Preservation Practices (M.S.)

Path One provides a continuous sequence from undergraduate to graduate study leading to the Master of Science in Preservation Practices professional degree, for students who have completed Roger Williams University's B.S. in Preservation Studies program. Path One students normally complete this 150-credit sequence in 5 years from the beginning of their undergraduate studies.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Required Core

ARCH 101 Foundations of Architecture 

ARCH 281 Architectural Analysis I 

ARCH 325 History of Modern Architecture 

ARCH 327 History of American Architecture, Urbanism, and Landscape 

HIST 100 Making Global History 

MATH 124 Basic Statistics 

PRES 101 Introduction to Preservation Studies 

PRES 320 American Cultural Landscapes 

PRES 331 Historic Construction Materials and Assemblies 

PRES 341 Building and Site Documentation Research Methods 

PRES 421 History and Philosophy of Historic Preservation

Required AMST Courses (Choose One)

AMST 370 Topics in Race, Gender, and Sexuality in America 

AMST 371 Topics in Ethnicity, Class and Region in America

Required HIST 200 Series (Choose Two)

HIST 240 Colonial and Revolutionary America 

HIST 241 Securing the American Republic, 1800-1914 

HIST 242 The United States in the American Century

Required Advanced PRES Elective (Choose One)

ARCH 462 The Villa and the Garden 

PRES 371 Architecture and Preservation Abroad 

PRES 430 Special Topics in Preservation Studies 

PRES 471 Museum Studies 

PRES 572 Preservation Law and Regulation 

PRES 573 Preservation Economics 

PRES 430 Special Topics in Preservation Studies 

PRES 471 Museum Studies 

PRES 572 Preservation Law and Regulation 

PRES 573 Preservation Economics

Graduate Degree Requirements

Core Requirements

ARCH 543 Project Development and Finance 

ARCH 517 Collaborative Revitalization Studio 

PLAN 501 Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning 

PRES 501 Fundamentals of Preservation Practice 

PRES 532 Building Materials and Technology Workshop

Graduate Electives (Choose five)

ARCH 522 Environmental Design Research 

ARCH 524 Evolution of Urban Form 

ARCH 529 History of Landscape Architecture 

ARCH 530 Special Topics in Architecture 

ARCH 577 The Skyscraper 

ARCH 593 Sustainable Paradigms 

ARCH 594 Urban Ecology 

ARCH 561 Landscape Architecture: Theory and Practice 

ARCH 572 Urban Design Theory from the Industrial Revolution to the Present 

ARCH 573 Modernism in the Non-Western World: A Comparative Perspective 

ARCH 574 Regionalism in Architecture 

ARCH 575 Contemporary Asian Architecture & Urbanism 

ARCH 576 Theoretical Origins of Modernism 

PRES 530 Special Topics in Historic Preservation 

PRES 571 Museum Studies 

PRES 572 Preservation Law and Regulation 

PRES 573 Preservation Economics

To read more about our academic offerings, or to view full course descriptions, please refer to our University Catalog.

Path Two

Path Two provides advanced entry to the Master of Science in Preservation Practices degree for students from other universities who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree in Historic Preservation. Individualized placement occurs following an evaluation of the student's undergraduate transcript. Path Two students normally complete a 34-credit, full time sequence over two semesters of study and a summer internship.

Path Three

Path Three provides entry to the Master of Science in Preservation Practices degree for students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree in fields other than historic preservation. Students normally finish this 53-credit full-time program in two years.

Degree Requirements

Required Core

ARCH 281 Architectural Analysis I 

ARCH 543 Project Development and Finance 

ARCH 517 Collaborative Revitalization Studio 

PLAN 501 Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning 

PRES 501 Fundamentals of Preservation Practice 

PRES 520 American Cultural Landscapes 

PRES 521 History and Philosophy of Historic Preservation 

PRES 531 Historic Construction Materials and Assemblies 

PRES 532 Building Materials and Technology Workshop 

PRES 541 Building and Site Documentation Research Methods

Architectural History Lecture Course (One)

AAH 321 Art and Architecture in the Classical World 

AAH 322 Art and Architecture in the Medieval World 

AAH 323 Art and Architecture in the Islamic World 

AAH 324 Art and Architecture of the Italian Renaissance 

ARCH 325 History of Modern Architecture 

ARCH 327 History of American Architecture, Urbanism, and Landscape

Architectural History Seminar Course (One)

AAH 530 Special Topics in Art + Architectural History 

ARCH 529 History of Landscape Architecture 

ARCH 530 Special Topics in Architecture 

ARCH 573 Modernism in the Non-Western World: A Comparative Perspective 

ARCH 574 Regionalism in Architecture 

ARCH 575 Contemporary Asian Architecture & Urbanism 

ARCH 577 The Skyscraper

Graduate Electives (Choose up to five)

