Roger Williams University offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Preservation Studies degree that prepares students for multidisciplinary careers harnessing the historic and existing built environment to foster a vibrant, healthy, sustainable, and livable present.
The interdisciplinary foundation of the program draws from the fields of architecture, history, American Studies, and the social sciences while upper level courses focus on sectors such as the foundations of cultural resource management, community planning, rehabilitation and conservation principles, and the history and philosophy of preservation practice. Program electives expose students to specialty topics such as neighborhood revitalization, construction management, nonprofit management, and sustainability studies. Hands-on experience and experiential learning are core components of the curriculum. These are delivered by a series of field-based lab and workshop courses and a required internship undertaken in partnership with nonprofit organizations, government entities, and professional architecture and planning firms.
Students have the option to continue their studies with the Bachelor of Science in Preservation Studies/Master of Science in Preservation Practices 4+1 Degree Program. The one-year MS program focuses on preparing students for professional practice through specialized and applied coursework, including RWU’s two-semester intensive revitalization planning workshop and studio.
