Masters in Heritage Resources Administration (Online)
About the Degree
The fully online Masters in Heritage Resources Administration (MHRA), developed in cooperation with the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, combines historic preservation coursework with training in public and nonprofit administration. It provides mid-career heritage professionals with a pathway to advancement and leadership within their organizations. Courses in nonprofit financial management, strategic planning, and grant writing are not typically part of the educational experience of most preservation professionals, archaeologists, architectural historians, and Main Street managers, even at the graduate level. Yet these skills are essential for mid-career advancement and successful leadership of nonprofit organizations, private-sector engineering and architectural consulting firms, and government agencies.
While the on-campus Master of Historic Preservation opens the door to a number of careers by providing students with a broad foundation in historic preservation history, theory, and practice, as well as technical preservation skills, the MHRA addresses the needs of mid-level professionals aspiring to leadership positions and seeking career advancement. The online format allows for maximum flexibility, increasing its appeal to working professionals. The curriculum consists of 36 credit hours (24 core, 9 electives, and a 3-hour capstone project). Because it targets working professionals, it is expected that students will take 1-2 courses per semester rather than a full load.
Admission Requirements
Standard graduate application requirements apply. Applications must be complete by March 1 to be considered for fall admission and all forms of financial aid. Applications received after this date will be considered for admission, but financial aid may be limited. The following are required:
- CV or resume
- Personal statement (2,000 word limit)
- Writing sample: may be drawn from previous academic work or professional work. Samples of creative work, such as design or photographic portfolios, may be used to fulfill this requirement as well.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation (Only an email address is required. Our system will ask them to upload their letter.)
Curriculum
Semester One
HP 601 Introduction to Historic Preservation 3 hours
HP 617-201 Historic Preservation Planning 3 hours
Semester Two
HP 602-201 Historic Preservation Law 3 hours
Elective 3 hours
Semester Three
HP 675 Architectural History for Preservation Practice 3 hours
Elective 3 hours
Semester Four
HP 661 Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations 3 hours
PA 642 Public and Nonprofit Organizational Theory and Behavior 3 hours
Semester Five
PA 602 Strategic Planning and Organizational Change 3 hours
PA 662 Nonprofit Management 3 hours
Semester Six
Elective 3 hours
PA 681 Capstone in Public Administration 3 hours
Total Graduate Credit Hours: 36
Approved Electives
Choose Two:
HP 510 Cultural Landscapes and Historic Preservation
HP 511 Sustainable Development and Heritage
HP 609 Urban Revitalization in the United States
HP 613 Historic Structural Systems and Building Materials
HP 615 American Settlement Patterns
HP 670 Rethinking Preservation: Ethics, Public Policy, and Heritage Resources
HP 672 American Roadside Architecture
HP 675 Architectural History for Preservation Practice
HP 677 Kentucky Architecture as American Architecture
PA 631 Public Financial Management
PA 632 Public Funds Management
PA 663 Grant Planning and Management
PA 696 Legal Issues in Public Financial Management
Course descriptions and class schedules can be found on UK's Office of the University Registrar website.