Continuing Education in Historic Preservation
There is no better place to learn the processes and techniques of historic preservation than the living laboratory of Camden and nearby Philadelphia. Historic Preservation Continuing Education Program at Rutgers–Camden promotes the importance of historic preservation in communities by bringing together students and active professionals in the field. It supports and encourages participants to become knowledgeable and active constituents in historic preservation. Participants learn from professionals working in the field to gain a realistic perspective on how the tangible remains of our past can be integrated within current environments.
The program is open to anyone interested in historic preservation: members of historic preservation commissions, town planners, historic site administrators and volunteers, museum staff and volunteers, owners of old or historic buildings, architects, engineers, attorneys, students, and anyone else with an interest in preserving cultural heritage.
The certificate program is not a degree program, but it can be used to supplement a participant’s work in an allied field, such as history, architecture, public history, or planning. Participation in the certificate program does not require matriculation (or enrollment) in a Rutgers degree program. Participants may take classes in any sequence and complete the program at their own pace. Enrollment in the certificate program is not required to take a class or workshop.
Fall 2025 Course Registration Opens August 12
Introduction to Historic Preservation
Thursday, September 18, 2025 – Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 7 – 8:15 p.m.
10-week class | credit/no credit | 2 CEUs
Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system)
This course is an introduction to the preservation of the built environment, examining the history and philosophy of historic preservation as well as how the discipline is practiced today. It will provide the historic framework of how preservation has emerged as a field of specialization and will expose students to the terminology used by its practitioners. At the end of this course, you should understand:
- The key concepts that have informed and continue to guide modern preservation practice in the United States
- The core programs and terms used in preservation practice;
- That historic preservation is a multi-disciplinary field and the roles that various professions and perspectives play in achieving preservation outcomes;
- How preservation in the United States relates to preservation in other parts of the world.
About the Instructor: Jennifer L. Boggs is a historic preservation specialist who has practiced primarily in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She holds an M.A. in the History of Art and Archaeology from the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU, and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania.
Back to Basics: Training for Historic Preservation Commissions
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 – Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 6 – 8:30 p.m.
6-week class | credit/no credit | 1.2 CEU
Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system)
This online course is open to all preservationists, but it is specifically geared toward those serving on a New Jersey historic preservation commission (HPC). This program is designed to benefit both new and experienced commission members and will also be relevant for planning and zoning board members and elected officials. Focus will be on legal parameters for implementing a commission, conducting an effective public meeting, and understanding and implementing tools to foster good preservation at the local level.
Individuals participating in this course will learn:
- How historic preservation commissions (HPCs) are legally established
- How to conduct effective meetings and legal obligations
- How to use the ordinance and design guidelines in decision-making
- The relationship between the HPC and other regulatory boards
- About resources to assist in promoting good community preservation
About the Instructor: Dorothy P. Guzzo served as executive director of the New Jersey Historic Trust from 2008-2024. From 1995 to 2008, as the deputy state historic preservation officer for New Jersey, she oversaw the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, project certification to qualify for Investment Tax Credits, certifying local governments for implementing programs on the municipal level, historic and archaeological resource inventory and resource protection through state and federal regulations. She has held elected office and served on her municipal planning board and local historic preservation commission. Ms. Guzzo served on the New Jersey Heritage Tourism Task Force and was charged with creating a Heritage Tourism Master Plan for the state of New Jersey.
New! The Five Pillars of Preventative Conservation
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 – Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
5-week class | credit/no credit | 1 CEU
Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system)
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the five core pillars of preventive conservation: policies and practices, environmental management, housing/storage and space, housekeeping and pest management, and emergency preparedness. Each week, students will learn about a new pillar of preventive conservation and why they are important when preserving historic resources and collections. Students will also learn strategies and policies they can introduce at their own institutions to promote responsible resource management and collections care.
About the Instructor: Shannon Bremer is a Historic Preservation Specialist for the New Jersey Historic Trust. She has overseen numerous grant-funded, preservation projects ranging from preservation plans and construction documents to ADA accessibility and capital improvement projects since she began working for the Trust in 2022. Ms. Bremer also provides technical assistance to grantees and the public at large as well as assists with the Trust’s Emergency Intervention Fund. Ms. Bremer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Mary Washington (Fredericksburg, VA) and a Master of Arts in American Studies from the College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA). She also holds a certificate in Material Culture and Public History from the National Institute of American History and Democracy at the College of William & Mary.