Return to: School of Continuing and Professional Studies: Programs/Courses
The Certificate in Public Administration is offered fully online and provides students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to meet the administrative and management challenges of today’s public sector and nonprofit organizations. Courses build the knowledge base necessary for decision making, planning, administrative effectiveness, budgeting, and critical thinking, as well as the management and leadership skills essential for success. The 15-credit graduate certificate (5 courses) can be completed in 12-18 months.
During the next decade, public and nonprofit organizations will undergo major changes due to the aging of the government’s workforce and the shrinking pool of individuals ready to assume management and leadership positions. In fact, the number of government workers nearing retirement age is larger than ever before, with a majority of those individuals serving at the most senior levels. In the nonprofit sector, organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to attract and retain the “next generation” of leaders.
The Certificate in Public Administration is appropriate for employees working in public or nonprofit organizations, career changers interested in entering the public or nonprofit sectors, and in-service and pre-career students interested in beginning a career in public service. Completion of the certificate demonstrates evidence of specialized educational achievement in public administration. For more information visit the program online at www.scps.virginia.edu
