Feb 27, 2025  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog

Historic Preservation Graduate Certificate


Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation

The University of Colorado Denver Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the College of Architecture and Planning and the History Department. The certificate program is open to any qualified graduate student or non-degree seeking student with a bachelor’s degree. 

The certificate provides CU Denver students and the wider community with foundational knowledge and skills in Historic Preservation, a field that enhances studies and professional work in areas such as architecture, heritage tourism, historic preservation, national park interpretation, planning, public history, urban studies and related fields. 

The certificate can stand on its own, can complement a graduate program in Architecture, History, or Urban Planning; or can serve as a beginning to graduate studies. It can also be a stepping stone to further work in Historic Preservation with the College of Architecture and Planning’s Masters of Science in Historic Preservation.

Applicants must have a B.A. or B.S. degree.

Interested students must register their intent to complete the certificate with the Director of the Public History & Preservation Program, CU Denver History Department. Students already enrolled in a graduate program at CU Denver can begin their certificate work at any point during their studies. Non-degree students must apply to the university as a non-degree seeking student.

Those students already admitted to a degree program in the College of Architecture and Planning should begin the process by contacting program co-director, Professor Christopher Koziol (Christopher.koziol@ucdenver.edu). All others should contact the Department of History Director of the Public History & Preservation Program, Professors Tom Noel (tom.noel@ucdenver.edu) and Peter Kopp (peter.kopp@ucdenver.edu).

All courses in the certificate program must be taken in residency with CU Denver faculty.  Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA, and no course below B- will count towards the certificate.

Graduate students in the History Department can count courses for both their major or minor fields and the requirements for the certificate. Graduate students in the College of Architecture and Planning should discuss credit distributions with their academic advisor.

Admissions Requirements

  1. Applicant must have a B.A. or B.S. Degree.
  2. Applicant applies to the above designated co-director.
  3. Applicants must provide a transcript, statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation.

Program Requirements


  1. Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits from approved courses.
  2. Students must complete all courses at the graduate (500 and above) level.
  3. Students must earn a minimum grade of B- (2.7) in all certificate courses taken at CU Denver and must achieve a minimum cumulative certificate GPA of 3.0. All graded attempts in required and elective courses are calculated in the certificate GPA. Students cannot complete certificate or ancillary course requirements as pass/fail.
  4. All credits for the certificate must be completed with CU Denver faculty.

Required Courses