Program Overview

Program Overview

The Public Administration Graduate Certificate is a professionally oriented program that emphasizes management skills required by individuals who work or plan to work in public administration. This certificate program provides a comprehensive examination of how governments use fiscal resources to plan their activities, covering major topics such as taxation, budgets, programs, management, and fiscal transfer payments.

Program Requirements

• The program requires a minimum of 12 credit hours.
• Many graduate certificate programs require more than 12 credit hours.
• No more than one 400-level course (3-4 units) may be used on a graduate certificate program.
• No more than twenty-five percent of the units required for the certificate program may be transferred from another university.
• A 400-level course (undergraduate course) completed at another university is not eligible for transfer credit.
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be achieved to obtain a graduate certificate.
• No more than three units of coursework with a Grade of "C" may be used in a certificate program.

Admission Requirements

General Admission

• Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
• Transcripts are required.
• An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent, is required.

Individual Program Admission

• Completion of a bachelor's degree in a closely related discipline is required for some programs.
• For those applying for fall 2026 and beyond, there are no additional admission requirements beyond admission to the university.

Certificate Requirements

• The certificate requires 12 units, including:
  • POS 541, POS 543 (6 units)
  • Select from the following courses (6 units): POS 501, POS 527, POS 528, POS 531, POS 532, POS 533, POS 534, POS 535, POS 536, POS 537, POS 538, POS 539, POS 541, POS 542, POS 543, POS 544, POS 571
• With advisor approval, students may choose POS 552 or a 600-level POS course.
• Up to 3 units may be transferred into this program from another university.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will learn incremental and rational approaches to decision-making, influences of bureaucratic routines, strategies for increasing organizational effectiveness, and how to conduct analyses of the administration of human resources in public organizations.

Program Format

The certificate may be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program or as a stand-alone certificate, and it is available online.