Certificate students typically major in a science or engineering but may major in any discipline except those that are part of the Woodrow Wilson School curriculum, that is politics, economics, history, sociology or psychology. Certificate students will be awarded the Woodrow Wilson School's certificate upon graduation. Certificate students apply to the School in the same manner as concentrators and are considered for admission on the same basis.

The course requirements for certificate students are generally the same as those of regular concentrators in the School except that they take fewer courses.

Certificate students do their junior independent work in their home departments. They also take Policy Task Forces like WWS concentrators and receive course credit for them.

Certificate students fulfill the senior thesis requirement in one of two ways:

1. Writing a senior thesis in their home department that has a substantial public policy component; or
2. Writing a senior thesis in the Woodrow Wilson School.

The Woodrow Wilson School will no longer have a general certificate program for nonmajors, although certificate programs in special areas of interest are under consideration.