The Advanced Certificate in Heritage Preservation from Empire State College 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.