The primary target of this certificate is people who are either currently working in a governmental office (whether political or not), or who are seeking employment with the government and have not yet completed a college degree. Government employees face very different rules, constraints, and work situations than do private sector employees. This certificate will help provide public sector employees with the skills needed to face these challenges.

Student Learning Goals

The certificate is meant to help students develop skills that would be useful for working in government offices or non-profit agencies. These skills include written and oral communication skills, as well as skills in budgeting and managing personnel in a political environment, the making of public policy, and the legal environment in which government agencies operate.

The certificate requires 15 hours, with a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 to be awarded a certificate.

Core Program

• POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics

Certificate Specific Requirements

Students must successfully complete any four of the courses below:

• POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society
• POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States
• POLS-Y 306 State Politics in the United States
• POLS-Y 401 Topics in Political Science - Seminar in Grant Writing, cross listed with PSY-P 457
• POLS-Y 402 Politics of the Budgetary Process
• POLS-Y 403 Legal Issues in Public Bureaucracy
• POLS-Y 404 Political Issues in Public Personnel Management