Preservation and Cultural Heritage

The Certificate in Preservation and Cultural Heritage (P+CH) is a multidisciplinary graduate program that provides the practical skills and background needed to succeed in the fields of historic preservation and cultural resource management.

The certificate program is open to Iowa State University graduate students in any College of Design major as well as those majoring in history, anthropology and related disciplines. Undergraduates who are interested in completing some of the P+CH classes may seek to enroll as a concurrent undergraduate/graduate student (see section 4.3.2 – ISU Undergraduate Students in Concurrent Graduate Certificate or Graduate Degree Programs). Then, upon undergraduate graduation, the student will be able to continue to enroll as a graduate student to complete the coursework and obtain the certificate. Interested students should contact historicplaces@iastate.edu for guidance on how to do this to ensure the credits transfer.

Our Program

Preservation is an established and growing professional field that shares a common language with archaeology, architecture, history, interior design, planning, landscape architecture and other disciplines. The P+CH program at Iowa State is designed to teach real-world skills and methods that will enhance those you acquire as part of your chosen major. Completion of the certificate provides an operational knowledge of

• standards for the rehabilitation and reuse of historic buildings, exteriors and interiors
• cultural and historic landscape treatments
• preservation economics, including heritage tourism
• historic preservation of interiors
• preservation planning
• sustainable historic environments
• preservation history and theory
• preservation administration, laws, standards and incentives

LIDAR scanning, GIS-based spatial analysis, 3D modeling and other technologies play a significant role in many of the core P+CH classes and electives. Hands-on projects, guest lectures and fieldwork are important components of the P+CH curriculum. You will also have the unique opportunity to participate in international preservation projects through the ISU/US Department of State Cultural Heritage Documentation Project.

Course Requirements

Please see the Historic Preservation Website for the most up to date information.

Learn More

To learn more and enroll in the Certificate in Preservation and Cultural Heritage, discuss your interest in the program with your departmental academic adviser and contact:

Mikesch Muecke
Preservation and Cultural Heritage Coordinator
historicplaces@iastate.edu
(515) 294-8786
preservation.design.iastate.edu