The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit and Public Management is a 21-credit (7-course) certificate program designed to provide existing and aspiring middle managers in nonprofit and public organizations with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in carrying out their administrative responsibilities. After completing this coursework, some students opt to apply to the full MPA program; credits taken in the GCNPM program may count toward the MPA degree.
The energy industry is an important cornerstone of the regional economy, and a number of PSU master’s degree graduates are active in the industry. For a number of years, several PSU departments have offered graduate courses focusing on energy issues and techniques for energy analysis. The Graduate Certificate in Energy Policy and Management brings these classes together in a program designed to create a foundation of knowledge about the energy industry. The program allows flexible graduate coursework combinations so that students can customize their studies to match their goals and interests. The Public Administration Department collaborates with the following Departments to offer this certificate: Urban Studies and Planning, Economics, Engineering and Technology Management, and Systems Science.
In the fully-online Graduate Certificate in Collaborative Governance, students will apply collaborative governance theory and practice to real-world, community-based problems in 16 credit hours in just 5 terms. This unique certificate program will culminate with a practicum experience where students are mentored by faculty experts in the field.
The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems provides students with a multidimensional understanding of the social, environmental, and economic impacts of the food sector. Courses are offered in a range of academic areas related to food systems, including public administration, community health, urban and regional planning, business, and education, allowing students to tailor their course selection to align with their interests and career goals. The Public Administration Department collaborates with the following Units to offer this certificate: College of Urban and Public Affairs, Graduate School of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Business and the Institute for Sustainable Solutions.