Graduate Certificate in Public Management
Purpose
The Public Administration Program at the University of West Georgia offers a 12 hour course of study leading to a Graduate Certificate in Public Management (GCPM). The GCPM is designed to meet the needs of practicing and future public administrators who already have a bachelor's degree and who desire to:
- broaden their understanding of the concepts and techniques of public management; or
- pursue the certificate with the goal of career advancement but do not find it necessary or feasible to complete the MPA degree; or
- continue their education with the goal of earning a graduate degree in public administration (MPA).
Learning Outcomes
Certificate students will demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of:
- Public service values including ethics, democracy, and constitutional principles
- Generalist management techniques and skills
- The linkage between theory and practice
Admission
The GCPM is open to all prospective students who have a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 2.5 or above. Any bachelor's degree meets the requirements for admission. Prospective students must complete the Graduate School online application form and submit it along with official college transcripts prior to being accepted into the GCPM. Students seeking admission to the GCPM register in a non-degree/post-baccalaureate status. Courses taken by GCPM students are the same as those taken by MPA students. Students must complete their program of study within four years from the date of admission and receive no less than a 3.0 GPA.
All courses for the GCPM are offered regularly and can be taken in any order. Courses are offered in Carrollton and Newnan at night and on the weekends.
Students deciding to apply for admission to the Masters in Public Administration (MPA) Program after completing the GCPM must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and meet all other MPA admission requirements. Students who have completed the GCPM may apply up to 9 credit hours toward the MPA degree within six years of completion and award of the certificate.
Certificate in European Union Studies
A certificate in European Union Studies can be earned in one of two ways. Under the academic track, a certificate is taken in tandem with an undergraduate degree program. Students from all academic majors are eligible to participate so long as they possess a minimum 2.75 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). It should be noted that some institutions permit the certificate to substitute for an academic minor. Under the professional track, non-degree students—such as business executives—are eligible to enroll in the program upon proof of a valid undergraduate degree from an accredited institution on the condition that they fulfill the minimum GPA requirement of 2.75.
Under either track, an application to the program cannot be made until successful completion of the following:
(1) an introductory course on the European Union (EU) with a grade of "C" or better,
(2) 30 semester hours of academic credit, and
(3) a course in World History, Western Civilization, or Global Issues.
The latter course must be approved by an institution's campus representative to the EU Studies program as containing sufficient content on Europe and European topics
The certificate in EU Studies is composed of six courses that total a minimum of 17 semester hours of academic credit. To earn the certificate, students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA in program courses upon completion of the program. An official certificate is awarded by a student's home institution for satisfactory fulfillment of the curriculum. Most institutions also recognize the accomplishment on the permanent transcripts of students participating in the academic track.
Aside from a certificate earned at one's home institution, students have an opportunity to acquire a certificate jointly conferred with a European institution. This option requires students to complete--with a grade of "B" or better--a minimum of two online courses that are co-taught by European faculty. In other words, the certificate is bestowed by two institutions, one in Georgia and one in Europe. The benefit is that students obtain a credential from a respected university in Europe, the University of Munich.
The curriculum has four mandatory components and one option:
A. Introduction to the EU. The first course that should be taken in the program.
B. Multidisciplinary Menu. Four courses selected from a menu of choices.
C. Capstone Seminar. The last course taken that unifies the program's curriculum.
D. Practicum Experience. A hands-on internship or study abroad course.
E. Areas of Distinction. Optional distinctions for foreign language training or honors thesis.
