Public Management Certificate

School of Public Administration, College of Public Affairs & Community Service

Vision Statement

The purpose of the certificate in public management is to allow working professionals with careers in the public sector or graduate students in a related field of study (such as political science or city and regional planning) to expand their educational background and to enhance their knowledge in the area of public management. The graduate certificate is designed to extend students' understanding of theory and practice in the field of public management.

Program Contact Information

Tara Bryan, PhD, Graduate Program Chair (GPC)
111 College of Public Affairs & Community Service (CPACS)
402.554.2751
tbryan@unomaha.edu

Applicant Advisor

Meagan Van Gelder, EdD, Senior Advisor
111 College of Public Affairs & Community Service (CPACS) 
402.554.3480
mvangelder@unomaha.edu

Current Student Advisor

James Harrold, PhD, Advisor
111 College of Public Affairs & Community Service (CPACS) 
402.554.6702
jharrold@unomaha.edu

Program Website

Other Program Related Information

The certificate in public management can be obtained online. These courses can be transferred into the MPA program upon acceptance into the MPA program.

Admissions

General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria

Program-Specific Requirements

Application Deadlines (Spring 2024, and Fall 2024)

  • Fall: June 1
  • Spring: October 1

Other Requirements

  • Students must have 3 years of work experience in the public sector.
  • The general prerequisite for admission to the graduate certificate in public management program is a four-year bachelors' degree with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA of the junior-senior year (last 50-60 credit hours).
  • English Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the U.S., OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement in order to be considered for admission. 
    • Internet-based TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 110
  • Statement of Purpose: The statement of purpose should be 2-4 pages double spaced, answering the following questions:
    • What are your goals?
    • Why are you pursuing the certificate?
  • Resume
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses
PA 8050FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC ADMINSTRATION3
PA 8090ORGANIZATION THEORY AND BEHAVIOR3
PA 8100ADVANCED MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS3
Elective Courses
Select two of the following:6
MANAGING INFORMATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
ADMINISTRATIVE ETHICS AND LEADERSHIP
MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT BUDGETING
INTRODUCTION TO THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR
SEMINAR IN GRANT WRITING
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
FUND RAISING IN PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
SPECIAL TOPICS PUBLIC ADMIN
PLANNING, PREPAREDNESS, AND MITIGATION
RESPONSE, RECOVERY & RESILIENCE
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
SEMINAR IN URBAN STUDIES
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING & SOCIAL CHANGE
Total Credits15