The Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy manages the Historic Preservation certificate program.

Some CHAPs graduate students may choose to add this optional certificate to their educational pathway.  

The Certificate in Historic Preservation is available to Rutgers undergraduate and graduate students. It offers students a theoretical and practical introduction to the field of historic preservation through a combination of coursework and a supervised internship. Certificate students must be “concurrent” students who undertake the program in combination with a Rutgers’ bachelor or graduate degree, for example, in History, Political Science, Art History, Anthropology, or Archaeology. Students from Urban Planning and SEBS also participate.

The Certificate will be conferred only in conjunction with the awarding a B.A. or graduate degree in an established department or other degree-granting program of the University.

Certificate Requirements

The historic preservation certificate includes a total of 15 credits: four courses and one internship. 

Four courses: 12 credits

  • Required course 1 (3 credits): Foundations in Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies (Art History Department)
  • Required course 2 (3 credits):  EITHER Histories and Theories of Historic Preservation OR Development and Preservation in Large Cities: An International Perspective (Bloustein School)
  • Two electives (6 credits): See the list of approved elective courses at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/graduate/uppd/certificates/historic-preservation-certificate/. Note that not every course is available during a particular semester or year. Contact the CHAPS assistant director for a list of currently-approved CHAPS/Art History electives.
  • One Internship: 3 credits: A supervised internship or supervised independent study approved in advance and in writing by the Planning Program chair at the Bloustein School or the CHAPS Program director. The student is required to located and secure the internship. The internship should require 80 hours of internship work under the supervision of a cultural institution or historic preservation professional/firm. In order to earn credits for the internship, the student must also obtain an evaluation from the host institution and write a report at the end of the internship which should be sent to the Planning Program chair or the CHAPS Program director or no later than the last day of classes. Students doing an internship in the summer must register for the relevant course the following Fall semester.

Application Process

To be eligible for the Certificate, students must have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher and contact/apply through the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/graduate/uppd/certificates/historic-preservation-certificate/.

For questions concerning credits and coursework, contact the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, which manages this certificate program. A Certificate in Historic Preservation will be awarded to all students who complete the program with an average of B or higher. The Certificate will be conferred only with the awarding a B.A. or graduate degree in an established department or other degree-granting program of the University.