Architectural History, M.Ar.H.

Admission

Students in the Master of Architectural History (MArH) program hold a wide variety of undergraduate degrees from accredited colleges or universities. Recently these have included Architecture, Art History, Archaeology, English, History, Biology, French, American Studies, Engineering, and Historic Preservation, as well as Architectural History. Students may be asked to submit a written reflection essay for advising purposes before the beginning of their first semester. Students applying from within the University of Virginia to the Fifth Year Master of Architectural History program should consult the requirements detailed in the Fifth Year Master of Architectural History program.

For additional information please visit www.virginia.edu/arch. 

Curriculum

The Master of Architectural History is a 2-year graduate degree with a minimum of 36 credits at the graduate level. Typically students take credits beyond the 36 required during their four semesters of residency, generally attaining 48 credits by the end of the program. The graduate program offers two different tracks:

1. Master of Architectural History;
2. Master of Architectural History with Historic Preservation Certificate:

Each track enables students to gain distinctive knowledge and experience. Our graduates work in a variety of capacities, including as architectural historians in the public realm or in academia, historic preservation and cultural heritage specialists, public historians, architectural critics, editorial and research consultants, or curators and educational outreach specialists in leading cultural institutions.

Thesis

The thesis is a major piece of independent work completed under the close supervision of a faculty member who is the director of the three-member thesis committee that oversees the project. This committee may consist entirely of faculty from the Department of Architectural History, or it may include one person from outside the Department, pending approval by the student’s thesis advisor and the Director of the Graduate Program. Students are encouraged to explore the thesis topic in greater depth through an independent study course taken prior to the thesis semester.

Language Qualification

Candidates are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language appropriate to the student’s major field of study. This requirement may be satisfied by earning the grade of B or better in an intermediate-level university course in the language within two years prior to admission to the University of Virginia graduate program. Alternatively, the student can take the ETS Graduate School Foreign Language Test and pass with a score of at least 550, receive a passing grade in a University of Virginia language courses at the intermediate level, or pass a foreign language reading competency test administered by the appropriate language department at the University of Virginia. Architectural History students should fulfill the language requirement before or soon after entry into the program.

Typical Program of Study

The typical course of study develops a critical understanding of architectural history. Combining core competencies with an individually tailored course of study, this curriculum focuses on the development of rigorous research and analytical skills that will allow students to develop an area of expertise along with the ability to engage broadly in historical interpretation as a critical practice that takes many forms. 

Historic Preservation Certificate Program

The interdisciplinary program in Historic Preservation offers graduate degree candidates at the University of Virginia the opportunity to expand their studies through specialized training in the theory, practice, and ethics of historic preservation. Preservation has grown increasingly important, both nationally and internationally, in defining a civic sense of place, buttressing sustainable communities, conserving urban neighborhoods, protecting rural and scenic areas, and enriching public understanding of social, cultural, and architectural history. The program provides the opportunity for graduate students to develop the skills and expertise of the preservation practitioner within their own discipline, while at the same time studying the breadth of preservation work in related fields. Faculty from all four disciplines in the School of Architecture and distinguished visiting practitioners teach the preservation courses.

Admission: 
Students wishing to enter the Historic Preservation program must first be admitted to a graduate degree program at UVA. In order to ensure proper academic advising and program coordination, students interested in the Historic Preservation program should attend the program meeting at the start of the fall semester. Students should file a program application form with the Architecture School’s Registrar. Students who complete the required 15 credits of preservation course work receive a Certificate in Historic Preservation, in addition to their department’s graduate degree. There are individual courses that fulfill the requirements of the historic preservation certificate curriculum that also fulfill requirements within a student’s departmental curriculum. Thus, students normally complete the course work for the historic preservation certificate during the same period in which they complete their degree program.

Historic Preservation Certificate Curriculum 

Work in the Historic Preservation Program is grouped into four general categories: Theory, History, Field Methods, and Specialized Components.  Students must complete 15 credits in the distribution outlined below.

Theory (3 credits):

• ARH 8601 - Historic Preservation Theory and Practice, Credits: 3     

One class in the theory and practice of preservation. (Students with previous experience in this topic may place out of the theory requirement with the director’s permission and instead add an additional Field Methods, Specialized Component or History course to meet the required 15 credits).

History (6 credits):

Two School of Architecture history classes of student’s choice at the 5000 level or above.  Other built form or environmental history classes outside School of Architecture courses can apply with Director’s approval.

One class of student’s choice on a topic of architectural or built environment history.  Courses may be chosen from the list below, or other history course with director approval.

Field Methods (3 credits)

One class that includes documentation and recording techniques used in preservation.  The preferred course is ARH 8604, however other courses may be substituted with director’s approval.

(Students with previous experience in this topic may place out of the field methods requirement with the director’s permission and instead add an additional Theory, Specialized Component or History course to meet the required 15 credits).

• ARH 8604 - Field Methods I Building Archaeology, Credits: 3  

Specialized Component (3 credits)

One class in a specialized component of preservation practice.  This is an elective class for you to further develop your interests in the field.  Courses may be additional courses from the categories above, or other classes from around the University with significant heritage-related content.  Example classes may be available in the fields of design, technology, materials science, planning, law, curation, history, or other and must be approved by the program director.

Internship

An internship is not required for the Certificate.  However, internships are encouraged, and many students undertake them.  Opportunities for internships and guidance in planning for them can be discussed with the program director and the Architecture School’s Internship Office.