Undergraduate Opportunities
Why do cities look the way they do?
What can architecture tell us about a culture and its history?
How can you spot clues to tell how old a building is?
These are all questions that historic preservation seeks to answer. Regardless of your
undergraduate degree program or future plans, knowing the principles of historic preservation
can be a fascinating and important asset in a variety of fields. In addition to the Minor in Historic Preservation, Certificate of Historic Preservation program, Introduction to Historic Preservation class, and First-Year Odyssey seminars, undergraduate students are welcome to join the Student Historic Preservation
Organization and enroll in an assortment of historic preservation classes.
The minor in Historic Preservation will be helpful for students pursuing a career in history, architecture, landscape
architecture, geography, engineering, interior design, urban and regional planning,
and conservation. Students will develop a solid base knowledge of the tools and practices
necessary for the conservation or sensitive adaptation of historic buildings and landscapes.
Details
The Certificate in Historic Preservation provides students with a working knowledge of the theory and practice of historic
preservation. The program also provides a solid knowledge base for students who wish
to pursue their education further through graduate studies, as well as opportunities
to focus their studies on aspects of the field that are of particular interest to
them.
The program provides a broad introduction to the theory and techniques of historic
preservation. Students who successfully complete the requirements for the certificate
are expected to have:
- An awareness of the contribution that historic resources make to the quality of life
and human environments.
- An understanding of the needs, problems, and opportunities associated with historic
preservation.
- An appreciation of the role that individual citizens can play in the protection and
perpetuation of historic resources.
- Knowledge of key concepts that are essential for serving as volunteer members of citizen
preservation organizations and/or government commissions, and for providing informed
leadership to these and other community preservation efforts.
- An appreciation of how historic preservation relates to their major academic program
of study.
The program is open to all undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students at the University
of Georgia. The undergraduate Certificate in Historic Preservation requires a minimum
of 18 semester credit hours, including a 3-hour required course and at least 15 hours
of approved elective courses. All applicants must submit a formal application to the
program, which may be obtained here. The application also has a list of all accepted elective courses.
The HIPR4000/6000-Introduction to Historic Preservation class introduces students
to historic preservation theory, its evolution and practice, and its relationship to the
concept of environmental quality. With the campus and community as their lab, students
learn firsthand practical skills and real life applications. Find out more here.
First-Year Odyssey seminars are designed to introduce new students to academic life
and explore interests that may or may not be related to their intended degrees. These
seminars provide engagement with faculty and fellow first-year students in a small
class environment to learn about the unique academic culture the University offers.
Faculty will share their passion for research, teaching and service to inspire the
academic journey at UGA.
If you're interested in learning more about historic preservation as an undergraduate,
contact program coordinator James Reap
at jreap@uga.edu or 706-542-4706.
