Certificate Programs

The School of Public Service offers six certificate programs — concise groups of three courses that, together, provide deep competency in a focused area. Certificate programs are open to working professionals.

Admission Requirements
Application for admission to a certificate program may be made at any time during the year. Admission requirements are the same as those for the Master of Science in Public Service Management except students do not need to submit a personal statement. Students wanting to take more than 12 credit hours must be admitted to a degree program. Those who elect to pursue both a certificate and an M.S. degree within the School of Public Service may apply one certificate course toward the degree, with permission from the director.

Academic Progress
Students must earn a grade of C- or better in each course for graduate credit. The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of B- (2.70) or better to remain in good standing and complete requirements for a certificate.

Administrative Foundations of Public Service

This program is for individuals wishing to pursue coursework in a specific area of public service management. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of 12 credit hours of graduate credit. All certificate students take MPS 500 and two more administrative courses, as approved by the director.

Community Development (CCD)

This certificate puts community development specialists on the cutting-edge of organization planning, leadership development, and program evaluation. The program allows established and emerging professionals to broaden their perspective on urban development programs in an inter-disciplinary learning environment. This is an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the Department of Psychology, Department of Sociology, and the School of Public Service. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of 16 credit hours of graduate credit. For more information on this certificate program, please contact Dr. Joseph Schwieterman in the Chaddick Institute at 312.362.5732 or by email at jschwiet@depaul.edu. See the CCD brochure.

Financial Administration

For government and nonprofit administrators with financial responsibility, this program teaches analytical skills, while enabling professionals to keep up with changing accounting rules, new government regulations, and evolving financing techniques. In three courses students cover the essentials of microeconomics and financial administration with special emphasis on budgeting and accounting principles unique to local government and the nonprofit sectors. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of 12 credit hours of graduate credit.

Descriptions of required and elective courses are available in the online course catalog.

Students must complete these courses:
MPS 515 Financial Administration
MPS 541 Economic Foundations of Public Services
MPS 553 Advanced Financial Administration and Resource Management

Health Care Administration

This program is for health care professionals who want to develop analytical skills, while staying current with changing accounting rules, new government regulations, and the latest health care management techniques. In three courses, students cover the essentials of health care administration with special emphasis on managed care principles and practices. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of 12 credit hours of graduate credit.

Descriptions of required and elective courses are available in the online course catalog.

REQUIRED COURSE (four credit hours)
MPS 537 Health Care Delivery Systems

ELECTIVE COURSES (eight credit hours)
Students select two among the following:
MPS 531 Financing and Costing in Health Care
MPS 535 Issues in Health Care
MPS 534 Medical Sociology
MPS 562 Introduction to Health

Metropolitan Planning and Development

This three-course program is designed for individuals who want to develop analytical skills and to stay current on issues of regional land use, transportation, and economic development. It provides students with a perspective of the institutions of municipal and metropolitan planning, issues affecting the delivery of public services, and innovative solutions to urban and suburban development problems. The certificate is offered in conjunction with the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development. The certificate is awarded upon successful completion of 12 credit hours of graduate credit. For more information on this certificate program, please contact Dr. Joseph Schwieterman in the Chaddick Institute at 312.362.5732 or by email at jschwiet@depaul.edu.

Descriptions of required and elective courses are available in the online course catalog.

REQUIRED COURSE
MPS 571 Metropolitan Planning

ELECTIVE COURSES
Students select two among the following:
MPS 529 Strategic Planning
MPS 541 Economic Foundations of Public Service
MPS 543 Policy Implementation in a Bureaucratic and Political Context
MPS 546 Advocacy and Public Policy
MPS 574 Community Organization and Urban Development

Nonprofit Leadership

This program is for nonprofit or NGO managers who want to strengthen skills and expand their knowledge of leadership practice and theory. The certificate is awarded upon successful completion of 12 credit hours of graduate credit.

REQUIRED COURSES
MPS 520 Values Centered Leadership
MPS 521 Leadership and Management

ELECTIVE COURSES
Student’s choice must be approved by the director
MPS 500 Introduction to Public Service Management
MPS 501 Cross Sector Analysis
MPS 502 Ethics in International Administration
MPS 504 Ethics in Administration
MPS 511 Sustainable Development and NGOs
MPS 530 Analysis of Nonprofit Organizations
MPS 611 Management of International NGOs
MPS 615 Intercultural Communication in Organizations
MPS 613 Comparative Public Policy

School of Public Service