Why study Historic Preservation?

Historical preservation is concerned with the maintenance and repair of historic objects. This program is designed to develop an appreciation for and a working knowledge of the issues and techniques involved in historic preservation.

The College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning and the College of Arts and Sciences collaborate in offering this special program of studies in historic preservation. The program is open to degree candidates in any program in either college. The certificate is awarded concurrently with a bachelor's degree.

Major Maps

• Guide: Historic Preservation Undergraduate Certificate 2024

Advising

Students interested in this certificate should work with their program advisors to confirm the compatibility with their major's requirements and course schedules. Students enrolled in the School of Architecture and Interior Design or School of Planning will work with the faculty coordinators in those schools to learn more about certificate requirements and course selection.

UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

• The city of Cincinnati, once called the "Queen City of the West" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, provides an excellent array of cultural resources for students who intend to pursue a degree in the visual arts. It offers the energy and assets of a larger city, along with quiet neighborhoods steeped in rich traditions. Cincinnati offers live music venues that range from top-notch symphony and opera companies to a growing pop and rock community. Home to the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Taft Museum and the Contemporary Arts Center, the city also enjoys the presence of numerous art galleries and a strong support system among practicing artists. Cincinnati is situated within driving distance of Chicago, Pittsburgh, Atlanta and New York City, allowing DAAP students to take advantage of the rich cultural resources of these cities as well.
• UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) is one of the most comprehensive colleges of its type in the country. A collection of nationally respected design and art programs is housed in a unique and educationally stimulating architectural setting. Students have opportunities to enroll in courses in a range of related disciplines and to participate in interdisciplinary studios or special projects.
• Other educational opportunities include organized travel semesters, foreign study semesters and student exchange programs in England, Germany and Denmark. Many architecture students also pursue joint degrees and certificate programs within the college and the university.
• The DAAP college library has an outstanding collection of books, periodicals and visual resources supporting architecture, planning, design, art history and related subjects. Access to library holdings is provided by an automated online catalogue, UCLID, which provides access to the University of Cincinnati Library information database, and through OhioLINK, the holdings of other academic libraries throughout Ohio.
• The Computer Graphics Center is a state-of-the-art university facility with hardware that includes PCs, Apple computers and peripherals such as scanners, plotters and digital video-editing suites. Students have access to sophisticated graphics equipment and receive hands-on instruction to augment the use of laptops in the classroom.
• The college supports a Rapid Prototyping Center, which is the home of state-of-the-art equipment that allows students to create communication aids for their design projects. Using CAD (computer-aided design) models, students are able to create physical models using three basic methods: 3-D printing, large format laser-cutting and CNC (computer numeric control) devices. This facility is intended for all DAAP students to use in creating large-scale design.

Admission Requirements

Most students enrolling in the certificate program are already matriculated into one of the University of Cincinnati's undergraduate or graduate degree programs. Freshman applicants, please visit the Admission Requirements page for more information.

Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following college-preparatory subjects:

• 4 units of English
• 4 units of math
• 3 units of science
• 5 units of electives*

*Elective units must include one or any combination of foreign language, fine arts, business, career-technical education, family and consumer sciences, technology, agricultural education or additional core courses not otherwise required.

Transferring to UC Requirements

Most students enrolling in the certificate program are already matriculated into one of the University of Cincinnati's undergraduate or graduate degree programs. To apply, students should turn in the application to the DAAP Student Affairs Office, 5470 Aronoff.

Graduation Requirements

Students seeking certification must complete a minimum of 18 credits in required courses in historic preservation and closely related topics offered by various programs in the two sponsoring colleges. This includes completion of an approved internship. Students enrolled in the professional practice program will coordinate internship with one professional practice semester.

In addition, candidates for the bachelor of science in architecture and bachelor of science in interior design degree must take at least one appropriate studio in historic preservation. Candidates for the bachelor of urban planning degree must take Historic Preservation in Planning.

Application Deadlines

To apply, students should turn in the application to the DAAP Student Affairs Office, 5470 Aronoff.

Accreditation