Working with historic buildings and neighborhoods, related legislation, and adaptive-reuse of historic structures are essential parts of the professional practice of architects, planners, and art historians. Their work, which is a critical part of sustainable development, often requires the repurposing and reuse of the existing building stock. As well, the documentation, preservation, and interpretation of history as represented through historic buildings and landscapes is a vital aspect of any community’s civic pride. This Graduate Certificate of Historic Preservation is designed to provide students with the essential professional knowledge and skills to take care of historic buildings and historic townscapes.
This Certificate is also open to students in American Studies, Anthropology, Art History, Geography, Museum Studies, World Regional Study Programs, Urban Planning, and the Global Awareness Certificate Program. The Certificate is available as a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) opportunity for outside professionals as well.
Students must complete 12 credit hours from the courses listed below:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ARCH 746 | American Architectural History | 3 |
| ARCH 747 | Historic Preservation Theory | 3 |
| ARCH 748 | Historic Preservation Planning | 3 |
| ARCH 749 | Historic Preservation Technology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 |
If needed any of the above courses could be replaced with ARCH 700: Directed Readings focusing on the specific subject area. These courses may be available via distance delivery or online.
Please direct questions regarding the Graduate Certificate of Historic Preservation to:
Dr. Kapila D. Silva, Professor of Architecture, kapilads@ku.edu and Amy Van de Riet, Historic Preservation Technology Course Coordinator, amy.vanderiet@ku.edu.
Applicants must formally apply for admission to the graduate certificate program and meet all admissions requirements for certificate-seeking graduate admission as defined by the University's policy on Admission to Graduate Study.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Understand the history of architecture in the USA from the beginning of European settlements to mid-20th century and how it impacts policy and preservation of historic resources.
- Understand the historical development and contemporary status of the theories and philosophies of historic preservation. Analyze using international case studies, illustrating a range of theoretical, philosophical, ethical, and practical issues and debates in historic preservation in a global context, and apply the knowledge when making policy and preservation decisions for historic resources.
- Understand curatorial issues in preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings. Demonstrate technical documentation of historic buildings, archival research, assessment of causes of deterioration and preservation needs in historic buildings, selection of preservation strategies, and techniques of building material preservation.
