Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico

What you'll study

Coursework and learning goals focus on both theory and practical skills needed for preservation practice. Topics and competencies stated in the curriculum include:

• History of the design environment: architectural history, urban development, landscape architecture and material culture.
• History and theory of historic preservation.
• Documentation and recording techniques used in preservation and archaeology, including historical, graphic and photographic documentation.
• Field application and hands‑on experience with emphasis on communication skills and project supervision.
• Assessment of interventions (appropriateness, restoration, rehabilitation, in‑fill, exterior and interior concerns) across scales from individual buildings to neighborhoods and landscapes.
• Conservation of common building materials and systems: history, evaluation and treatment approaches.
• Business and administrative aspects: marketing principles, public and private finance, property management and budget preparation.
• Legal and regulatory framework: constitutional law, preservation case law, and federal, state and local legislation and administration.

Entry requirements

Applicants complete an online application and pay a non‑refundable admission fee. Candidates must submit an official academic transcript and a graduation certificate showing GPA (students who earned a bachelor’s at the same institution may be exempt from transcript submission). A color copy of a birth certificate or valid passport is required; non‑U.S. citizens must also provide documentation of immigration status. For admissions questions, applicants are directed to the Graduate Affairs Office or the graduate program coordinator.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles that protect built historic heritage. Typical employers and sectors identified include architecture, landscape architecture, planning and construction firms in Puerto Rico and the United States, as well as federal, state and local government agencies and conservation organizations. Common functions include historical documentation, supervision or direction of rehabilitation projects, and ensuring interventions meet conservation standards and norms.

Scholarships & funding angle

The source document does not list specific scholarships. Prospective students should contact the Graduate School and the program coordinator or consult the university’s financial aid office to learn about admitted‑student funding, institutional scholarships and external grant opportunities.