Master of Historic Preservation (M.H.P.)

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Maryland College Park

Program Overview

The Master of Historic Preservation (M.H.P.) at the University of Maryland is a two-year, 45-credit professional degree designed for students interested in conserving, interpreting and reimagining historic places through preservation planning, conservation, public policy, economic development and cultural diversity. It suits students from diverse academic backgrounds who want hands-on preparation for the preservation profession through interdisciplinary coursework, studio work, a summer internship and a final project in the Washington, D.C. region.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their foundation in the history, theory, research and policy dimensions of preservation through courses such as HISP600: History, Theory, and Practice of Historic Preservation, HISP611: Historical Research Methods, and HISP630: Preservation Policy and Planning. They also study HISP640: Historic Preservation Law, Advocacy and Public Policy and HISP650: Historic Preservation Studio Workshop, beginning to apply preservation concepts through collaborative studio work.

Year 2: The second year develops more advanced professional and technical knowledge through HISP670: Conservation of Historic Places: Historic Materials, Building Systems, and Conservation, HISP680: Preservation Economics, and HISP690: Historic Preservation Professional Practice. Students also complete HISP660: Internship in Historic Preservation and the two-part HISP710/HISP711: Final Project in Historic Preservation, allowing them to integrate research and professional skills into a culminating project.

Focus areas

Conservation, preservation planning and design, historic research, preservation law and public policy, preservation economics, adaptive reuse, cultural diversity, social and ethnic issues, economic development, and digital preservation.

Learning outcomes

Documentation, historical research, policy analysis, interpretation, conservation, preservation methodology, professional practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to address real-world historic and cultural-place challenges.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

Professional preparation: UMD describes the M.H.P. as a professional degree preparing students for the historic preservation field; the program incorporates an internship, studio and professional-practice coursework. The official program information does not state a specialized external accreditation for the M.H.P., so no accreditation is claimed here.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Career environment: UMD highlights its location near Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Annapolis, where students can connect with national, state and local preservation organizations, professionals, community partners and agencies. The university's official program pages do not publish a specific QS or Guardian employability ranking for the M.H.P.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Historic Preservation (M.H.P.) at the University of Maryland combines collaborative coursework with hands-on preservation projects, giving students practical experience in documentation, preservation methodology, policy analysis and interpretation. The program includes an interdisciplinary preservation studio and summer internship, while UMD’s location near Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Annapolis gives students opportunities to work with preservation professionals, agencies and community partners on real-world preservation challenges.

Practical learning opportunities include:

Historic Preservation Studio: Students complete a group preservation project for a local community, progressing from problem formulation and research to community interaction, analysis and proposed solutions for a real client or community issue.
Summer internship: The curriculum includes a summer internship in historic preservation, where students work with a public agency, nonprofit organization or private firm and develop a structured plan of work connected to their academic goals.
Fieldwork and site documentation: UMD preservation students have participated in field projects involving field measurement, photography, archaeological excavation and documentation of historic resources, including interdisciplinary work with Anthropology students.
Digital heritage: Students can gain experience with three-dimensional digital documentation and laser scanning of historic buildings and landscapes. UMD's digital heritage work has included creating 3-D point clouds and models that can be integrated into landscape documentation and online interpretation.
Interdisciplinary projects: M.H.P. students work alongside students in architecture, community planning and real estate development through interdisciplinary coursework and competitions, creating opportunities to approach preservation from multiple professional perspectives.
Professional site visits: MAPP provides organized site visits, lectures and demonstrations, including preservation-focused activities and an annual trip to New York, helping students connect classroom learning with professional practice.
Architecture Library: The Architecture Library provides 24/7 student access to books, periodicals, Special Collections, study rooms, computer workstations and scanners, with librarians available for research assistance.
Visual Resources Collection: The Elizabeth D. Alley Visual Resources Collection contains historical slides and digital images covering architecture, urban design and historic preservation, with digital cameras, video cameras, LCD projectors and model-photography equipment available for class and research use.
Digital research resources: Students can use DRUM (Digital Repository at UMD) for access to University research and student work, supporting documentation and preservation research.
Digital design tools: MAPP's technology resources include Adobe Creative Cloud, AutoCAD, Revit, Rhinoceros and SketchUp Pro, alongside university cloud storage and other digital resources. Availability can vary by course, so these should be understood as MAPP/UMD technology resources rather than software requirements specific to every M.H.P. course.
Research and assistantship opportunities: Historic Preservation students can apply for graduate assistantships that may provide a stipend and tuition assistance, with positions offered each semester based on qualifications.
Final project: M.H.P. students complete a final graduate project that allows them to develop and demonstrate preservation knowledge and skills on a focused topic relevant to professional practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Historic Preservation (M.H.P.) at the University of Maryland prepares graduates for professional work in historic preservation through hands-on training, project work, interdisciplinary study and a required summer internship. Graduates can build careers across government, nonprofit, institutional and preservation-related organizations, particularly in the Washington, D.C. region where the program has close access to preservation organizations and agencies.

Typical career roles: Historic Preservation Planner, Preservation Consultant, Cultural Resource Manager, Architectural Historian.

Career progression and opportunities include:

Career services: MAPP provides resume and portfolio development, interview preparation, one-to-one career guidance, career fairs and internship opportunities connecting students with employers in historic preservation and related built-environment fields.
Professional internship: The M.H.P. includes a summer internship, giving students direct experience in professional preservation practice alongside their academic coursework.
Professional mentorship: Faculty include both academics and practicing preservation professionals whose professional networks provide preparation and connections for government, nonprofit and institutional careers.
Industry and agency connections: UMD's Historic Preservation Program has an ongoing relationship with the National Park Service (NPS) that has provided graduate students with fieldwork documenting historic buildings and structures throughout the National Capital Region.
Professional network: MAPP's Board of Visitors provides opportunities for student mentorship, networking and career connections across the built-environment professions.
Employment opportunities: UMD does not publish a current M.H.P.-specific employment percentage or graduate salary figure on the official program page. The university therefore does not provide an M.H.P.-specific salary figure that can be stated reliably here.
Graduation outcomes: Recent UMD graduates demonstrate progression into professional preservation work; for example, Emma Gruesbeck, M.H.P. '26, was announced as joining Historic Annapolis and Preservation Maryland after graduation.
Accreditation value: UMD states that there is no formal accreditation process for U.S. graduate historic preservation degree programs. The program is instead a member in good standing of the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE), providing professional recognition within preservation education.
Professional development: Students can also compete for Historic Preservation assistantships, which may provide a stipend, tuition assistance and in-state tuition rates, while gaining experience through program-related work.

Further Academic Progression: After the M.H.P., students can continue into UMD's Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning and Design (URPD) for advanced research and academic study. The M.H.P. also provides a foundation for combining preservation with another discipline through UMD's dual-degree options, including Historic Preservation + Landscape Architecture, Architecture + Historic Preservation, Community Planning + Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation + American Studies, Historic Preservation + Real Estate Development, and Applied Anthropology + Historic Preservation.