Master’s in Urban Heritage and Historic Centres Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in urban heritage and historic centres engineering, with 12 modules covering heritage concepts, legal protection, historical documentation and HBIM, defects and diagnosis, intervention in historic buildings, public space, mobility, tourism and housing, risk and resilience, heritage management and industrial heritage, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Urban Heritage and Historic Centres Engineering — studying from the United States
Civil and transportation engineering is a large and visible sector in the United States, supported by federal infrastructure investment and active state and municipal programs. Major firms such as AECOM, Jacobs and Kiewit work on highways, bridges, rail and water systems nationwide. Rail engineering, centered on corridors in the Northeast, Midwest and California, is expanding with passenger and freight modernization. Smart city initiatives in cities like Pittsburgh, Boston and Austin integrate sensors, data platforms and digital twins into infrastructure planning and operations.
Fees for the United States: US$7,730 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
What US professional bodies and licences apply to civil and rail engineering?
In the US, civil engineers can obtain the Professional Engineer (PE) licence from state boards, which is often required for public infrastructure sign-off. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is the main professional body. Rail is overseen federally by the Federal Railroad Administration. SEIUM's private qualifications are not official degrees or PE-equivalent credentials, so employers and licensing boards decide any recognition.
Do US civil, rail and smart-city employers value private online engineering qualifications?
US public agencies and engineering firms typically require ABET-accredited degrees, PE licensure for certain roles, and relevant project experience. A private online qualification can support specialist knowledge in areas such as smart infrastructure, but it is not a standard requirement for licensed roles. Its usefulness depends on the employer's policies and on your practical background.
Can a US professional study this part-time while working, and what does the commitment look like?
Yes, the programmes are online, taught in English, and do not require a student visa. The time commitment is about 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 hours for a postgraduate diploma, or 300 hours for a specialist course, so planning is important. Each student has an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers sponsor training, so check with yours.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the heritage values of historic urban ensembles.
Apply the legal framework for heritage protection.
Document historic buildings using digital techniques.
Diagnose defects in traditional construction.
Propose interventions compatible with protected values.
Manage mobility, tourism and housing in historic centres.
Draw up management and funding plans for urban heritage.
Who it's for
- Urban heritage officers.
- Architects specialising in heritage rehabilitation.
- Historic centre managers.
- HBIM documentation specialists.
- Consultants drafting special protection plans.
- Conservation technicians.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to move into local government.
What you'll work with
- Ley 16/1985 (Spanish Historical Heritage Act)
- World Heritage Convention (UNESCO, 1972)
- Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (UNESCO, 2011)
- Venice Charter (ICOMOS, 1964) (conservation and restoration of monuments and sites)
- Washington Charter (ICOMOS, 1987) (conservation of historic towns)
- Código Técnico de la Edificación (criteria for protected buildings)
- UNE-EN 16096 (conservation of cultural property: condition survey and report)
- Real Decreto Legislativo 7/2015 (Spanish Land and Urban Regeneration Act)
- Agisoft Metashape
- Autodesk ReCap
- Revit (HBIM)
- QGIS
- CloudCompare
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The evolution of the concept of heritage1.2International charters: Athens, Venice and Washington1.3The Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape1.4Outstanding universal value1.5Authenticity and integrity1.6Tangible and intangible heritage1.7Historic ensembles and their delimitation1.8World Heritage Cities1.9Theories of restoration1.10Case study: reading the values of a historic ensemble
2.1Ley 16/1985 on Spanish Historical Heritage2.2Assets of cultural interest (BIC) and categories2.3Regional heritage legislation2.4Special protection plans2.5Catalogues of protected buildings2.6Protection levels and permitted works2.7Heritage commissions2.8Preventive urban archaeology2.9Penalty regime for heritage2.10Practical exercise: analysis of a special plan for a historic centre
3.1Urban evolution and historical cartography3.2Documentary sources and archives3.3Architectural survey of buildings3.4Photogrammetry and laser scanning3.5HBIM for heritage3.6Historical GIS and old cartography3.7Wall stratigraphy and construction phases3.8Typological analysis of buildings3.9Catalogue record sheets3.10Lab: point cloud of a façade with photogrammetry
4.1Traditional materials: stone, brick and rammed earth4.2Historic timber structures4.3Damp and salts4.4Cracks and deformations4.5Biodeterioration of stone and timber4.6Non-destructive testing4.7Structural crack monitoring4.8Integrated building diagnosis4.9Defects report4.10Practical exercise: diagnosis of a historic building
5.1Minimum intervention criteria5.2Structural consolidation of masonry5.3Strengthening compatible with historic materials5.4Lime mortars and compatible materials5.5Energy retrofitting of historic buildings5.6Building services in protected buildings5.7New uses for historic buildings5.8Accessibility in protected buildings5.9Fire safety5.10Case study: rehabilitation project for an urban palace
6.1Historic paving and its replacement6.2Street furniture and urban elements6.3Heritage lighting of monuments6.4Trees in historic urban fabric6.5Hidden infrastructure and cabling6.6Signage and interpretation6.7Advertising and shop signs6.8Accessibility in historic streets6.9Management of terraces6.10Workshop: redevelopment project for a historic street
7.1Restriction of motor traffic7.2Residential priority areas7.3Logistics in dense urban fabric7.4Adapted public transport7.5Peripheral car parks and shuttles7.6Pedestrian and cycle mobility7.7Emergency access7.8Tourism and pedestrian flows7.9Management of loading and unloading7.10Case study: mobility plan for an old town
8.1Touristification and carrying capacity8.2Short-term tourist rentals8.3Residential depopulation of the centre8.4Traditional retail and franchises8.5Facilities for residents8.6Gentrification in historic centres8.7Managing tourist flows8.8Tourist taxation and levies8.9Vitality indicators8.10Practical exercise: tourism carrying capacity study
9.1Seismic risk in historic buildings9.2Fires in historic ensembles9.3Floods and climate change9.4Cultural property protection plans9.5Heritage emergency plans9.6Vulnerability of roofs and façades9.7Risk monitoring9.8Post-disaster recovery9.9Insurance and heritage9.10Workshop: risk management plan for a historic ensemble
10.1Management plans for heritage sites10.2Historic centre offices10.3Rehabilitation grants10.4The 1.5% cultural allocation10.5Patronage and sponsorship10.6Public-private partnership in heritage10.7Public participation in conservation10.8Management indicators10.9Communication and outreach10.10Case study: management plan for a World Heritage City
11.1Urban industrial heritage11.2Reuse of factories and industrial sheds11.3Modern Movement architecture11.4The Nizhny Tagil Charter11.5Bridges and other historic infrastructure11.6Workers' neighbourhoods and industrial colonies11.7Valuing recent heritage11.8Risk of disappearance11.9Conversion experiences11.10Practical exercise: reuse proposal for an industrial complex
12.1Selection of the heritage area12.2Historical and documentary study12.3Diagnosis of values and defects12.4Protection strategy12.5Intervention proposal12.6Management and mobility plan12.7Viability and funding12.8Conclusions and future work12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is Agisoft Metashape, Autodesk ReCap, Revit (HBIM), QGIS, CloudCompare, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: photogrammetric surveys of façades, defect diagnosis with non-destructive testing and tourism carrying capacity studies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Ley 16/1985, UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972), UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (2011), Venice Charter (ICOMOS, 1964), Washington Charter (ICOMOS, 1987), Código Técnico de la Edificación (criteria for protected buildings), UNE-EN 16096, Real Decreto Legislativo 7/2015.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Agisoft Metashape, Autodesk ReCap, Revit (HBIM), QGIS and CloudCompare, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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