The University of Maryland’s competitive, professional graduate degrees in architecture, community planning, historic preservation and real estate development prepare students for careers that drive impact in our built environment. Our academic culture is interdisciplinary, innovative and forward-thinking, delivering the skills you’ll need to shape more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive communities.

The Creative Placemaking Minor demonstrates how artists and designers can play a vital role in advancing public dialogue, exploring our shared humanity and addressing major challenges—from sparking conversations about inequitable development to celebrating the diverse communities and cultures around us. In the Creative Placemaking studios, students engage in place-based projects in partnership with local creatives, culture bearers and knowledge keepers.

A minor in Construction Project Management prepares students for management careers related to the built environment, including project management, architectural engineering, and design and construction. The Construction Project Management Minor offers a working knowledge of daily construction operations and gives students a competitive advantage when applying for these jobs.

The History and Theory of Architecture Minor explores how buildings and cities shape—and are shaped by—cultures, politics, economies, and people over time. Rooted in art history and archaeology, this dynamic field draws from urban studies, cultural theory, geography and landscape studies to help you understand architecture as both a creative process and a cultural force.

Interested in how cities grow, buildings get financed, or communities are shaped? The Real Estate Development Minor gives you a solid foundation in sustainable real estate—covering everything from the development process and urban design to finance and public policy.

You’ll take four core courses, then choose an elective from a wide mix of subjects like architecture, sustainability, business, economics, and political science—so you can tailor the minor to your interests.

Minors allow students to explore an area of study beyond their major, offering either a condensed version of another subject or a unique subset of their current course of study. Not all fields offer minors, so students should consult their undergraduate advisor to plan accordingly.

The University of Maryland offers a wide range of minors, with these being popular among School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation students: