The Advanced Certificate in Heritage Preservation builds on the idea of public history as the collection, preservation and dissemination of information about the past, beyond the academic program and to the general public. Heritage preservation is dedicated to preserving, conserving and protecting buildings, objects, landscapes and other artifacts of historical significance. Preservationists and conservators (those who actively restore and rehabilitate historic artifacts) work in organizations like archives, libraries, museums, historical societies, public policy organizations, schools, government organizations and parks, churches, media, and corporations.

Program Delivery and Tuition Rate

This certificate program is delivered through online courses and a required internship and is billed at the non-MBA rate.

Admission 

Admission to this graduate certificate program is not competitive. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. 

Application Requirements 

A complete application includes: 

• Official transcripts with proof of a conferred bachelor’s degree 

Start Terms 

This program admits new students in the: 

• Fall 
• Spring 
• Summer 

Deadlines 

Application deadlines do change from term to term. For specific deadlines, please see the Graduate Admissions Deadline page. 

How to Apply 

To apply, visit the SUNY Empire application portal and select Graduate: https://www.sunyempire.edu/application.html 

Students may begin this 12-credit certificate in the fall, spring or summer terms. The required courses and suggested sequence are as follows:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PBHS 6040	Museums and Public History: Theory & Practices	3
PBHS 6245	Preservation Material & History	3
PBHS 6240	Preservation Policy & Law	3
PBHS 7005	Public History Internship	3
Total Credits		12

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

• Have awareness of cultural, technological, economic, geographic and political factors that shape the built environment; of building traditions of cultural groups and historic periods that define the Northeast and the Greater United States.
• Understand heritage preservation terms, concepts, theoretical and methodological foundations; of legal, regulatory, and economic concepts impacting preservation; of treatment standards for historic properties; of cultural resource management business and ethical principles.
• Conduct research using primary and secondary information resources; to survey, document, and communicate cultural artifacts, buildings, sites, districts, and cultural landscapes according to professional (Secretary of Interior) standards5; to interpret the meaning of built environments to a larger audience.