ARCH 522 Environmental Design Research 

ARCH 524 Evolution of Urban Form 

ARCH 529 History of Landscape Architecture 

ARCH 530 Special Topics in Architecture 

ARCH 577 The Skyscraper 

ARCH 593 Sustainable Paradigms 

ARCH 594 Urban Ecology 

ARCH 561 Landscape Architecture: Theory and Practice 

ARCH 572 Urban Design Theory from the Industrial Revolution to the Present 

ARCH 573 Modernism in the Non-Western World: A Comparative Perspective 

ARCH 574 Regionalism in Architecture 

ARCH 575 Contemporary Asian Architecture & Urbanism 

ARCH 576 Theoretical Origins of Modernism 

PRES 530 Special Topics in Historic Preservation 

PRES 571 Museum Studies 

PRES 572 Preservation Law and Regulation 

PRES 573 Preservation Economics

Offered with the RWU School of Law. 

The Joint Juris Doctor (J.D.)/Master of Science (M.S.) in Preservation Practices program is designed to provide an accelerated path to a J.D. degree and an M.S. in Preservation Practices degree through an electives credit-swapping structure that allows for 3 law courses (9 credits) to count toward the M.S. degree and 4 to 5 M.S.P.P. courses (12 to 17 credits) to count toward the J.D. degree, depending on whether or not a student has a prior bachelor's degree in Historic Preservation. Other than changes in allowable electives, which are detailed below, the existing requirements for the J.D. and M.S. programs described in the University Catalog and School of Law Catalog remain the same. Students who enter the joint-degree program with a bachelor's degree in Historic Preservation can potentially complete the joint degree in three years (with winter/summer coursework) and in four years otherwise.

Degree Requirements

Three-year Joint J.D./M.S. in Historic Preservation

The joint degree can be completed in three years for students matriculated into the J.D. and M.S.P.P. programs who also have a bachelor's degree in Historic Preservation from an accredited National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE) member institution, with the assumption that coursework would need to be taken in the summers and/or winters as well as the normal fall and spring semesters. The School of Law accepts 12-14 M.S.P.P. program credits towards J.D. program requirements and the Cummings School of Architecture accepts 9 J.D. program credits towards the M.S.P.P. program for a total of 101-103 combined credits instead of 123 if the degrees were pursued separately.

Four-year Joint J.D./M.S. in Historic Preservation

If a student is not entering the program with a bachelor's degree in Historic Preservation, it is still possible to complete the joint degree in an accelerated timeframe of four years, with the assumption that coursework would need to be taken in the summers and/or winters as well as the normal fall and spring semesters. The School of Law accepts 15-17 M.S.P.P. program credits towards the J.D. program and the Cummings School of Architecture accepts 9 J.D. program credits towards the M.S.P.P. program for a total of 118-120 combined credits instead of 143 if the degrees were pursued separately.

Application Process

Applicants applying for the Joint J.D./M.S.P.P. degree must apply to and earn acceptance into the Cummings School of Architecture and the School of Law separately. Those interested in being considered for admission should adhere to the following process:

1. Apply to and be accepted to the J.D. program in the School of Law and adhere to the J.D. application instructions and requirements including application and testing deadlines.
2. After beginning your studies in the J.D. program, complete the graduate application to be considered for the Preservation Practices program as a dual degree student. You should indicate the M.S. Preservation Practices/J.D. dual degree program as your intended program on the Graduate Application.
3. If you are accepted to the M.S. Preservation Practices program, you may begin your Preservation Practices coursework only after completing your first year of J.D. studies. If you begin Preservation Practices coursework prior to starting the J.D. program, you may not be eligible for the benefits of the shared coursework of the dual degree. Please contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 401-254-6200 or gradadmit@rwu.edu with questions.

Important for students currently enrolled in the B.S. Preservation Studies program at RWU:
Students who are currently matriculated into the B.S. in Preservation Studies program in the Cummings School of Architecture must notify the Dean and Program Director by the end the junior year to indicate their intent to enroll in the Joint J.D./M.S.P.P. program, contingent on maintaining a 2.67 average or greater.

Students who are currently matriculated in the J.D. program or the two-year M.S.P.P. program and are in their first year of coursework are eligible to apply to the program in which they are not matriculated for consideration for the Joint J.D./M.S.P.P. program. Students who are currently matriculated in the 1-year M.S.P.P. program cannot apply to the Joint J.D./M.S.P.P. program.

Approved electives for transfer between the Juris Doctor and Master of Science in Historic Preservation programs

The following courses will count toward both the J.D. and M.S.P.P. program elective requirements.

