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J.D./M.A. in Law and Preservation Studies

Preservation studies is both a popular movement and a specialized field. Although it may once have represented an informal, private decision by the owner of an individual building, preservation studies now involves individuals, private agencies and government departments operating in the complex areas of zoning, financing and community planning. Through a program that was the first of its kind in the country, Boston University is playing a significant role in educating preservation professionals.

In an interdisciplinary program involving both BU Law and the American and New England Studies Program of the Boston University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, you’ll complete both programs in seven semesters, instead of the nine semesters it would take if you pursued the two degrees independently.

To earn the M.A. degree, students take law and preservation courses during the second and third year in law school and four additional courses after completing the J.D. degree. Students may complete these additional four courses in one additional semester, for a total of seven semesters, but they may also attend the Graduate School on a part-time basis.

Students take two BU Law courses: • Land Use or Real Estate Finance and Tax • Seminar in Historic Preservation

Suggested relevant law courses: • Administrative Law • Environmental Law • Land Use • Introduction to Federal Income Taxation • Housing Law

Additional requirement for M.A. degree includes: Three core courses: • Historic Preservation • Financing Historic Preservation • Planning and Preservation • One course in Architectural History • A final preservation project, which may be a Master’s thesis, a Master’s project, or a group project in Preservation Planning Colloquium. • Three preservation electives from those listed in the American & New England Studies Program Web site. • A three-month paid Preservation Studies Internship taken in the summer after the second year of law school. Internships have been arranged in prior years with Historic New England, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, as well as agencies and firms with an interest in historic preservation.

A typical program is as follows: • Year 1: First-Year BU Law program • Year 2: Each semester, three (or more) BU Law courses and one preservation course • Year 3: Each semester, three (or more) BU Law courses and one preservation course • End of Year 3: J.D. degree awarded • Semester/Year 4: Four additional courses, including three preservation courses and a final preservation peoject • End of Semester/Year 4: M.A. degree awarded

>>View full program and registration information (pdf format)