This course is designed to introduce students to the history, theory, and current issues of preservation practice in the U.S. and beyond. We will explore theories of what, how, and why we preserve, within the context of the evolution of the field of historic preservation. The focus will be on the basics and on providing as large and varied a framework for understanding current preservation practice and issues as possible in one semester. It is also hoped that the course will help students explore their areas of interest a bit more deeply or to develop areas of interest in new topics. The course is centered around weekly class meetings that consist of brief lectures and seminar discussions on assigned readings. Writing exercises will be stressed, and we will have several research projects, field trips, and guest lectures.