2024-2025 Course Catalog – Continuing Education in Historic Preservation

Fall 2024 Courses and Workshops

Introduction to Historic Preservation

10-week class | credit/no credit | 2 CEUs
Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system)
Tuition: $275

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 Solid Foundation: Planning Documents for Historic Preservation

5-week class | credit/no credit | 1 CEU
Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system)
Tuition: $150

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

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

5-week class | credit/no credit | 1 CEU
Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system)
Tuition: $150

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.

Spring 2025 Courses and Workshops

Building a Solid Foundation: Planning Documents for Historic Preservation

5-week class | credit/no credit | 1 CEU
Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system)
Tuition: $150

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

American Architectural History

Hybrid (online class via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system) and in-person field trips)
This course is required to complete the certificate program
Tuition: $275

Our built environment, including landscapes, buildings, and other features, is shaped by ecological, cultural, technological, political, and economic forces, to name just a few.

In this course we will explore how these different forces have impacted the built environment in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States from the Native American period to around 50 years ago. We’ll also examine relevant examples of the built environment from other parts of the world to place the development of our local architecture in context.

Within each period, we will discuss examples of urban and rural landscapes, a wide variety of building types, and significant engineering and industrial structures. The goal will be to understand the diversity of the built environment and the people who lived there during each period, so we can appreciate why it looked the way it did, what has been lost, and what has survived to the present day.

Each week, you will be required to complete assignments that will help you develop a critical eye for the built environment that you experience every day. You will also develop a final project narrative that focuses on a site of your choice and will include a description of the site; changes over time; and impacts of the significant forces that have shaped your site.

At the end of this course, you should be able to:

Understand the relevance of the built environment in your day-to-day life for the purposes of interpretation, research, and advocacy in the field of historic preservation
Identify key moments, styles and trends in the history of the American built environment, with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic region
Analyze the built environment for clues about the date of construction and changes over time
Articulate why components of our built environment look the way they do

Students in this course will have the opportunity to join an in-person field trip in Camden, NJ, for a tour and conversation with Dolly Marshall, Historic Preservation Specialist for the City of Camden. Ms. Marshall has won multiple awards for her advocacy and preservation work and was recently recognized as an Emerging Leader by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. There may also be potential opportunities for students to engage with Ms. Marshall at the Mount Peace Cemetery Association in Lawnside, NJ, which is currently celebrating its 125th anniversary. We are excited to offer this collaboration between Rutgers and the City of Camden.

This course will be conducted online via a blend of asynchronous lectures, at-home assignments, synchronous online instruction and discussion, in-person field trips, and a final assignment. The synchronous discussion will take place during posted class times. Students will be required to sign in to both Zoom and Miro’s whiteboard app in order to participate. The synchronous session will build on that week’s assignment, so you must complete them before the start of class.

About the Instructor:
Lori Aument has 25 years of experience as a building conservator and is currently a Senior Associate at WJE in Philadelphia. Her expertise is in the history of architecture and the practical methods needed to protect and repair historic sites. She holds a BS in Art History and a MS in Historic Preservation. In 2019, Lori launched the Philadelphia history podcast, Found in Philadelphia, to engage listeners with stories from the past that still impact our lives today. She is also adjunct faculty in the Historic Preservation department at Thomas Jefferson University.

Introduction to Cultural Heritage Tourism

5-week class | credit/no credit | 1.5 CEU
Hybrid (Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system) on Thursday evenings and in-person for final class on Saturday, April 12)
Tuition: $150

Do you want to enhance your visitors’ engagement with history at your site or in your municipality but need a jump start on inspiration or project planning? Would you like a chance to consider how your historic site fits within the broader landscape of the region’s heritage tourism so you can identify prospective collaborators and funding sources? Then join us for a course on Cultural Heritage Tourism lead by Dorothy Guzzo, Executive Director of the New Jersey Historic Trust. Cultural heritage tourism, defined by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present,” encompasses a range of activities central to our work in historic preservation, broadly defined. Whether you work at a historic site or within the hospitality industry, this course is designed to provide a basic understanding of why visitors seek historic experiences and how to enhance tourism potential. If you are planning on developing or enhancing anything from a placed-based walking tour to an interpretive sign to an evening lecture featuring local cuisine, this course will help you identify the tools you need to enhance your site’s cultural heritage tourism profile.

This course may be of particular interest to historic site personnel, board members, and volunteers; individuals in the hospitality industry; chamber of commerce members and staff; local government or historic review board representatives; and anyone who wants to support heritage tourism and historic preservation in their communities.

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.

Preservation in Practice: A Primer for Historic Preservation Commissions and Planners

1-day workshop – .7 CEUs

This one-day workshop is open to all preservationists, but it is specifically geared toward those serving on a local commission. 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. The workshop provides an in-depth examination of current topics and issues relevant to integrating preservation into community planning and zoning. The 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.

This workshop is offered thanks in part to the Cambridge Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and the New Jersey Historic Trust.