School of Law courses 

These courses satisfy M.S.P.P. degree elective requirements (choose 9 credits):

• Law 631 Administrative Law (3)
• Law 673 Environmental Law: Natural Resources (3)
• Law 728 Human Rights (3)
• Law 770 International Law (3)
• Law 743 Land Use Planning (3)
• Law 747 Legal Drafting: Commerce Real Estate Development and Finance Law (3)

Cummings School of Architecture courses 

These courses satisfy a portion of the J.D. degree elective requirement (12-17 credits will be applied to J.D. elective requirements depending on whether or not the student is matriculated into the 1-year or 2-year M.S.P.P. program):

• ARCH 517 Collaborative Revitalization Studio (4)
• PLAN 511 Interdisciplinary Planning Workshop (4)
• PRES 501 Fundamentals of Preservation Practices (3)
• PRES 521 History and Philosophy of Historic Preservation
• PRES 572 Preservation Law and Regulation (3)
• PRES 573 Preservation Economics (3)

Required coursework sequence for various degree entry points

• Students who are not previously matriculated in the J.D. program or the 2-year M.S.P.P. program and are then matriculated into the Joint J.D./M.S.P.P. program take required first-year law courses for the J.D. program for their first year and thereafter complete another two or three years of mixed law and preservation coursework. The second year of students’ coursework consists entirely of preservation courses with subsequent years consisting of mixed historic preservation/law coursework.
• Students matriculated into the Joint J.D./M.S.P.P. program who have a bachelor's degree in Historic Preservation from an accredited NCPE member institution and are in their first year of the J.D. program take mixed preservation practices/law courses for the next two years.
• Students who are already matriculated in the 2-year M.S.P.P. program and are in their first year of coursework and are then subsequently matriculated into the Joint J.D./M.S.P.P. program spend the next year completing the first year course sequence required by the J.D. program. The final three years thereafter consists of mixed law and preservation practices coursework.

Shared requirement for M.S. program thesis and J.D. writing project

The thesis required for the M.S. program satisfies the J.D. program’s writing requirement. The student is required to have at least one thesis reader from the School of Law faculty.

Shared internship/public service requirement

Students who complete the required internship in the M.S.P.P. program that focuses on preservation and law and incorporates at least 50 hours of non-remunerated activities satisfies the internship requirement of the M.S. program and the public service requirement of the J.D. program. (Reimbursement of expenses is allowed.)

The Graduate Certificate in Preservation Practices provides students with a foundation in the theory and practice of the conservation of historic buildings, structures, places, and landscapes. Students can choose coursework that addresses cultural resource management, documentation and evaluation, planning, and urban revitalization. Potential areas of employment in which a student could use the skills gained through this certificate include environmental planning, preservation planning, and cultural resource management, and nonprofit advocacy.

External applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in order to be eligible for admission.

Internal applicants who are enrolled in other RWU graduate degree programs may sign up for the Graduate Certificate in Preservation Practices through a Curriculum Declaration Form, and complete a graduate degree and a graduate certificate program concurrently.

Application Requirements:

1. Application Form
2. Letter of Intent
3. Official transcripts for all previous undergraduate and graduate work
4. All University required fees

Open Houses

Open Houses are scheduled on the Bristol Campus every June and November with virtual Open Houses available in January and August. Join us to learn more about your program, the admission process, and financial aid at these informative events with faculty and Graduate Admission staff.

View our upcoming events for the most current opportunities to hear about the Preservation Practices program.

Virtual Information Sessions

Short on time or just want to learn more about us from the comfort of your home, school, or office? Join us for a Virtual Information Session.

Most current information on Open Houses and Virtual Sessions.

Cummings School of Architecture Lecture Series

Each semester the school hosts lectures and exhibitions featuring notable people and their work from the region, country and world. Free and open to the public.

Check out upcoming lectures

Application Requirements

Applicants to the M.S. Preservation Practices program should submit the following items to the Office of Graduate Admission to be considered for admission. Materials do not have to be submitted together in one package. 

1. Completed online application form accompanied by the $50 application fee
2. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework
3. Letter of Intent (two double-spaced pages maximum) describing your interest in the Preservation Practices program, relevant past experiences, and career goals
4. Two letters of recommendation attesting to your potential to succeed in graduate school
5. Academic writing sample with sources cited employing a conventional style
6. If your first language is not English, an official report of TOEFL or IELTS results.

The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is not required for admission. International applicants should also read additional requirements for non-U.S. residents.

Where appropriate, documents should be submitted online through the applicant portal or via email to gradadmit@rwu.edu. Any official documents that must be mailed (i.e. transcripts) should be sent directly to:

Office of Graduate Admission
1 Old Ferry Rd.
Bristol, RI 02809

Have questions about the application process? Visit the How to Apply page from the Office of Graduate Admission.

Application Deadlines (Fall Admission)

Priority Deadline I - January 15th 

Priority Deadline II - March 1st

Final Deadline - May 1st

Applications received for each of the priority deadlines will be guaranteed an admission decision within 30 days of that deadline and will receive priority consideration for financial aid. Students who miss the final deadline may contact the Office of Graduate Admission for consideration for admission on a space available basis. 

Financial Aid

All accepted Historic Preservation students will be awarded a guaranteed paid assistantship or internship grant through the Career Investment Program. Full-time students will receive $3,000 per year, paid at $18 per hour, and part-time students receive $1,500 per year. Students who fall below full-time status during the year will be pro-rated.