Master of Science in Historic Preservation

Some examples are listed below. Several other CAP and History Department courses may also qualify.

Historic preservation students typically choose electives from the following departments: Historic Preservation (HIPR), History (HIST), Geography (GEOG), Public Administration (PUAD), Architecture (ARCH), Landscape Architecture (LDAR), and Urban Planning (URPL).

These departments typically offer elective courses that have ties to preservation or allow students to make their education more interdisciplinary. This list is not exhaustive, and several other departments have courses that may qualify.

The capstone portion of the MS in Historic Preservation gives students the chance to dive deeper into a topic of your choice, whether it’s through a professional project or through a research thesis. The capstone allows for students to gain real-world experience while completing unique preservation projects.

During the 2019/2020 school year, three historic preservation students worked on a professional project as a team that focuses on the adaptive reuse of the historic motels on Colfax Ave. What started as a class project turned into something much more, where they did a survey analysis of the motels, attended community meetings, created design proposals, and presented the work at multiple preservation conferences. (A quote from
one of the girls on this project will be included here.)

1. Understand the field of historic preservation as it relates to civic engagement and public policy.
2. Analyze complex heritage situations and formulate a strategy for preservation.
3. Communicate acquired historic preservation expertise to diverse stakeholders.
4. Assess the significance of the built environment and cultural landscapes.
5. Possess the ability to perform fundamental professional activities such as: cultural resource surveys, historic designation nominations, resource management plans, preservation, and restoration project plans.

• Online Application​
• Statement of Purpose: The statement of purpose should be a 750-1000 word essay that describes your interest in historic preservation and CU Denver, as well as your academic and professional goals.
• A compact portfolio (max. 20 pages 8.5” X 11”) of writing samples, and optionally, graphic work and professional resume is strongly recommended. Please upload of PDF to the online application.
• Submission of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores is recommended for applicants without evidence of prior successful graduate level accomplishment. [There is an expedited application procedure for current CU Denver students in another CAP masters program. Please inquire to the MSHP Program Director.]
  
• Transcript(s):
  • Domestic transcripts: One official copy of your transcript from each institution you have attended, except for study abroad courses, should be sent to the following:
    • Electronic Transcripts: cap-admissions@ucdenver.edu
    • Mailing Address:
      College of Architecture and Planning
      University of Colorado Denver
      Campus Box 126
      P.O. Box 173364
      Denver, CO 80217-3364
  • International transcripts: Do not submit transcripts from foreign (non-US) institutions to CU Denver. You must provide a course-by-course evaluation report from Education Credential Evaluators to complete your application. You will send your transcripts to ECE, and ECE will send their evaluation report to CU Denver. After you submit your CU Denver application, you will receive an email with a link to the landing page where you can order your report for CU Denver’s use. For more information, please visit our International Admissions office.

Application Opens: September 1, 2022
Application Closes: March 1, 2023

Please contact  Jodi Stock to inquire about space availability. 

The MSHP program is fully integrated into a college emphasizing design and graphic excellence. While HP students need not have fully developed skills in advance of matriculation we have found that students have benefitted from some previous exposure to : 

• Manual drawing/sketching
• CAD graphics
• Graphics software such as Adobe Creative Suite.

These competencies can be demonstrated by previous coursework or by portfolio/resume submission. Should any of these competencies for an admitted student be judged insufficient by the faculty, the program director may require the student to gain supplemental instruction prior to, or upon matriculation to, the MS degree in Historic Preservation program.  Any credit awarded for such supplemental work will not be counted toward the required number of credit hours for the degree.

Undergraduate course work substantively equivalent to an MSHP required course may be accepted as a substitution for that course at the program director’s discretion, but such substitution will not reduce the total number of credit hours required for the degree.

 Students admitted into this program must have completed an undergraduate degree before they will be able to begin this program. An official conferred degree transcript is required by the university. For additional information, please see Graduate School Policies and Procedures.