Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management

At a glance

Credential: graduate diploma
Credits: 18
Next start: immediate

Heritage resources management identifies the elements of the past that a society defines as its heritage, then determines how to conserve and use them in a way that respects them as a public trust.

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About Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management

The Athabasca University Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management is an 18-credit online program designed to equip you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed in the heritage field. The curriculum focuses on general principles, case studies, and varied heritage practices, culminating in a 400-hour practicum for hands-on experience. With continuous admission and the flexibility to ladder your credits into a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, this program offers a versatile and practical educational path for aspiring heritage practitioners.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree and competence in specific heritage areas.

See full Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management admission requirements

Program details

Overview

Heritage practitioners work in different types of institutions and with different types of heritage resources, but they have many common concerns. These include conserving and managing heritage, and delivering interpretive programming and services.

Athabasca University's online Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management stresses these common features while respecting the differences between practices. Our courses explore both the general and the specific through the study of:

general principles and approaches
case studies
situations representative of various types of heritage practice

This program includes a 400-hour practicum.

Why take the Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management?

When you graduate, you will have a solid foundation in the general theory and established practice of the heritage field. You will also have a flexible graduate credential that creates many opportunities for further professional or academic pursuits.

Application deadlines and start dates

Application deadline	Start date
Continuous admission basis	Students may wish to start taking courses as a non-program student prior to being accepted as a program student.

The Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management is an 18-credit online graduate program. You must complete 12 credits through Athabasca University. You may also need to take up to 4 undergraduate courses in foundational areas of heritage practice.

The Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management program has continuous admission – you can apply at any time. Most courses are online grouped study with defined start and end dates.

Routes and options

Ladder to a master's degree

All your Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management credits fully transfer into the Heritage and Social History focus area of AU's Master of Arts – Interdisciplinary Studies program. This means that you can complete a master’s degree with only an additional 15 credits.

Laddering the Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management into an Master of Arts - Interdisciplinary Studies degree

Completion times

Finish this program in as little as 2.5 years of full-time study, or work at your own pace to complete your requirements within 5 years.

Tuition and fees

A non-refundable convenience charge will be charged when using Visa or Mastercard to pay student fees. American Express is no longer an accepted method of payment. For more information on the convenience charge, please visit the Financial Services website.

The following fees are effective for courses starting Sep. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). G.S.T. is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.

program application and admission fees
Program application fee (non-refundable) required each time a person applies:	$197
Program admission fee (payable upon acceptance into the program and non-refundable)	$255
Non-program application fee (non-refundable) required only once and waived if previously an AU student:	$124

Course tuition fees (includes all required materials)

fees in canada and out
Students living in Canada: practicum fees:	$1,884¹ $2,383¹
Students living outside Canada: practicum fees:	$2,129¹ $2,628¹

¹ Graduate Diploma – Heritage Resources Management (GD-HRM) Course Tuition fees now include a Course Administration fee of $158 and Course Materials fee of $37 per course, plus the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) fees of $14 per credit.

Estimated program tuition cost (2024-2025):

The total tuition cost for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, would be $9,919 ($1,884 x 4, three-credit course equivalents, plus the $2,383 practicum fee). AUGSA, the Course Administration and Technology fee and the Course Materials fee are included in this calculation. Application and admission fees are not.

Note: One of the requirements of the graduate diploma is competence in topics covered in HERM 322, HERM 327, HERM 339, and PHIL/HERM 334. See Admission Requirements for more information.

Other fees

other fees
Transfer credit evaluation fee:	$348/course
Letter of Permission fee:	$100
Continuation fee:	$136
Course extension fee:	$334
Western Deans' Agreement administration fee (non-AU visiting students)	$250/course
Course withdrawal processing fee²:	$453
HERM 670 on-site fee (charged in addition to tuition)	$1,063
HERM 671 on-site fee (charged in addition to tuition)	$1,020
AU Graduate Student Association Fee	$14/credit

² The course withdrawal processing fee is a mandatory administrative fee charged when a student withdraws from a course. For early withdrawal only, the student will be refunded the full course tuition fees (see above) less the course withdrawal processing fee. Refer to Withdrawals.

Fee information effective Sep. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025.

Courses

In this program, you'll engage with core courses that cover foundational elements like heritage resources management and research methods, as well as a comprehensive practicum to apply your knowledge in real-world settings. You'll also have the opportunity to delve into specialized topics through elective courses, which may include subjects like architectural conservation, heritage risk management, and interpretive programming.

To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the general requirements of the Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management.

Our program regulations plans can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program.

Program regulations

Courses to explore

Below are some of the courses that our students take in this program.

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Career options

Upon completing the Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management, you'll be well-equipped for a variety of roles in heritage institutions, from managing historical sites and museums to planning and delivering interpretive programs. Your broad skill set will also open doors to further academic pursuits or careers in policy-making, consultancy, and preservation initiatives.

Careers you could pursue with this credential may include:

heritage site manager
museum curator
interpretive program planner
heritage policy analyst
cultural resource manager
historic preservation consultant
archivist
researcher in heritage studies
conservation officer
heritage tourism coordinator

Resources and links

Additional information that you need to know about AU and this program.

Program resources

Additional resources

Program contact

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