Local Government Management Graduate Certificate
The Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management is designed for current professional staff, elected or non-elected local government officials, and those who are interested in pursuing a career in the local government sector. The certificate can be taken by itself or in conjunction with the Master of Public Policy Administration degree or other graduate degree. A separate application for the certificate program may be required when students in a degree program wish to incorporate the certificate program.
Certificate Requirements
The Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management requires the completion of 18 credit hours. Twelve of these are the following core courses:
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| P P ADM 6180 | Governmental Budgeting and Financial Control | 3 |
| P P ADM 6340 | Seminar in City Administration | 3 |
| or P P ADM 6350 | Issues in Urban Management | |
| P P ADM 6490 | Human Resources in the Public Sector | 3 |
| POL SCI 6470 | Proseminar in Urban Politics | 3 |
| or POL SCI 6471 | Seminar in Urban Politics | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Three hours of electives are to be taken from selected courses in business administration, criminal justice, economics, political science, and public policy administration. A student may choose among these courses or other courses approved by the program director. Electives will be chosen from the following course list:
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Communities and Crime | ||
| Geospatial Analysis in the Social Sciences | ||
| Proseminar in Urban Politics | ||
| Seminar in Urban Politics | ||
| Leadership and Management in Nonprofit Organizations | ||
| Seminar in City Administration | ||
| Issues in Urban Management | ||
| Public Administration: Theory & Practice | ||
| Urban and Regional Planning and Public Policy | ||
| Leading for Strategic Impact | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Three hours of internship are also required but may be waived if the student has sufficient professional experience in the field. Any request for an exemption from the internship requirement must be submitted in writing and approved by the local government program director after a review of the student’s professional or managerial field experience. Students who receive an exemption must take another three hours of electives from courses listed above.
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Other courses may be added as advisors deem appropriate for content.
Requirements for admission to the graduate certificate program include an undergraduate degree and a GPA of 3.0 or better. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation. At least one of the letters should be from a current or former college-level instructor. Applicants must submit a two-page personal statement explaining how the certificate program fits in with the applicant’s educational and professional goals. The letters and the personal statement should be sent directly to the Public Policy Administration Program.