Experiential Learning at Binghamton
Classroom learning builds a strong foundation—but experience brings it to life! Gaining hands-on experience through internships, research, studying abroad, campus jobs, or community engagement helps you apply what you’re learning, discover your interests, and build the skills employers look for. Whether you’re exploring career paths or preparing for graduate school, real-world experience sets you apart and gives you the confidence to move forward with purpose.
Experiential education also strengthens your resume. Whether you’re applying for jobs, graduate programs, or fellowships, having real-world experience clearly demonstrates initiative, professionalism, and readiness for the workforce. Employers consistently report that candidates with relevant hands-on experience are better prepared and more competitive in the hiring process.
In short, experiential education is one of the most effective ways to set yourself up for success. It helps you explore interests, build confidence, expand your network, and, most importantly, stand out in today’s competitive job market. By investing your time in these opportunities during college, you’re laying a foundation for stronger job prospects, a more compelling resume, and greater long-term earnings. If you’re serious about your future, experiential learning isn’t optional—it’s essential.
So let’s see what we offer here at Binghamton!
Real world experiences like workplace internships, diving into research projects, lending a hand through community-engaged learning, or even studying abroad, really boost what you learn in the classroom. They give you a chance to apply your knowledge, figure out what you truly enjoy, and build super important skills that employers are always looking for, like critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and adaptability. You’ll spend significant time and effort, which helps you invest more deeply in your studies and future career, and you’ll also get to interact closely with professors and peers, receiving valuable feedback along the way.
In fact, research shows these opportunities can lead to higher grades, more job offers, and even better starting salaries after you graduate. Students who take part in even just one significant experiential education program, like many of those at Binghamton, get initial job offers in half the time and even have starting salaries about $2,000 higher on average!
Plus, these experiences are especially powerful for students who might be starting college with fewer advantages, really helping to level the playing field and ensure everyone gets a fair shot at success. Here at Binghamton University, we’re all about making sure you have these amazing chances to learn, grow, and be successful both during your time here at Binghamton, and your time beyond!
And if you don’t believe us, feel free to check our references!
What can I do at Binghamton?
When you think of gaining experience, the odds are that you are thinking of a few ‘big name’ experiences. You’re thinking about how your relative talked about their first job, or you’re seeing a friend’s reels about their study abroad experience, or maybe reading endless Linkedin posts about getting that big internship.
These experience, and a few others, are what most people think of when they think college. They provide a wide range of experiences and learning, everything from highly technical knowledge to the soft skills and entry level work experience that you will need to be successful later in life.
Ever wonder what your future career actually feels like?
Internships are your chance to gain hands-on experience and apply classroom learning in the real world, helping you discover what you truly enjoy and build those essential skills employers are looking for! Here at Binghamton, our Fleishman Career Center makes it easy to explore thousands of opportunities—local, national, or even international—through hireBING, and career consultants ready to help you craft your search strategy.
Plus, you can even earn academic credit for your experience through our CDCI program, which provides professional development and enhances your learning.
Ready to turn the world into your classroom and embark on an unforgettable adventure?
Study abroad is a phenomenal experience that lets you dive deep into new cultures, perfect a foreign language, and gain international experience that truly makes your resume shine! Here at Binghamton, you have access to a huge variety of programs—from exploring cultural differences in Morocco to gaining hands-on internship experience in Italy—with options both through Binghamton and the entire SUNY system. You’ll develop incredible cross-cultural communication skills, boost your confidence, and become a more independent thinker by navigating new environments.
Plus, Binghamton offers funding opportunities to help support your global adventures. So, get ready to make professional connections, immerse yourself in this great big world!
Ready to apply your awesome classroom knowledge to make a real difference in the community?
Community-engaged learning is a fantastic way to become an active, engaged citizen and tackle real-world challenges right alongside your neighbors! This hands-on experience helps you develop valuable skills like flexibility, critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, communication, and teamwork, preparing you for success in both the workplace and civic life. At Binghamton, our Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) offers a variety of opportunities, including credit-based courses, voter engagement, and volunteer placements. You’ll get to apply what you’re learning in real-world settings and reflect on your experiences, growing your confidence and expanding your professional network. So get ready to explore new ideas, drive change, and prepare for your future while giving back!
Ready to apply your awesome classroom knowledge to make a real difference in the community and tackle real-world challenges right alongside your neighbors?
Volunteering is an excellent way to stay engaged with your community, and help build something right here in your own backyard! At Binghamton, our Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) has listings of dozens of local organizations that need your help! Volunteers can do everything from help teach youth about technology to cleaning up their local parks.
Want to earn some cash while gaining awesome real-world experience right here on campus?
