diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yml
index fc93c1b..1d3f862 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yml
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         python: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
+        django: ["NO_DJANGO", "5.2"]  # add more versions as we add support
+      # exclude incompatible python+django combinations if needed
+      # OR limit django+python to specific combinations to avoid too many builds
     defaults:
       run:
         working-directory: .
@@ -40,8 +43,11 @@ jobs:
           cache: 'pip'
           cache-dependency-path: '**/pyproject.toml'
 
-      - name: Install package with dependencies
-        run: pip install -e ".[test]"
+      # test with and without django based on build matrix
+      - name: Install package with dependencies (and optionally django)
+        run: |
+          if [ "${{ matrix.django }}" != "NO_DJANGO"]; then pip install -q Django==${{ matrix.django }} pytest-django; fi
+          pip install -e '.[test]'
 
       # for all versions but the one we use for code coverage, run normally
       - name: Run unit tests without code coverage
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c1b662d..928be95 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@ Use the `@name` notation to specify the branch or tag; e.g., to install developm
 pip install git+https://github.com/dh-tech/undate-python@develop#egg=undate
 ```
 
+### Optional Django Support (PRELIMINARY / IN PROGRESS)
+
+To install with optional Django integration field support:
+```console
+pip install undate[django]
+```
+
+
 ## Example Usage
 
 Often humanities and cultural data include imprecise or uncertain
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index fcebbbd..ec6e469 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13",
+    "Framework :: Django",
+    "Framework :: Django :: 5.2",    
     "Intended Audience :: Developers",
     "Intended Audience :: Science/Research",
     "License :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software License",
@@ -53,9 +55,16 @@ classifiers = [
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 docs = ["sphinx>=7.0.0", "alabaster", "myst-parser", "myst-parser[linkify]"]
+django = ["django>=5.2"]
 test = ["pytest>=7.2", "pytest-ordering", "pytest-cov"]
 notebooks = ["jupyterlab", "pandas", "treon", "altair"]
-check = ["undate[docs]", "undate[notebooks]", "mypy", "ruff"]
+check = [
+    "undate[docs]",
+    "undate[notebooks]",
+    "mypy",
+    "ruff",
+    "pip>=25.3",
+]
 dev = [
     "pre-commit>=2.20.0",
     "twine",
@@ -87,6 +96,3 @@ markers = [
     "last : run marked tests after all others",
     "first : run marked tests before all others",
 ]
-
-[tool.mypy]
-plugins = ["numpy.typing.mypy_plugin"]
diff --git a/src/undate/django/__init__.py b/src/undate/django/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/src/undate/test_utils.py b/src/undate/test_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3cc8bdb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/undate/test_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""
+Utility decorators for unit tests that require django to be installed,
+or not installed. To use, import into unit test and apply
+to test method or class:
+
+```python
+
+from undate.test_utils import skipif_no_django, skipif_django
+
+@skipif_no_django
+def test_django_functionality():
+    ....
+```
+
+"""
+
+import pytest
+from types import ModuleType
+
+django: ModuleType | None = None
+try:
+    import django  # type: ignore[import-not-found, no-redef]
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
+skipif_no_django = pytest.mark.skipif(django is None, reason="requires Django")
+
+skipif_django = pytest.mark.skipif(django is not None, reason="requires no Django")
diff --git a/tests/test_django/test_django_setup.py b/tests/test_django/test_django_setup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9fa39a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_django/test_django_setup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+try:
+    import django
+except ImportError:
+    django = None
+
+from undate.test_utils import skipif_no_django, skipif_django
+
+
+@skipif_no_django
+def test_django():
+    assert django is not None
+
+
+@skipif_django
+def test_no_django():
+    assert django is None