Six core courses are required. With the exception of the thesis, all of these are normally taken in the first year. Students must complete two semesters of course work in American architectural history (unless they studied the subject as an undergraduate). For the balance of required credits in the first year, students take courses in the economics of neighborhood conservation, urban history, real estate development, building materials conservation, preservation law, and community-assisted design. A Historic Preservation Planning Workshop takes students into the field to conduct a historic resources survey working in any number of cities, towns, and villages in the region.

Second-year students complete a master's thesis in historic preservation planning. They have tackled a range of problems, from a scheme for revitalization of an entire neighborhood to a site-specific economic analysis for the renovation of a surplus school. Theses have examined supermarkets, bridges, adobe residences, piers, observatories, churches, cemeteries, factories, and farm buildings. Others have researched private historic preservation organizations or analyzed government plans.

• Obtain a total of 60 credits, including two semesters of American architectural history
• Earn two residence units
• Have two committee members, the second of which needs to be established by the beginning of the registration period of the third semester
• Fulfill the core course requirements (unless waived or modified upon recommendation of the Special Committee)
• Successfully defend and submit a thesis to, and have it approved by, the student's Special Committee and the Thesis Secretary (formatting only) of the Graduate School
• No grades at the C level in any subject are acceptable for credit toward the degree