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College of Architecture & the Built Environment
College of Architecture & the Built Environment
MS in Historic Preservation
Preserve the Past to Shape the Future with Thomas Jefferson University

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Jefferson’s MS in Historic Preservation program prepares graduates to preserve and repurpose historic buildings for modern needs, contributing to a sustainable future. This STEM-designated program emphasizes the idea that "the greenest building is the one already built," highlighting how reusing structures significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The program advocates for the preservation, rehabilitation, and stewardship of heritage sites as a vital component of place-making.

Through hands-on, studio-based courses, students work with real clients and sites, gaining practical skills in research, documentation, and conservation. The curriculum integrates cutting-edge technologies like LiDAR, drones, and GIS to manage and document historic sites. As a UNESCO World Heritage City, Philadelphia is a learning laboratory of architectural styles, from 18th-century Georgian to mid-20th-century Modern, offering diverse project experiences and internship opportunities.

Historic Preservation Program Highlights

  • At Jefferson’s Center for the Preservation of Modernism, students develop preservation protocols tailored to the unique character of early and mid-century modern architecture, the next preservation frontier as these buildings age. 
  • Students can study abroad at the iconic Bauhaus Building in Dessau, Germany; the Terragni Archive in Como, Italy; the Preservation Institute in Nantucket, MA; or the University of Arkansas Rome Center in Italy.
  • Learn to apply digital technologies that are a part of the 21st-century historic preservation toolkit like drone surveys, augmented reality, and Light Detection & Ranging (LiDAR).

    • Jobs in the Industry

      Jobs in the Industry

      • Preservation Architect
      • Sustainability Preservation Specialist
      • City and Regional Preservation Planner
      • Museum Curator
      • Digital Heritage Specialist
      • Architectural Historian

    • Jefferson Industry Partners

      Jefferson Industry Partners

      • Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia
      • Heritage Design Collaborative
      • Philadelphia Historical Commission

    Jefferson’s MSHP program makes a concerted effort to provide its students with opportunities to engage with the Philadelphia built environment and preservation community, which is something I greatly value as a student.

    Emma Connolly, MS in Historic Preservation, Class of 2025

    About the College of Architecture & the Built Environment

    The College of Architecture & the Built Environment at Thomas Jefferson University focuses on educating the next generation of industry leaders. Our graduates are building a better world through unique and cutting-edge design and construction, creating an equitable and sustainable future. Our programs focus on our values of sustainability, social equity and design excellence, ensuring our commitment and passion for creating a thoughtfully built world. As part of Jefferson, a distinguished national research university, we’re proud to be recognized among the top 50 universities in the nation by the Wall Street Journal.

    More Information

    Fill out our request information form at the top of this page and a member of our staff will be in touch. 

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    The College of Architecture & the Built Environment website has detailed information about our programs, curriculums and more. 

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