Historic Preservation

Students documenting a historic building in south Texas
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
HOW TO APPLY

Historic preservation seeks to find effective and artful ways of maintaining and reusing significant buildings, landscapes, and communities. Central to the discipline is the attempt to preserve cultural identity in the face of the threats of urban sprawl and loss of social diversity.

The Historic Preservation Program at The University of Texas at Austin exposes students to multiple fields in the discipline of historic preservation—architectural conservation and documentation, historic site management, and preservation planning and development. The coursework is practical, technical, and theoretical in scope, encompassing the study of history, research techniques, materials conservation, documentation and interpretation of historic resources, restoration methodologies, and sensitive design for adaptive reuse.

Students explore a wide array of historic properties, from rural vernacular sites to significant works of the Modern Movement, from interior furnishings and buildings to landscapes and urban centers. The special emphasis of the program is on works of the later nineteenth and twentieth centuries, especially on examples of Modernism. International travel is strongly supported by the program. Recent students have studied in Italy, Mexico, Turkey, and Ukraine, and there are also programs currently under development in China, France, and the Dominican Republic.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Preservation in the Americas Cover

Preservation in the Americas—Finding Our Shared History

Structure within Carlsbad Caverns' Historic District

Work with the National Park Service

Historic preservation

DEGREES + PROGRAMS

The Historic Preservation Program at the University of Texas as Austin offers a graduate-level degree program and a doctoral-level degree in Historic Preservation, which can be achieved through the lens of Architecture or Community & Regional Planning.     

GRADUATE PH.D. 

Master of Science in Historic Preservation

Ph.D. in Historic Preservation

HISTORIC PRESERVATION STUDENTS IN ACTION

  • Instagram Post
    On Monday, the landscape architect Kristina Hill drkzhill will present her lecture “Design for Sea Level Rise: How to Drop the Mic and Change the Conversation.” The lecture will take place Monday, Sept. 16 at 5:00 pm in the Goldsmith Lecture Hall. Details at the link in our bio.<br>
    @utsoa

    On Monday, the landscape architect Kristina Hill drkzhill will present her lecture “Design for Sea Level Rise: How to Drop the Mic and Change the Conversation.” The lecture will take place Monday, Sept. 16 at 5:00 pm in the Goldsmith Lecture Hall. Details at the link in our bio.

  • Instagram Post
    A big SOA welcome to the three visiting faculty members joining the School of Architecture this semester: Karel Klein, Andy Bako and Michael Moynihan.<br>
    @utsoa

    A big SOA welcome to the three visiting faculty members joining the School of Architecture this semester: Karel Klein, Andy Bako and Michael Moynihan.

  • Instagram Post
    Next week we’re hosting the Black Home as Public Art symposium, a one-and-a-half-day symposium examining creative notions of the Black home in the United States.<br>
    @utsoa

    Next week we’re hosting the Black Home as Public Art symposium, a one-and-a-half-day symposium examining creative notions of the Black home in the United States.

  • Instagram Post
    Congratulations to the three UTSOA faculty members who were recently promoted!<br>
    @utsoa

    Congratulations to the three UTSOA faculty members who were recently promoted!

  • Instagram Post
    What a great way to end the first week of classes, welcoming everyone back to campus and celebrating the start of a new year 🤘
    @utsoa

    What a great way to end the first week of classes, welcoming everyone back to campus and celebrating the start of a new year 🤘

  • Instagram Post
    Jesse Reiser kicks off our Fall 2024 lecture series tomorrow with his lecture “Weaponized Craft” taking place in Jessen Auditorium at 5:00 p.m.<br>
    @utsoa

    Jesse Reiser kicks off our Fall 2024 lecture series tomorrow with his lecture “Weaponized Craft” taking place in Jessen Auditorium at 5:00 p.m.

  • Instagram Post
    Welcome back, we missed you! 🤘
    @utsoa

    Welcome back, we missed you! 🤘

  • Instagram Post
    Announcing our Fall 2024 Lectures &amp; Exhibitions Series!<br>
    @utsoa

    Announcing our Fall 2024 Lectures & Exhibitions Series!

  • Instagram Post
    SO excited to welcome these new Longhorns to the Forty Acres next week 🤘 @utsoafirstyears you ready?!
    @utsoa

    SO excited to welcome these new Longhorns to the Forty Acres next week 🤘 @utsoafirstyears you ready?!