Department Overview
WHAT DISTINGUISHES ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY @ UVA?
We are the only Architectural History program that is situated in a UNESCO World Heritage site – the University of Virginia’s Academical Village — and in a region distinguished by captivating cultural landscapes and historic sites. Our students have access to an extraordinary learning laboratory, within and beyond UVA — places where innovative approaches to the history of the built environment are being tested and where long-overlooked voices are inspiring new conversations.
Our students benefit from distinctive opportunities:
- Gaining hands-on experience documenting & interpreting historic sites & cultural landscapes
- Experimenting with new digital tools for documentation & interpretation
- Exploring existing archives & creating new ones
- Tailoring coursework to support varied interests, drawing on offerings in the department as well as across & beyond the School of Architecture
- Developing foundational skills of critical thinking & writing
- Pursuing original research for a thesis in close dialogue with a faculty advisor
Even as we take full advantage of the rich historical landscapes that surround us in and beyond Charlottesville, Architectural History @ UVA opens windows onto histories of cities, buildings, and landscapes around the world. Many of our students take advantage of study-abroad opportunities in Rome and Venice, as well as wide-ranging internships and fieldwork opportunities, often drawing on our exceptionally generous alumni network.
DEGREE PROGRAMS
Bachelor of Architectural History (BArH)
4-year undergraduate program
Optional concentration in Historic Preservation
Master of Architectural History (MArH)
2-year graduate program
Optional Certificate in Historic Preservation
FACULTY
Architectural History Department
Affiliated Faculty
- Lisa Goff, American Studies + English, Director of the Institute for Public History
- Michael Lee, Landscape Architecture
- Angel Adams Parham, Sociology
- Erin Putalik, Landscape Architecture
- Andrea Roberts, Urban & Environmental Planning
- Jessica Sewell, Urban & Environmental Planning
Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows in Race, Place, and Equity
- Olanrewaju Lasisi (2023-24)
- Ana Ozaki (2023-24)
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Rina Priyani (2024-26)