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 2024 Course Registration Opens Tuesday, August 20
Introduction to Historic Preservation
Thursday, September 12, 2024 – Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 7 – 8:30 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 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.
Building a Strong Foundation: Planning Documents for Historic Preservation
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 – Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
5-week class | credit/no credit | 1 CEU
Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system)
This course is an introduction to planning documents that are most commonly used for the preservation of historic sites and landscapes. Students will learn how these documents and reports are created, what information they contain, why they are important to the preservation and interpretation of a site, and strategies to develop and utilize them effectively and efficiently. The course will cover foundational documents like the Historic Structure Report, specific studies like materials and building systems analyses, and reports to plan for maintenance of and disaster preparation for a historic site.
At the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Understand how the planning reports and documents are created
- Understand what each planning document and report is used for
- Identify which planning report and document to use at a given time
- Develop the planning documents that are needed to preserve and interpret a historic site efficiently and effectively
This course does not cover all planning documents and reports that may be used for the preservation of historic sites.
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.
Back to Basics: Training for Historic Preservation Commissions
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 – Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 7 – 9 p.m.
5-week class | credit/no credit | 1 CEU
Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system)
This 5-week 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 workshop 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.