The University of Maryland's Historic Preservation Program cultivates leaders adept in interdisciplinary approaches to address place, space, resilience, revitalization, and social justice, with a new focus on climate change challenges. We expand both the diversity of historic resources studied and the backgrounds of preservation practitioners. Our School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation welcomes applicants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds such as history, anthropology, and architecture. Admission is competitive, emphasizing strong communication skills and a compelling rationale for pursuing historic preservation at Maryland, beyond GPA and test scores. We value the personal statement, writing sample, and recommendations in assessing applicants.
Learn more about the Master of Historic Preservation.
Admission Requirements
All applicants must have a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution. There is no restriction on the applicant's previous field of study, and we encourage diversity in all senses.
Application Requirements
Apply
Apply for the Master of Historic Preservation degree through the graduate application website. Use the code "HISP" when prompted.
Application Fee:
- A non-refundable $75 fee per program is required, payable online for submission.
- To find out if you are eligible for an application fee waiver, please visit the Graduate School website.
Transcripts:
- Attach unofficial transcripts from all institutions, including University of Maryland. Official transcripts must be sent directly if admitted.
Letters of Recommendation:
- Submit three recommendations online, assessing your potential for success in the program.
Statement of Purpose
Per the Graduate School, the purpose of the Statement of Purpose is to get to know you as an individual and as a potential graduate student. The admissions committee is interested in your academic, professional, and personal background and goals. In your essay, please address the following points as appropriate:
- Your preparation and motivation for graduate study, including the academic, work, and/or research experiences that prepare you for this graduate program and motivation or passion for graduate study.
- Your research interests, disciplinary subfields, area/s of specialization, and professional objectives.
- Your fit with the graduate program at Maryland, including how your preparation, experiences, and interests match the specific resources and characteristics of the graduate program at UMD. Please identify specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work and how their interests match your own.
The Historic Preservation program recommends a 1000-2000 word statement which addresses these points.
Personal Experience Prompt
The Graduate School requires all graduate applicants to submit at least one 100-300 response to prompts to provide the opportunity to discuss how lived experiences, including those outside of academic experiences, resulted in a positive outcome that helped prepare applicants for this stage in their life. Applicants may choose at least one of these areas:
- Community involvement and/or service
- Engagement in leadership roles, facilitating change, or mentoring others
- Overcoming social, economic, educational or physical barriers
Resume:
- Attach an updated resume online.
Writing Sample
A writing sample of at least 10-30 pages of previous academic or professional work must be submitted and uploaded to the Writing Sample section of the application.
International Applicants
Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must submit additional documents.
Updated information is available on the Graduate School website.
Questions?
Students with concerns or questions regarding their ability to meet any of these requirements should reach out to the Program Coordinator, Delaney West (dmwest@umd.edu).
Deadline
The Fall 2025 deadline for application to the Master of Historic Preservation is January 17, 2025.
Tuition and Fees
For current tuition and fees, please visit the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website.