MS in Historic Preservation Admissions Information

Priority Deadline: December 1—$45 Application Fee
Final Deadline: January 10—$90 Application Fee
Apply online via SlideRoom

A conferred four-year baccalaureate degree or its equivalent is required for admission to all graduate programs at SAIC. Transcripts are records of your studies that list the courses you completed, the grades received, and provide evidence of degree conferral. They may include grade sheets, exam results, final diplomas, degrees, or graduation certificates. Official copies are issued in the original language directly by your university. Copies must bear the official stamp or seal of the institution, as well as the signature of the appropriate official such as the dean, rector, registrar, controller of examinations, or office of teaching affairs. Photos, notarized copies, facsimiles, or email transmissions are not acceptable.

Official translations are expected for all educational documents issued in a language other than English. A translation agency or university language department should issue official translations typed on official stationary and the translator must attest proficiency in the original language and indicate their translations are accurate word-for-word.

During the application process an unofficial transcript is acceptable for review pending an Admissions decision. Official transcripts are required upon admission. Include transcripts both official and unofficial from all universities/colleges from which a degree was obtained or prerequisites were fulfilled. You can attach unofficial transcripts as .pdf or .jpg files in the Educational History section of the application form. If you are in the process of completing a bachelor's degree when you apply, a transcript showing your first three years of study is acceptable.

Transcripts are considered official if sent directly from the degree- or credit-granting institution to the SAIC Graduate Admissions Office. Hard copy transcripts are considered official if the documents remain in the registrar's original signed and sealed envelopes. Official transcripts can be sent both in digital and hard-copy format. Digital transcripts can be sent from the degree- or credit-granting institution to gradmiss@saic.edu. Hard copy transcripts can be mailed to:

SAIC Graduate
36 S. Wabash Ave., Suite 1201
Chicago, IL 60603

Students admitted to a graduate program who have not received a high school diploma, GED or equivalent are not eligible for federal Title IV financial aid funds.

Write a 500–700 word statement that describes your work or research. Discuss how you came to focus on historic preservation at the graduate level. Also discuss future directions or goals for your work, and finally, describe how the Master of Science in Historic Preservation program is particularly suited to your professional goals. Save your statement of purpose as a PDF and upload it as an attachment.

Two letters of reference are required.

A current résumé is required.

TOEFL: 100 
IELTS: 7 
DUOLINGO: 120

Applicants are required to submit a 10–15 page critical writing sample addressing some aspect of historic preservation. A footnoted and referenced essay is preferred but an equivalent critically written report would also be acceptable. Save your writing sample as a PDF and upload it by adding it as a media file.

Optional: Applicants are also welcome to submit visual materials that communicate their work in addition to the critical writing sample. This can reflect a related visual or documentation background including, studio art, design rendering, site interpretation, communication design, website design, or documentation of other related visual practice. Please electronically submit a visual portfolio of up to 20 images.