Graduate Certificates
Graduate Certificates are a way to delve into specialized areas of public administration and urban planning.
- They are structured to provide a condensed version of the specific skills and knowledge to advance in particular professional fields.
- By successfully completing a prescribed group of courses encompassing twelve credit hours and completing the Graduate Admissions application, you can earn a graduate certificate.
- Courses taken in a graduate certificate program and recognition of the earned certificate will be posted on your transcript.
- Graduate certificates may have additional prerequisites and admission restrictions.
Certificate Programs
There are currently four graduate certificate programs offered:
- City & County Management
- Public/Nonprofit Management
- Public Policy
- Urban Planning
Performance Management will cease to accept new applications after the Spring 2026 semester.
In-person & Online Modalities
City & County Management Certificate
Local government is increasingly being described as the level of government “where things get done.” This certificate is designed for those who are interested in a career in local government organizations (cities and counties) or in non-profit or private sector organizations that collaborate or serve local governments. It offers broad coverage of the leadership and management skills that local government professionals need as well as more in-depth instruction on key issues facing modern communities. The City & County Management certificate is available in in-person and online modalities.
Public/Nonprofit Management Certificate
This certificate aims to enhance graduates’ ability to manage and lead public and nonprofit organizations ethically and effectively. It establishes effective human resource management as a core foundation, with emphasis on the political, legal, and ethical dimensions of public service employment. Through study of management theories and techniques, students will gain understanding of contemporary organizational challenges and the tensions inherent to competing values and develop the leadership skills necessary to guide public organizations through change. The Public/Nonprofit Management certificate is available in in-person and online modalities.
In-person Modalities
Public Policy Certificate
Public policy shapes the behavior of individuals, organizations, and corporations and affects almost every aspect of society. The ability to develop “good” public policy requires both a strong analytical base and political astuteness. The required courses in the certificate establish a contextual and analytical foundation, equipping students with the ability to both prospectively assess and retrospectively evaluate public initiatives. Electives enable additional exploration of particular policy areas. The Public Policy certificate is offered in an in-person modality.
Urban Planning Certificate
Through the completion of this certificate, students will gain an essential introduction to the field and practice of urban planning, which is about engaging communities for better futures and creating places where people can lead meaningful lives. Courses will provide a framework of the social, economic, and political environments within which planning policy is formed and carried out. The certificate is geared toward meeting the need for planning policy on urban issues at any level of government — federal, state, regional, and local — or outside the governmental arena.
Admission Requirements
The School of Public Affairs and Administration accepts students on a rolling admissions basis. Students may apply to be admitted for either the fall, summer, or spring semesters. Applicants for the certificate are required to have:
- Undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 (if the undergraduate degree was awarded in the last three years).
- Non-native speakers of English must meet the University's English proficiency requirements.
Application Requirements
All graduate students and applicants must complete an application to Graduate Studies for admission into the certificate program and submit an application fee along with the following materials:
- A current resume.
- A statement of interest in the graduate certificate program. This 1-2 page narrative should summarize your education, employment history, career goals, and how the certificate will bolster your professional aspirations.
- Official transcripts of baccalaureate degree/s and any post-baccalaureate course work.
The admissions committee may request additional materials if needed to assess an applicant’s ability to be successful in the coursework.
Graduate Certificates FAQs
A SPAA certificate completed by itself, outside a full graduate degree program is not eligible for federal financial aid or VA benefit support. If you are enrolled in a graduate degree program at the University of Kansas, courses completed in the certificates are eligible for financial aid.
It is highly unlikely that all the courses needed to complete a certificate will be offered within a given semester. Certificates can traditionally completed within an academic year.
The required courses listed for each certificate must be completed. Elective courses may be substituted with the approval of the MPA Faculty Director.
Yes, the required courses are offered every year.
Yes!