Student employment is an incredible opportunity to develop valuable skills and even help cover your tuition or living expenses. It’s more than just a job; these roles help you hone essential abilities like time management and directly prepare you for your future career. You’ll explore different fields, grow your professional network, and build confidence—all while making a difference right where you study. So, dive into on-campus jobs and get ready to prepare for incredible post-graduation success!
Ready to unleash your inner innovator and turn your curiosity into groundbreaking discoveries?
Undergraduate research and creative activities are experience that let you dive deep into your passions and generate new knowledge or artistic works! Here at Binghamton, you can work alongside nationally known faculty experts through unique programs like First-year Research Immersion (FRI) or the Summer Scholars and Artists Fellowship, spanning everything from STEM to humanities and arts. Engaging in these experiences helps you hone essential skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication, making your resume shine. So, get ready to explore new ideas, drive change, and prepare for incredible post-graduation success by making a real impact!
Ready to finish your academic journey with a bang and showcase everything you’ve learned?
Thesis, Capstone, and Honors courses are your chance to create a comprehensive project at the end of the course (or your entire degree) with everything you’ve learned! These courses involve unique research, practical projects, or presentations where you apply your knowledge to real-world problems, helping you hone essential skills like research, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and project management!
You’ll get to gain expertise on a specific topic and take ownership of your own project and goals, often working closely with nationally known faculty experts. This hands-on, culminating experience is perfect for inspiring future research, projects, or even graduate study, giving you a major leg up. So get ready to make a real impact, expand your professional network, and prepare for incredible post-graduation success through these challenging and rewarding academic adventures!
What if I need something a little bit less time intensive?
Beyond those big, intensive experience, Binghamton also offers a wide range of other experiences!
Elevate your career readiness with the Fleishman Center’s Skills Lab, a dynamic program designed to equip you with sought-after industry skills. These 75-90 minute sessions offer expert guidance from alumni and employer partners, providing both career path insights and hands-on skill development. You’ll practice tangible, in-demand job skills, from project management to personal branding, directly applicable to real-world workplace situations. Participation also helps you expand your professional network and provides a new skill to confidently add to your resume and discuss in job interviews.
Open to all majors, Skills Labs are an invaluable way to stimulate your professional growth and become a more qualified candidate.
Microcredentials and badges are recognized credentials that verify specific skills and competencies. Unlike traditional degrees, they are generally offered in shorter or more flexible timespans, are narrowly focused with a clear connection to workforce needs, and can be implemented quickly. They validate that specific skills have been achieved, are of a quality that academic credit could be issued, and are offered in varying formats such as online, in-person, or hybrid, making them accessible to a broad audience including traditional students, adult learners, and professionals.
Binghamton University’s microcredentials are approved through a faculty review process and are designed to provide either a stackable pathway towards a degree or the skills, knowledge, and experience to obtain a job or advance in a current position.
Forage is a platform dedicated to helping motivated students secure great jobs through asynchronous online job simulations!
These are risk-free ways to experience a “day-in-the-life” with leading employers. Through self-paced, pre-recorded video-guided tasks that typically take 1-4 hours, you can practice industry-specific skills, build confidence for applications, and earn a certificate to showcase on your resume and LinkedIn.
No applications or prior experience are required, and job simulations are available from governments, for profit companies, nonprofits, and even Fortune 500 companies!
Please note that in order to access the Portal, you will need to make a free account.
Earn paid, short-term experience through professional projects that are often remote and typically range from 5 to 40 hours. These opportunities allow you to explore potential career paths and demonstrate valuable skills.
Projects are available year-round from companies of all sizes, from Fortune 100 corporations to emerging startups. Access these unique opportunities by creating your Binghamton University student profile on the Parker Dewey platform!
Adobe’s Digital Experience Certification Program for Universities equips students with in-demand skills in customer experience, marketing analytics, and digital commerce using Adobe Experience Cloud tools. Through role-based, tiered certifications, students can become certified as Business Practitioners, Developers, or Architects. The program includes self-paced learning, hands-on practice, and official Adobe exams, all delivered through an online portal. Certifications are industry-recognized and designed to enhance students’ job readiness and credibility with employers.
Initial certification is half-price for Binghamton students, and most credentials can be renewed for free every two years. Initial certifications are eligible for the Fleishman Professional Development Fund as well!
Please note that in order to access the Portal, you will need to make a free account.
Google Certificates are flexible online training programs designed to help you gain job-ready skills in high-growth fields. These courses are created by experts at Google and cover topics such as data analytics, cybersecurity, project management, and more!
Since these programs are entirely online and self-paced, you can work on them at your own speed while balancing your academic coursework at Binghamton University. Certificates involve up to eight unique courses, and take around six months to complete.
Earning an intensive and industry-accepted certificate is a great way to strengthen your resume and show potential employers that you have hands-on experience in a specialized area.
Please note that in order to access the courses, you will need to make a free Coursera account with your Binghamton Email.
