits)
    Design Approaches to Existing Sites, Prof. Schwartz
    Preservation Planning, Prof. Collins
    Field Methods in Historic Preservation, Prof. Nelson
    

    Note: Field Methods course can also be fulfilled with summer enrollment in UVA's Falmouth Field School in Historic Preservation, directed by Prof. Nelson

• The Community History, Design, and Planning Core is a year–long interdisciplinary research, design, and planning project that focuses on preservation–related projects in a single community.  All candidates take the one course in group A and one of the two courses in group B. (6–9 credits)
  • Community History Workshop (Fall), Prof. Bluestone
  • One of the following (Spring):

    Community Preservation Studio, 6 credits, various design faculty.
    Community Public History and Planning Seminar, Prof. Bluestone

• Electives.  There are numerous elective courses available that cover specialized aspects of historic preservation.  These courses are available both as part of the program and above and beyond the required 21 credits.  Students in architectural history and planning are required to take at least one elective course that permits them to pursue work in their own particular discipline with greater depth.  This course equalizes the credit differential that arises in the community history core and gives all certificate candidates the required 21 credits.  The list below is partial and suggestive, changing year to year.

  Cultural Landscape Preservation, Prof. Carr
  Sustainable Communities, Prof. Beatley
  Brownfields Redevelopment, Prof. Slutzky
  Memory and Architecture, Prof. Crane
  Historical Archeology, Prof. Neiman
  Drawing of Historic Architecture, Prof. Huang
  Architecture of Jefferson, Prof. Wilson
  Eco Mod Seminar, Prof. Quale
  Seminar: Stories and Histories of the Academical Village’s Pavilion Gardens, Prof. Meyer

• Internship. A required internship permits students to obtain valuable experience in preservation–related work. Students may pursue the internship either during the school year or during the summer. Students have taken advantage of numerous internship opportunities with US/ICOMOS, National Park Service, HABS/HAER/HALS, English Heritage, Preservation Action, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Monticello, local planning authorities, and with preservation planning and design firms. UVA’s Institute for Public History coordinates a summer internship program with numerous Virginia institutions and communities that is open to students in the School of Architecture. Students can also get internship experience by participating in UVA’s Falmouth Field School in Historic Preservation, directed by Prof. Nelson. Students who enroll in the preservation program with substantial prior work in the preservation field will have the internship requirement waived.