About the Presenters

Janine Baur, Esq: a partner in the firm Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein, & Blader, P.C., focuses on environmental, transportation and infrastructure matters. An experienced litigator, Janine represents individuals, corporations and public entities who need advice or representation in cases involving environmental law and regulatory compliance, toxic tort, development and redevelopment (including brownfield remediation), transportation law and regulations, interstate commerce, marine and complex litigation. Janine is also a registered legislative agent in New Jersey. For ten years, she was the director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a nonprofit firm headquartered in Manhattan that advocates for greater investment in infrastructure to create a more efficient transportation network. During her tenure there, the firm’s weekly bulletin, Mobilizing the Region, won two journalism awards from the American Planning Association.

Steve Smolyn:Steven Smolyn is a licensed architect in New Jersey, meeting the 36 CFR 61 Architecture professional qualification standards of the U.S. Department of the Interior. With a hands-on approach to every project, Steven ensures exceptional design quality and meticulous project delivery. A lifelong New Jersey resident, Steven grew up in Summit and now resides in Hoboken. He is an active member of the Hoboken Historic Preservation Commission and a trustee of Preservation New Jersey, where he advocates for the preservation of the state’s rich architectural and cultural heritage. Steven serves as a historic preservation consultant for the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission. Steven holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University, where his thesis focused on the transformative impact of Pennsylvania Station on suburban development in the New York metropolitan area. His expertise combines a deep understanding of historic preservation with innovative strategies for modern design and urban development.

Andrea Tingey: Andrea Tingey is a principal historic preservation specialist with the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office. Currently working as the survey program coordinator for the office, she also is involved in the review of National Register nominations. For six years, she coordinated the Certified Local Government program, including grants and surveys. Previously, she worked in the Transportation and Planning Section where the bulk of her workload involved the regulatory review of bridge projects. She coordinated the establishment and publishing of New Jersey’s first statewide guidelines for architectural survey activities. She taught the Introduction to Historic Preservation course at Drew University for six years and co-taught the same course at Philadelphia University. Ms. Tingey received a BA in history from Dickinson College and did her graduate work in historic preservation planning at Cornell University.

Judith Murphy, AICP, PP: Judith Murphy is a licensed Professional Planner and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners with over seven years’ experience in local government planning and ten years as a historic preservation specialist. As a Principal Historic Preservation Specialist with the NJ Historic Trust, she provides technical support to local governments and oversight of municipal, county, and regional planning (MCRP) grants funded through the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund. Prior to joining the Historic Trust staff she worked as a Principal Planner and Planning Board Secretary for the Township of Moorestown and a Senior Planner and Zoning Board of Adjustment staff Planner for the City of Trenton. She received a Master of City and Regional Planning from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.

Monuments to Memory: The National Park Service and the Making of America’s Historic Landmarks

5-week class | credit/no credit | 1 CEU
Online via Zoom and Canvas (Rutgers course management system)
Tuition: $150

This course introduces students to the history of the National Park Service, its mission, and the establishment of historic sites. Students will learn about the tumultuous history of putting together the first National Park and the political ramifications of starting the National Park Service. The course also covers the environmental problems faced by park service employees, as well as regular citizens, in the preservation of historic areas. Students will learn how to navigate the forms necessary for sites to be declared historical and federally protected. This course will serve as a foundation for understanding the National Park Service, its environmental history, problems that arose in its 100+ history that are still relevant today, and the process of establishing historic sites.

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

Explain the history of the National Park Service
Identify key problems facing historic sites, both environmental and political
Understand how historic sites are identified
Assess a National Park Service site or other historic sites’ historical interpretation
Find and Identify an historic sites’ enabling legislation and use that document to assess that sites’ historical interpretation

Igniting the Spark: Initiating the Downtown Revitalization Process

5-week class | credit/no credit | 1 CEU
Hybrid (online class via Zoom and Canvas and in-person site visit)

Description: Have you ever walked through a dreary downtown or stared at a dilapidated building or an empty lot and wondered what could be? This class is geared toward professionals new to, or interested in, the placemaking field, and those who have a vested interest in how communities can be revitalized while retaining their unique, historic character. The intent of the course is to help students understand the factors that negatively impacted downtowns and how to correct or replace these factors to move toward a more inviting, safe and genuine sense of place. The course combines online learning, discussion, and short in-field exercises.

By the end of the course, students should understand the fundamentals of neighborhood revitalization to better engage in the process and have completed the following:

Gain a general understanding of how traditional commercial districts lost their vitality and learn the basic components for revitalization
Complete a reconnaissance assessment of existing physical conditions of a neighborhood of their choice
Learn to identify historic characteristics of the neighborhood of their choice and other neighborhoods
Propose general uses/improvements for an opportunity site that can later be included in a revitalization plan

The proposed course format is structured to inform and give hands-on experience to those interested in elevating their knowledge of neighborhood revitalization. This is not an architectural history or urban planning course but some understanding of buildings and urban design is helpful.

View our catalogue of past course and workshops here. PDF | Word Doc