Careers in Historic Preservation

Our flexible curriculum is designed so you will thrive in a range of preservation careers.

M.A.H.P.Career stats

25+ Career Paths

Average gross income of alums $89k

89% of alumsworking in related field

Our alumni (and many current students) run successful businesses, protect and revitalize historic places and teach others how to do so, influence preservation policy and projects in their communities, advance the field through innovative programs and changing culture, contribute to national policy, spread knowledge and helping people across the globe, and instill the value of historic places in young people.

 

Historic Preservation Career Paths

Our graduates work in a range of professions, from architectural history and design (including landscapes) to urban planning, public policy, education, advocacy, civil service, consulting, archaeology, and so much more. Common historic preservation job titles are: 

  • Architectural Historian
  • Certified Local Government Program Coordinator
  • Community Advocate/Organizer
  • Community and Housing Developer
  • Community and Real Estate Developer
  • Cultural Resources Specialist
  • Deconstruction Specialist
  • Easement Manager
  • Environmental Protection Specialist
  • Federal or State Historic Preservation Officer
  • Grant Writer or Reviewer
  • Historian
  • Historic Preservation Specialist
  • Historic Property Manager
  • Historic Site or Museum Manager
  • Historic Tax Credit Specialist
  • Historic Tourism Specialist
  • Historic Tradesperson
  • National Register of Historic Places Reviewer
  • Main Street Manager
  • Nonprofit Executive Director
  • Preservation Economist
  • Preservation Lawyer
  • Preservation Planner (Regional, Rural, Urban)
  • Preservation Program Specialist or Analyst
  • Public Administrator
  • Public Policymaker

Many more career paths include (or could include) historic preservation expertise as a key qualification. Those who have expertise in allied fields such as Archaeology, Architecture, Archives, Communications and Marketing, Construction, Cultural Sustainability, Design, Education, Engineering, Ethnography/Folklore, Geography/GIS, Historic Trades, Journalism/Publishing, Landscape Architecture, Law, Materials Conservation, Museums, Public Health, Public History, Social Justice and Community Building, and Sustainability/Climate Change Resilience choose the Goucher M.A.H.P. to expand their qualifications and develop desirable cross-disciplinary skills. 

 

Historic Preservation Community Involvement

The majority of our graduates and many of our current students give back to their communities by serving as a:

  • Historic Preservation Commission Member
  • Local Elected Official and/or Political Campaign Volunteer
  • Board Member or Trustee of a Nonprofit Organization
  • Community Cultural Leader
  • Community Organizer and Advocate
  • Preservation Expert for Historic Preservation Initiatives
  • Member of Professional, Academic, or Business Association

 

Goucher M.A.H.P. Alumni Career Satisfaction & Salaries

In a recent survey of program graduates:

89% reported they are working in a position related to their preservation degree, with 78% in the kind of job they had hoped to find when they enrolled in the program.

Alumni report an average gross income over $89,000, with a median salary amongst graduates of $80,000.