Apply to a Certificate Program

Thank you for your interest in Binghamton University's certificate programs. Certificate programs allow a student to hone in on a particular area of focus either before graduate studies begin or as an add-on.

Students can apply to a certificate program as a stand-alone applicant, add-on applicant or certificate of completion applicant. Identify which category applies to you and review the corresponding application instructions. 

Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions if you are unsure which instructions to follow.

Stand-Alone Applicants

Applicants who intend to attend Binghamton University to earn a certificate, but not a graduate degree, should use the regular graduate application to apply to a certificate program eligible for stand-alone admission.

• Available programs
  • Adolescence Special Education
  • Community Schools
  • Complex Systems Science and Engineering
  • Cybersecurity
  • Disaster Management
  • Educational Leadership
  • Forensic Health
  • Human Rights
  • Local Government Management
  • Non-Profit Administration
  • Nursing Education
  • Professional Science Management (as a complement to a STEM graduate degree)
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL): Clinically Rich Intensive Teacher Institute (CR-ITI)
  • Translation Studies/Translation Research and Instruction Program (TRIP)
• Follow these application instructions to apply as a stand-alone applicant

  1. Determine certificate program eligibility.

     If you are currently enrolled in OR applying to a graduate degree program at Binghamton University, you may apply as an add-on certificate applicant. Follow add-on applicant instructions.
     
     If you are NOT currently enrolled in OR applying to a graduate degree program at Binghamton University, continue with these instructions.

     Note: If you are an international student who holds, or hopes to obtain, an F-1 or J-1 visa, you are not eligible to study as a stand-alone certificate student. 

  2. Submit the online application and any other required application materials.

     Apply Now

     • You will need a valid email address to create an online application.
     • Upload your transcript(s) and any other required application materials for your program to the online application.
     • See the certificate programs webpage to determine if your program requires additional application materials. 
     • Scan and upload the files with care, making sure they are clear, legible and complete. The graduate admissions committee will receive the files you scan and upload.
     • Preferred file format is PDF. Other accepted file formats include .doc, .docx, .rtf, .jpg and .tif.
     • Do not mail hard (paper) copies of any application materials unless specifically requested by the Office of Graduate Admissions.
     • Pay the $75 (USD) non-refundable certificate program application fee.
       • You can use a Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express credit card. Your credit card bill serves as your receipt.
       • We are happy to be able to grant application fee waivers to CSTEP, EOP, HEOP, LSAMP Program, Project 1000, SEEK Program or TRIO Program (McNair Scholars Program, Student Support Services, Upward Bound, etc.) students. Please provide a certified letter from your program official attesting to your participation. Documents can be uploaded directly on the application or by emailing gradadmission@binghamton.edu.
       • We are happy to be able to grant application fee waivers to GEM Fellowship applicants. Please submit a copy of your GEM interface homepage indicating that your overall application status is complete. Documents can be uploaded directly on the application or by emailing gradadmission@binghamton.edu.
       • United States Armed Forces veterans and active duty service members are also eligible for an application fee waiver. Please submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) or your Status Report Pursuant to Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (as downloaded from https://scra.dmdc.osd.mil). Documents can be uploaded directly on the application or by emailing them to gradadmission@binghamton.edu.
       • Please note that a request for an application fee waiver may take 2 to 3 business days to process. Please wait for an email stating that your request has been approved before submitting your application. If you have any questions about this process, please contact us at gradadmission@binghamton.edu.
     • Submit the online application, your transcript(s) and any other required application materials by your program's application deadline. 

     Review these reminders before you apply:

     • We recommend you begin the application process at least one month before your program's application deadline.
     • Take care when selecting your program. Be sure to select from the programs with "CERT" in the title. The Office of Graduate Admissions cannot make any changes to your program once we receive and begin review of your application.
     • If you are a former Binghamton University student (undergraduate, graduate or non-degree/non-matriculated) and have changed your name, file an official name change form with the Office of Financial Aid and Student Records before submitting an application.

