Master of Science in Historic Preservation (MSHP)

Preserve. Reinvest. Revitalize.

The Master of Science in Historic Preservation (MSHP) is the nation's only historic preservation graduate program centered on coastal resilience and historic trades, based in New Orleans at the Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment (TuSABE). Over four semesters, students train in documentation, conservation technology, and preservation policy alongside faculty who are working practitioners, while engaging in New Orleans, a city steeped in historical architecture and preservation. Graduates leave ready to lead preservation efforts anywhere, with hands-on field experience built into the curriculum.

Key Facts

Program Entry: Fall enrollment; the graduate application opens September 1
Credit Hours: 60
Tuition: $64,372 per academic year (2026-27 full-time rate), with scholarships averaging $30K-$50K
Class Structure: In-person cohort, built around required documentation and conservation studios
Time to Completion: 2 years (4 semesters)
Field Experiences: Grant-funded international travel and research through Travel Fellowships and International Field Studies
Career Opportunities: Planning and development offices, restoration and design firms, federal and state preservation divisions, museums and heritage tourism organizations, and more

Shape Policy. Build Economies.

Graduates revitalize neighborhoods, shape policy, and lead change in communities

Coastal Climate Preservation

The nation's top preservation program centering on coastal resilience and historic trades.

Theory, Practice, Impact.

Master restoration theory, practice disaster recovery, and spur urban revitalization.

Program Highlights

MSHP Curriculum

The MSHP is a 60-credit-hour, four-semester curriculum built around foundational preservation practice, hands-on documentation and conservation studios, and a culminating thesis or practicum.

Core courses include:

PRES 6041 Documentation Studio I
PRES 6042 Preservation Planning Studio
PRES 6100 Introduction to Historic Preservation
PRES 6120 History of American Architecture
PRES 6550 Preservation Policy and Planning in the U.S.
PRES 6130 Archival/Historical Research Methods
PRES 6580 World Heritage
PRES 6980 Preservation Research Seminar
PRES 6220 Conservation Technology
PRES 6210 Architectural Conservation Lab
PRES 6151 New Orleans Architecture
PRES 6560 Historic Preservation Internship
PRES 6510 Preservation Professional Development
PRES 6720 Thesis / Practicum Editing
PRES 6700 Thesis / Practicum Writing Lab

Internship hours can be completed during the first summer, the final fall, or the final spring semester. Graduates leave with hands-on skills in documentation, conservation, and preservation policy, built through required studios and fieldwork.

View individual course descriptions here.

Learning Outcomes

The MSHP graduate program trains you in the actual tools of preservation practice, grounded in real New Orleans buildings rather than just case studies. Two required studios and a conservation lab put these skills to work before you graduate.

Learning outcomes include:

Documenting historic structures and landscapes, using both hand-drafting and digital survey tools
Researching archival and historical records to establish a building's provenance and significance
Diagnosing material condition and applying conservation techniques
Navigating U.S. preservation law, policy, and planning processes
Situating local preservation work within international and World Heritage practice
Carrying a preservation project from research through a finished thesis or practicum

Every one of these comes from a studio, lab, or fieldwork requirement, so you leave with a portfolio of applied preservation work behind you.

Program Format

The MSHP is a full-time, in-person, two-year (four-semester) program anchored on Tulane's New Orleans campus. Coursework combines lecture and seminar classes with required studio and lab courses (Documentation Studio, Preservation Planning Studio, and Architectural Conservation Lab), in which students work hands-on with the city's historic building stock.

MSHP Career Outcomes

Tulane MSHP graduates are sought after for their strong foundation in preservation theory and practice, their deep field experience, and their ability to work collaboratively across sectors. Our alumni are advancing preservation in diverse roles, including:

Planning and development offices
Restoration and design firms
Historic preservation divisions at FEMA, HUD, and SHPOs
Neighborhood revitalization initiatives
Cultural resource and disaster recovery consultancies
Traditional building trades and training programs
Museums and heritage tourism organizations
Nonprofit organizations and land trusts
Policy and advocacy groups

National Career Outlook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Figures below come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for occupations related to MSHP career paths. Actual pay and availability will depend on where you work, your experience, and your employer.

Related Occupation	Median Annual Pay	Projected Job Growth	Typical Entry Education
Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers	$60,330 (2025)	+4% (2025–35)	Bachelor's–master's degree, varies by role
Historians	$76,750 (2025)	+3% (2025–35)	Master's degree
Urban and Regional Planners	$89,320 (2025)	+4% (2025–35)	Master's degree
All U.S. occupations (for comparison)	$50,980 (2025)	+3% (2025–35)	N/A

Sources:

Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
Historians — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
Urban and Regional Planners — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Why Tulane's MSHP is the Nation’s Most Impactful Preservation Program

1. Community Reinvestment & Economic Impact

Preservation is one of the most effective strategies for revitalizing neighborhoods, supporting local economies, and creating meaningful jobs. Our program empowers students to:

Stimulate small business growth through revitalized main streets
Create pathways for skilled labor in historic trades
Develop preservation-based housing and commercial reinvestment strategies
Work with community partners to leverage historic tax credits, grants, and public-private partnerships

From restoring vernacular architecture to reactivating vacant structures, students learn how preservation acts as a catalyst for both economic and social renewal.

