Mann working on an old church
  • Program Type
    Concentration
  • Degrees Offered
    B.A., B.S.
  • School
    School of Arts & Sciences

Appreciate the historical and architectural side of the built environment. Integrate the disciplines of history, art, business, and construction management.

What You'll Learn

You'll explore how to examine buildings and other objects of historical importance in diverse contexts and how to preserve them by interacting with state and local governments, archives, and the private business sector. This concentration easily pairs with a major in history, history education, social studies education, art history, and Catholic studies.

Prepare for Professional Success

The field of cultural resource management (CRM) is vast and requires a unique set of skills. This concentration prepares you to explore the fundamentals of architectural preservation — a fast-growing and in-demand CRM field.

Work with Professional Museum Staff and Curators

Our program allows and encourages students to pursue internship opportunities provided by our partnership with the ND State Archives in Bismarck, ND.

Dive Deeper in Historic Places

Historic places are all around us. Learn more about our built environment and explore historic places — like Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park — with a new perspective.

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Careers & Outcomes

Employment Trends

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of archivists, curators, and museum workers to grow by 10% through 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. While some of these occupations require a master's degree, a concentration in historic preservation is a good way to get started on this career path.

Career Paths

  • Curator
  • Museum Worker
  • Architectural Historian
  • Historic Preservation Specialist
  • Cultural Resources Manager
Kennedy Cray

I currently work at an architectural engineering and materials testing firm. In my role, I perform administrative tasks and provide IT support, but I also get to do some research (for Historic Structures Reports, National Register nominations, etc.), some accounting, and some marketing … I feel so well placed considering my background in history, but also my minor and business, plus the art history I got while studying abroad.

Kennedy Cray, Class of 2020

Featured Faculty

Joseph T. Stuart, PhD

Director of History, Professor of History, Fellow in Catholic Studies

I teach in the history and Catholic studies programs. I believe culture is the driving force of history, and that cult, in the sense of "worship," is the wellspring of culture. The vocation of the historian is enriching the world of the present through knowledge and preservation of the past.

Ready to Learn More About History Preservation