  3. Receive your admission decision.

     Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email from the Office of Graduate Admissions. (Add "gradadmission@binghamton.edu" to your email address book or contact list. Don't forget to check your spam folder!) If you have been accepted, you will also receive an admission letter.

  4. If accepted, confirm your intent to enroll.

     Confirm your intent to enroll at Binghamton University by paying the admission deposit. Visit the Enrollment Intent and Admission Deposit webpage for instructions. Then, review the new student information you receive via email. See the New Student webpage for general information for new graduate students. 
     
     Note that, during the semester in which you plan to graduate, you must submit the Graduate Application for Degree/Certificate (GAFD). 

Add-On Applicants

Applicants who are currently enrolled in OR who are currently applying to a Binghamton graduate degree program can follow the add-on application process for certificates available as either add-on or stand-alone programs. 

• Available programs

  Add-on only certificate programs:

  • Asian and Asian American Studies
  • Evolutionary Studies
  • Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention
  • German Cultural Studies
  • Medieval and Renaissance Studies
  • Professional Science Master's
    • Biomedical Anthropology
    • Geography
    • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Watershed Studies and Management

  Programs eligible for both standalone and add-on certificate applicants:

  • Adolescence Special Education
  • Community Schools
  • Complex Systems Science and Engineering
  • Cybersecurity
  • Disaster Management
  • Educational Leadership
  • Forensic Health
  • Human Rights
  • Local Government Management
  • Non-Profit Administration
  • Nursing Education
  • Professional Science Management (as a complement to a STEM graduate degree)
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL): Clinically Rich Intensive Teacher Institute (CR-ITI)
  • Translation Studies/Translation Research and Instruction Program (TRIP)
• Follow these application instructions to apply as an add-on applicant

  1. Determine certificate program eligibility.

     If you are NOT currently enrolled in OR applying to a graduate degree program at Binghamton University, you may apply only to certain programs as a stand-alone certificate applicant. Follow stand-alone applicant instructions.  

     If you are currently enrolled in OR applying to a graduate degree program at Binghamton University, continue with these instructions. 

  2. Submit the application form.

     If you are currently enrolled in a graduate degree program, confirm that you meet certificate program admission requirements with the certificate program director and then complete the Add-On Certificate Application Form. Then, return the form via the myBinghamton portal via the Financial Aid and Student Records Documents Submission link by the add/drop deadline in the semester in which you plan to graduate. You are encouraged, however, to submit the form in earlier semesters. This form serves as record of your request for admission to and enrollment in the certificate program.
     
     Note that during the semester in which you plan to graduate, you must submit the Graduate Application for Degree/Certificate (GAFD) by the GAFD deadline.

     If you are currently applying to a graduate degree program, complete your graduate degree program application online. Then, if you are admitted to the graduate degree program, confirm your intent to enroll at Binghamton University by paying the admission deposit. Visit the Enrollment Intent and Admissions Deposit webpage for more information. Then, follow the instructions directly above to submit the Add-On Certificate Application form. Note that if you are not admitted to the graduate degree program, you may apply only to certain programs as a stand-alone certificate applicant. See stand-alone applicant instructions.

Certificate of Completion Applicants

Binghamton University offers certificates of completion in college/university teaching and community college teaching. Students who are currently enrolled in a Binghamton graduate degree program are eligible to apply for a certificate of completion, and should contact Associate Dean of the Graduate School Andreas Duus Pape at apape@binghamton.edu to express their interest. 

• Available programs
  • Teaching - College/University
  • Teaching - Community College

  Contact Associate Dean of the Graduate School Andreas Duus Pape at apape@binghamton.edu to express your interest. 

• Follow these instructions for certificate of completion programs

  To declare your intent to pursue the certificate, develop and submit your learning contract. Your learning contract will be a proposal (no longer than two pages in length) documenting how and when you intend to fulfill the requirements for the teaching certificate of completion. You will work closely with your graduate director to create this document. There are various ways to fulfill the requirements, and your plan should be individualized for your own course of study.

  Once you have written your learning contract, submit copies to your graduate director and to the Graduate School at graduate@binghamton.edu.