2. Coastal Resilience Through Heritage

In the face of sea level rise, coastal land loss, and intensifying storms, Tulane leads the way in climate-conscious preservation. Students engage in:

Coastal documentation and condition assessments
Resilient design and adaptation strategies for historic structures
Collaborative work with local, state, and federal partners.
The Gulf South offers a living classroom in how preservation can protect place, memory, and livelihoods from environmental threats

START YOUR GRADUATE JOURNEY

3. Documentation & Traditional Trades

Tulane emphasizes the foundations of fieldwork and craftsmanship. Students gain hands-on skills in:

Architectural and landscape documentation using both analog and digital tools
Conservation training in masonry, woodwork, plaster, and more
Adaptive reuse planning with community, ecological, and economic goals in mind
Our graduates are as comfortable on job sites as they are in policy meetings—ready to lead in both technical and strategic roles.

4. Planning, Policy, and Public Engagement

Preservation must be integrated into broader visions of place. Tulane students work across sectors to:

Support city planning and zoning initiatives
Collaborate with state and federal agencies on preservation policy
Lead inclusive public engagement processes that honor local voices and lived experience
Promote equitable development and underrepresented narratives in the built environment
Our partnerships with Certified Local Governments (CLGs), advocacy organizations, and tribal communities give students real-world platforms for impact.

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Learning Ground: New Orleans & Beyond

Historic New Orleans

New Orleans is unmatched in its cultural depth and architectural legacy. Students benefit from:

Immersion in one of the most preservation-rich cities in the U.S.
Access to trilingual archives, diverse building traditions, and active restoration projects
Field schools, community studios, and applied research in neighborhoods actively engaging in preservation-led revitalization

Regional & Global Reach

From the Gulf South to the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia to Washington, our students learn from diverse cultural and coastal contexts. Projects include:

Post-disaster documentation and resilience planning
Field studies in rural and urban heritage preservation
International collaborations on heritage conservation

Expert Faculty. Deep Networks. Proven Success.

Our faculty are deeply embedded in the world of practice as preservation architects, trades specialists, conservationists, planners, and scholars. Their work informs national standards, shapes disaster response frameworks, and revitalizes communities. They bring active fieldwork and current research into every course, and students benefit from close mentorship, small cohorts, and direct access to the networks that power preservation internationally.

MSHP FACULTY

MSHP Admissions & Deadlines

The MSHP admits through Tulane's standard graduate application process.

Milestone	Date
Graduate Application Opens	September 1
Early Admission Deadline	December 1 (decision by mid-December)
Regular Decision Deadline	January 15 (decisions released by mid-February)
Enrollment Decision Deadline	April 15

For the full list of required materials, see the Historic Preservation Guide to Apply or visit Graduate Admissions.

START YOUR APPLICATION

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Scholarships & Financial Aid

Over 92% of graduate students receive financial support, and Historic Preservation students receive, on average, $30k-$50k in scholarships.

Tuition & Financial Aid: full costs, payment plans, and endowed scholarships
FAFSA: apply for federal aid using Tulane's school code, 002029
Request Info: talk to an advisor about your specific situation

LEARN ABOUT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the M.S. in Historic Preservation (MSHP) program at Tulane?

Tulane's M.S. in Historic Preservation (MSHP) is a four-semester, 60-credit-hour graduate program based at the Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment in New Orleans. Students train in documentation, archival research, architectural conservation, and preservation law and policy through required studio and lab courses, culminating in a thesis or practicum. It's the only graduate preservation program in the country built specifically around coastal resilience and historic trades.

Is the MSHP program offered online?

No. The MSHP is a full-time, in-person program built around required studio and lab courses — Documentation Studio, Preservation Planning Studio, and Architectural Conservation Lab — that depend on hands-on access to New Orleans' historic building stock. Students who want a shorter or more flexible entry point can start with the Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation instead.

How is the MSHP different from an architectural conservation degree?

The MSHP combines architectural conservation coursework (PRES 6210 Architectural Conservation Lab, PRES 6220 Conservation Technology) with preservation law, policy, and planning, archival research methods, and a required New Orleans-based studio sequence, rather than treating conservation as a stand-alone specialization. It's also the only program in the country centering coastal resilience and historic trades specifically, which sets it apart from programs focused mainly on materials science or art conservation.

What preservation job opportunities are available to MSHP graduates?

MSHP graduates build careers in preservation across the Gulf South and the nation. Alumni work in planning and development offices, restoration and design firms, historic preservation divisions at FEMA, HUD, and State Historic Preservation Offices, cultural resource consultancies, and nonprofit organizations. Students learn this work in New Orleans, a city steeped in historical architecture and preservation, through field-based coursework and a required internship. The skills and professional connections they gain here translate to any setting, and Tulane alumni already working in the field are part of that network.

How much does the Tulane MSHP program cost, and is financial aid available?

Full-time tuition for the 2026–2027 academic year is $64,372 for the Fall and Spring semesters. More than 92% of Tulane's graduate students receive some form of financial support, and Historic Preservation students receive, on average, $30k-$50k in scholarships. There are also opportunities for paid internships as well as teaching and research assistantships.