Best institutions to study Architectural Conservation
A program that focuses on the architectural design principles and building techniques used in historic structures and environments, and the process of saving and restoring old buildings and districts for contemporary use and enjoyment.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 7 Architectural Conservation students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 04.0802, a specialization of Architectural History (CIP 04.08), and leads most directly to the Historians occupation (BLS SOC 19-3093).
About Architectural Conservation programs
A program that focuses on the architectural design principles and building techniques used in historic structures and environments, and the process of saving and restoring old buildings and districts for contemporary use and enjoyment. Includes instruction in architectural history, building conservation techniques, and material conservation.
See also: 30.1201 - Historic Preservation and Conservation, General.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Architectural Conservation program, a specialization within Architectural History, focuses on the principles and techniques used in the design and preservation of historic structures. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about saving and restoring old buildings, ensuring they remain relevant and accessible for contemporary use and enjoyment.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and historical research. Coursework covers architectural history, building conservation techniques, and material conservation, equipping graduates with the knowledge necessary to analyze and interpret historic data effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Architectural Conservation graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree7 graduates / yr · 1 institution100%
Graduates over time
Architectural Conservation completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 7 |
CIP 04.0802 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 1 institutions for Architectural Conservation, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Architectural College Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 32% | $41,647 |
Offered in 1 states
Where Architectural Conservation graduates come from. Each state links to all Architectural History programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1 | 7 | Boston Architectural College7 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3093, Historians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Architectural Conservation program typically pursue careers as historians or architecture teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 2.2% and approximately 300 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $74,050, requiring a Master's degree for entry.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 04.0802
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Historiansprimary SOC 19-3093 | $76,750 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~300 | Master's degree |
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1031 | $96,870 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Architectural Conservation programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
- Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
- Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
- Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet.
- Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
- Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
Tools and technology used
Other Architectural History specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Architectural History (CIP 04.08).
- Architectural History and CriticismCIP 04.0801129 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Architectural StudiesCIP 04.0803partial data62 graduates / yr9 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation04.0899
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degree do I earn in this program?+
You will earn a Master's degree in Architectural Conservation.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, historical research, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a historian or a postsecondary architecture teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a 2.2% growth rate and 300 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Architectural Conservation?+
Architectural Conservation is CIP 04.0802 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Architectural History (CIP 04.08). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the architectural design principles and building techniques used in historic structures and environments, and the process of saving and restoring old buildings and districts for contemporary use and enjoyment. Includes instruction in architectural history, building conservation techniques, and material conservation.
How many institutions offer Architectural Conservation programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Architectural Conservation graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 7 credentials in the year. That is 3.5% of all Architectural History graduates.
How much do Architectural Conservation graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Historians occupation, which Architectural Conservation most directly leads to, pays a median of $76,750 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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