Program Overview

Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit and Public Management

The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit and Public Management consists of 21 credit hours of graduate coursework in Public Administration with an emphasis in either Nonprofit or Public Management. This certificate is intended to provide existing and aspiring middle managers in nonprofit and public organizations with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in carrying out their administrative responsibilities.

Admission Requirements

This program is designed to meet the learning goals of individuals with interest and/or any level of experience in nonprofit and public agencies. Students who complete courses in the Graduate Certificate may subsequently apply to the MPA program (all regular admissions criteria apply) and transfer those courses toward degree completion. Students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.

• One transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.
  • Copy of current professional resume.
  • Personal Essay (250 word statement): To qualify for the Certificate in Nonprofit and Public Management, students must meet the threshold requirement of at least six years of significant work experience (or two years of supervisory responsibility) in a combination of the public, private or nonprofit sectors. Briefly describe how you meet this requirement and provide detail on the amount and scope of your organizational experience; programmatic and/or management experience; line management responsibility; and budgetary responsibility. Describe your career goals and how you believe the Certificate will help you advance to the next level of leadership responsibility.
  • Copies of official course descriptions and syllabi for all non-PSU graduate courses that you would like evaluated for transfer credit may be requested by the admissions committee.
  • Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional references. Letters should comment on the applicant's potential to succeed in a graduate program.

Program Objectives

We aim to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and efficacy of those who have responsibility for managing nonprofit and public organizations, by providing them with the following knowledge and skills to achieve the following learning objectives:

• Understand the distinctive role responsibilities as middle managers in the nonprofit and public sector.
• Develop or enhance knowledge and skills to manage organizational systems, such as budgeting, personnel, management information.
• Develop or enhance knowledge and skills to manage organizational design, change and evaluation.
• Develop or enhance knowledge and skills to manage inter-organizational and inter-jurisdictional relationships.
• Develop or enhance knowledge and skills to manage conflict.
• Develop or enhance knowledge and skills to manage cultural and organizational diversity.

Course of Study

Students must take the following two current courses:

• PA 511- Public Administration (3 credit hours)
• PA 540 - Administrative Theory and Behavior (3 credit hours)

Students must take any five of the following current courses, and are encouraged to meet with an advisor to plan a suitable complement of courses to meet their individual interests and professional development needs. Substitutions may be made with permission of the academic advisor. As indicated below, courses may be drawn from any of six content/skill areas. All courses listed are 3 graduate credit hours. Through these courses, students will achieve outcomes that correspond to the specific objectives listed above.

General Management

• PA 513 - Administrative Ethics and Values
• PA 520 - Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations
• PA 522 - Governance of Nonprofit Organizations
• PA 536 - Strategic Planning

Finance & Budgeting

• PA 524 - Financial Management in Nonprofit Organizations
• PA 525 - Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations
• PA 526 - Fundamentals of Fundraising in Nonprofit Organizations
• PA 582 - Public Budgeting
• PA 583 - Advanced Budgeting Concepts and Techniques
• PA 585 - Financial Management in the Public Sector

Leadership & Human Resource Management

• PA 514 - Global Leadership and Management
• PA 517 - Leadership Development for Public Organizations
• PA 528 - Organizational Leadership and Decision-Making in Nonprofit Organizations
• PA 570 - Environmental and Natural Resource Leadership
• PA 590 - Human Resource Management in the Public Sector
• PA 592 - Volunteerism and Volunteer Management
• PA 594 - Affirmative Action Planning
• PA 598 - Values Based Management

Community Building & Communication

• PA 527 - New/Emerging Nonprofits: Development and Management
• PA 541 - Social Entrepreneurship
• PA 543 - Creating Collaborative Communities
• PA 545 - Organizational Development
• PA 549 - Crosscultural Communication in the Public Sector

Public & Nonprofit Sector

• PA 521 - History and Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector
• PA 523 - NGOs: Nonprofits on a World Stage
• PA 533 - Public Policy: Origins and Processes
• PA 534 - Administrative Law and Policy Implementation

Specific Management Skills

• PA 538 - Advocacy and Political Participation by Nonprofit Organizations
• PA 550 - Managing Information Resources
• PA 555 - Program Evaluation and Management
• PA 558 - Public Productivity Analysis