Graduate Certificate Program

Certificates Offered

Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation and Regionalism (GCERT)
Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Design (GCERT)

The School of Architecture and Planning offers graduate certificate programs in Historic Preservation and Regionalism and in Urban and Regional Design. These certificates require 18 credit hours, some of which can also be applied to a graduate degree program, and are open to applicants not currently enrolled as UNM graduate students.

Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation and Regionalism

Chris Wilson, Director
School of Architecture and Planning

The Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation and Regionalism is designed for students wishing to contribute to the conservation of architectural and cultural heritage, and to the contemporary vitality of valued regional traditions. The program integrates proven historic preservation techniques with the spectrum of related planning and design approaches for cultivating local history, and cultural distinctiveness. The Graduate Certificate is open to students pursuing a graduate degree in a related field at the University of New Mexico, those who already hold such a graduate degree, and those with a bachelor’s degree and appropriate related experience.

Qualifications

Students must either:

Hold a graduate degree in architecture, planning, landscape architecture, history, American studies, anthropology, architectural history, communications and journalism, environmental studies or other related field;
Be admitted to or be currently enrolled in a graduate program at the University of New Mexico in one of these disciplines;
Hold a bachelor’s degree in one of these disciplines, and demonstrate in a resume and the letter of intent experience or accomplishment such as professional licensing, publications, professional practice, or professional, non-profit or government work with responsibilities in preservation, heritage tourism development, regional design or planning, or related fields that indicate ability to complete this program.

Students who are not currently enrolled as graduate students at the University must apply through Graduate Studies.

Application Submission requirements:

A letter of interest explaining your reasons for seeking admission to the program, and your expected time line for completion of the certificate, and noting the criteria above that you satisfy, and your social security number, mailing address and email address;
Two letters of recommendation from people who know your educational or work accomplishments and abilities;
A resume;
Academic transcripts for all higher education course work.

To insure consideration for a Fall semester admission, completed applications are due no later than March 1; for a Spring semester admission, no later than November 1. Depending on space availability, applications received after those dates may be considered.

To receive the Certificate, students must successfully complete a minimum of 18 credit hours, including:

ARCH/CRP/LA 590	Historic Research Methods
ARCH/CRP/LA 591	Introduction to Preservation and Regionalism
	9 hours of electives chosen in consultation with the Program Director from an approved electives list
	an approved FINAL PROJECT (minimum 3 hours)

List of approved electives:

ARCH 662	Sem: Alternative Construction Methods and Materials
ARCH 662	Sem: Preservation Technologies and Adaptive Reuse
ARCH 662	Sem: Southwest Architecture and Cultural Landscapes
ARTH 507	Museum Practices
CRP 570	Sem: Preservation, Eco-tourism, and Community Development
CRP 570	Sem: Preservation Law
CRP 573	Planning on Native American Lands
CRP 586	Planning Issues in Chicano Communities
LA 512	Sem: Cultural Landscape Planning
LA 562	Gardens in the Sand: New Mexico's Historic Landscapes
	and other seminars with appropriate content as approved by the program director.

Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Design

Mark C. Childs, Director
School of Architecture and Planning

How can we create vibrant cities, towns and regions - places that are sustainable, convivial, and even poetic?

Cities and towns are among humanity's largest and most complex achievements. The buildings, public works, plazas and parks of even a small community embody substantial amounts of capital, energy, natural resources, history and aspirations. Cities are among our greatest creations, yet typically no single individual creates them.

The certificate examines settlements from village to megalopolis and from street to planet-wide patterns to provide a foundation for students to engage one of humanity’s greatest needs and challenges - how to create sustainable and vibrant 21st century cities.

The program aims to give students the foundations to explore critical questions about, study examples of, and propose approaches to designing the emergence of streets, neighborhoods, districts, towns, and cities.

What are the goals, aspirations, and tools of design when there are multiple independent designers?
What aspects of physical design support the creation of vital public squares, plazas and other civic spaces?
How does the form of a town’s infrastructure work to configure and condition the architecture and character of the place?
How does the relationship between design professionals and other key stakeholders (e.g., owners, citizens) shape, constrain and inform design? If cities emerge from design and dialog over time, how should this influence the role of the designer or planner?

Students in the Certificate Program should develop:

Knowledge of the theory, history and praxis of urban design with particular emphasis on sustainability.
Ability in analysis and prediction of urban design outcomes.
Ability in multi-player design, development and regulation methods.

Admission Requirements

Qualifications

Students must either:

Be currently enrolled in one of the graduate programs in the School of Architecture and Planning with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Possess a professional degree in architecture, landscape architecture or planning.
Be a graduate student currently enrolled in other programs; design professionals without one of the degrees listed above may be admitted by the Certificate Director upon demonstration of adequate skills and aptitude.

Students who are not currently enrolled as graduate students at the University must apply to and be accepted by the University graduate program.

Application submission requirements

Resume.
Statement of intent outlining your goals in pursuing the Certificate, proposed program of study, and schedule for completion.
Brief graphic portfolio of design and planning work. Include no more than ten 8.5x11” pages.
Samples of original written work. Include no more than five 8.5x11” pages.
Current academic transcript.
Names and contact information for two people who can speak to your qualifications for the certificate program.

These materials should demonstrate (1) serious initial investigation of town design issues in prior work, (2) strong design and/or planning skills, (3) strong craftsmanship and care for the context and external consequences of design and planning work, (4) ability to write cogently, and (5) a clear and compelling set of goals.

The certificate director may waive or substitute other coursework for any of the above requirements if the application as a whole demonstrates that the student has the skills, background, and ability to successfully complete the Certificate.

Students who have strong applications but whose skills in a particular area need development may be asked in the admission letter to add another course to their studies (e.g. we may require an additional graphic skills course).

Submit your application to the front office of School of Architecture and Planning by March 1 for fall term admission, or by November 1 for spring term admission.

Curriculum

Non-certificate students are allowed to take courses in the curriculum.

A total of 9 credit hours may count towards both the certificate and a master’s degree within the School of Architecture and Planning. The remaining 9 credit hours (6 credit hours of Urban and Regional Design Project and 3 credit hours of Sustainable Settlements) must be taken solely for certificate credit.