Program Overview

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Sector Management

Overview

The Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Sector Management is designed for professionals in or aiming to obtain management positions who wish to enhance their formal training. The graduate certificate's five-course program of study offers four areas of specialization.

Program of Study

The certificate program is designed to provide highly practical knowledge that can help professionals reach their career goals in public service. The program can be completed entirely online or with a combination of online and on-campus classes. The program does not require previous graduate study.

Required Courses

• Quantitative Methods Requirement (choose one)
  • Public and Nonprofit Financial Management
  • Data, Models, and Decisions
  • Statistics for Public Managers and Policy Analysts
• Theory and Practice Requirement (choose one)
  • Foundations of Public Administration
  • Principles of Public Economics
  • Foundations of Public Management
• Concentration Requirement
  • Choose three electives from one of the concentration areas below.

Concentration Areas

Public Management

Prepare for managerial and supervisory careers by learning about organizational behavior, budgeting, planning, and decision-making within the sphere of public service.

• Electives (choose three)
  • Foundations of Public Administration
  • Valuing People in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
  • Foundations of Public Management
  • Performance Measurement and Contracting in Government
  • Managing Diversity and Inclusion in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
  • Managing Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
  • Strategic Planning and Management

Public Economics and Finance

Strengthen your skills in budgeting and financial analysis by improving your understanding of public economics and finance.

• Electives (choose three)
  • Public and Nonprofit Financial Management
  • Principles of Public Economics
  • Performance Measurement and Contracting in Government
  • Nonprofit Financial Management
  • Public Budgeting
  • Economics of Public Policy

Information Technology and Management

Deepen your understanding of information technologies and learn how to develop policy, management, and technology solutions that support public services.

• Electives (choose three)
  • Data, Models, and Decisions
  • Strategic Management of Information Technology
  • Comparative Digital Government
  • Business Dynamics: Simulation Modeling for Decision-Making
  • Leading Transformation in the Digital World
  • Data Science for the Public Good

Public Policy

Intensify your economic and analytic skills and learn how to be a more effective policy administrator or advocate.

• Electives (choose three)
  • Principles of Public Economics
  • Statistics for Public Managers and Policy Analysts
  • Politics and Policy
  • Public Policy Analysis
  • Inequality and Public Policy
  • Evaluation of Public Sector Programs
  • Economics of Public Policy
  • Public Health Politics and Policy: Domestic and Global Perspectives

Admissions Requirements

Deadlines

• Fall: August 1
• Spring: January 1
• Summer: May 1

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Resume
• Statement of goals
  • The statement is generally one to two pages discussing what you have to offer the program and what you wish to get out of the program. It should include a brief description of the applicant's field of interest, related background, desired area of study and research emphasis or career goals.
• One or two letters of recommendation are encouraged but not required for admission.

Additional Information

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.