Hi! I don't have a background in architecture. I am a high school student who wants to become an architect. Although a high school student I have researched and studied about many 19th and early 20th century buildings. I too want to earn a M.S. in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. I also love old buildings. I am pretty sure that at GSAPP you can get a dual degree so it may take 3-4 years but you can earn both degrees that you are interested in at the same time. I think Columbia has a great program because I believe that they have the oldest Historic Preservation program, is located in New York, a city with such beautiful, historic, and diverse architecture, and is located in a beautiful campus designed by McKim, Mead, & White. Also note that the University of Pennsylvania (also an ivy league university which is located in Philadelphia), Boston University, Cornell University (also ivy league located in Ithaca, NY) also have good Historic Preservation programs. If you also love old/historic buildings you might want to earn a degree in Architectural History (the University of Virginia has a great program). Best of luck!

Hi kylec14,

Thanks for your reply.  However, I am more concern at the career path and potential after obtaining a master degree.  After a five year undergraduate study, spending another 3 to 4 years for a master degree is not what I am seeking.

Although I like both of the programs, I like to know which one will add a plus on top of what I have as an architect in training and design.

Anyone else that can give me suggestions??

Hi again!

It really depends on what you would like to specialize in as an architect. If you would like to specialize in working with historic or older buildings or using more traditional architectural designs the Historic Preservation degree would be better. If you are interested in working with modern buildings in large cities City/Urban Planning would be better. If you were employed by a decent firm and they truly valued you opinion and designs they might allow you to leave your position to pursue a more advanced or specialized degree. As you said in your first post you are an intern architect, I am not an architect but I hope to be able to help you as best as I can. Why not ask some of your colleagues and coworkers what they think would would be best for you, they know you better and have more experience. Again, good luck!

As someone with one of those 'additional' degrees (caveat: neither in historic preservation nor in urban design), I don't think that the actual title of the additional degree matters as much as the coursework, especially after your first job.  Really, school isn't the defining path of your career; you may be presented with/able to find opportunities to grow into either, regardless of where it is you started.  Ultimately, you may be able to find a way to combine both in your career.

However, what's more important is the type of skill set you get from either degree.  Are you more interested in the documentation/historiographical focus you may get from historic preservation?  Or do you want to learn more about  community-organized design, translating economic and code requirements into design solutions, the flow of public space, etc. that you would get from an urban design program?  They're both different approaches, and knowing a bit about each could help.

The cool thing is that you're looking at two programs within the same school.  If you are doing graduate school right, you should be able to assemble a curriculum that will give you what you need from each.  I'd recommend contacting the professors in each program as well as maybe the graduate school adviser, and finding out what kind of courses/research they'd recommend, and what sort of things you'd learn in each program.  Maybe look up some of the research they've done, and find out how their individual approaches translate into design.

Hi again! I hope that you have thought about what program you would like to go into. In relation to a question I asked on Archinect and someones response. As time moves on we have less space on the earth to build, so we need to use the existing buildings that we have. That would fall under Historic Preservation. In the future the buildings that are current and modern now will be historic. While urban planning is still a great thing to study. Personally, I think Historic Preservation is more useful and I like it better. If you don't want to spend so much time and money on additional education why not try a certificate program, or a non-degree program. I know that Columbia has a certificate program in Historic Preservation. So do the University of Pennsylvania and University of Virginia (the universities I mentioned in my first post on this thread.I think Columbia only offers a Masters in Urban Planning. In order to earn a certificate in Historic Preservation from Columbia University you have to have 5 year B.Arch. You can probably earn the certificate while you are earnng the Master of Urban Planning. Good luck!