CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

The Graduate Certificate in City Management is based on the International City/County Management Association's inventory of 17 Practices for effective local government management and is a 15-credit (5 courses) program.

Required courses: (3 courses):

• MPA 8500: Effective City Management
• MPA 8550: Urban Politics and Government
• MPA 8031: Financial Management 

Elective courses: (6 credits)

Students choose six credits of electives from the following courses:

• MPA 8400: Strategic Planning (3 credits)
• MPA 8800: Managing Public Networks (3 credits)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Land-Use and Zoning (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Performance Measurement (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Economic Development Strategies (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Labor Relations (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Program Evaluation (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Effective Public Affairs (1 credit)
• MPA 8012 and MPA 8013 (Individual Research I and II) may also be considered for the certificate with the permission of the MPA Director.

The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management was designed based on best practices in nonprofit education as well as through consultations with students, alumni, and nonprofit professionals and is a 15-credit (5 courses) program.

Required courses (3 courses):

• MPA 8031: Financial Management
• MPA 8600: Effective Nonprofit Management
• MPA 8700: Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations

Elective courses (2 courses):
Students choose six credits of electives from the following courses:

• MPA 8041: Human Centered Management
• MPA 8100: Decision-Making
• MPA 8199: Cultural Competency
• MPA 8200: Strategic Communication
• MPA 8300: Leadership Ethics
• MPA 8400: Strategic Planning
• MPA 8800: Managing Public Networks
• MPA 8900: Public Policy
• MPA 8299 Topic: Land-Use and Zoning (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Leading Social Innovation (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Economic Development Strategy (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Program Evaluation (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Effective Public Affairs (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Performance Measurement (1 credit)
• MPA 8299 Topic: Marketing in the Cultural Sector (1 credit)

In addition to the above electives, students may select one of the following Political Science courses:

• PSC 8270: International Political Economy
  
• PPSC 8230: International Organization
  
• MPA 8012 and MPA 8013 (Individual Research I and II) may also be considered for the certificate with the permission of the MPA Director.

The Department of Public Administration has partnered with the Gender and Women’s Studies Program to offer a combined MPA with a Certificate in Gender and Women's Studies (GWS). This combined program will provide a unique opportunity to MPA students who are interested in pursuing careers in organizations designed to promote gender equality and eliminate gender-based oppression.

The combined Masters/Certificate Program will require students to take 39 credits (instead of the 36 credits required for the MPA degree), if the MPA student qualifies for an internship waiver. If MPA 8010 is not waived, the combined MPA/GWS Certificate Program will require 42 credits.

Program Objectives:

• Provide students with the practical knowledge for the establishment and advancement of nonprofit organizations, particularly those related to gender.
• Educate students to become knowledgeable administrators and leaders in promoting gender equality, by giving them analytic and practical tools to navigate a shifting landscape of gender and sexuality in a globally diverse, media-saturated world.  

Admission and Completion Requirements

Applicants must be evaluated and accepted by both the Public Administration Department for its Masters program and the GWS program for its GWS Certificate program. The same admission standards that apply for the MPA will apply for students in the MPA/GWS Certificate program.

Curriculum 

Total Credits: 39 to 42 (MPA 27-30 credits, depending on the internship + GWS 12 credits)

MPA: 27-30 credits:

• MPA 8011: Public Administration Theory
• MPA 8021: Leadership Ethics
• MPA 8031: Financial Management
• MPA 8041: Human Centered Management
• MPA 8051: Applied Data Analysis
• MPA 8061: Organization Theory
• 3 elective MPA courses
• MPA 8010: Management Internship (if needed)
• The remaining 9 credits required for the MPA are fulfilled by 3 GWS courses.

GWS Certificate: 15 credits

• GWS 8000: Critical Perspectives on Gender
• 3 elective GWS courses
• The remaining 3 credits required for the GWS certificate are fulfilled by one MPA course.

For more information about the joint degree and certificate program, please contact Dr. Lauren Miltenberger, Interim MPA Program Director. 

Any current MPA student interested in pursuing a Certificate in Nonprofit Management or City Management must complete and submit the Certificate Intent Form for review by the Department and Office of Graduate Studies.

Upon finishing the courses for the certificate, the Department will verify completion of the appropriate courses as well as GPA and then forward to the Office of Graduate Studies for processing. Certificates will be mailed directly to the students at the conclusion of each semester: September 1, December 31 and May 31.