Eligibility
Anyone with a bachelor's degree may pursue the online Public Policy and Management certificate by enrolling as a non-degree graduate student through UMass University+. These certificate programs are designed as transitional certificates that are compatible with requirements for our public policy and administration and public affairs master's degree. Online certificate recipients who are accepted into the full MPPA or MPA degree programs through the normal application process will be able to apply all certificate courses toward completion of the full master's degree.
Additionally, all students enrolled in a UMass graduate degree program are eligible to take online courses leading to the Public Policy and Management (PPM) graduate certificate. Please consult with your degree advisors to determine whether PPM certificate courses may be applied toward the requirements of the degree program in which you are currently enrolled.
All PhD students in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences have the opportunity to take the coursework that is the equivalent of the PPM graduate certificate (although without formal certificate credit). Please consult with your department GPD for more information.
Bear in mind that certificate courses are regularly offered and widely available online through University Without Walls/University+. When they are offered, on-campus PPM courses may have capacity or program-based restrictions on enrollment. Note that GEO contract tuition remission does not apply to UWW/U+ courses, although a 50% tuition reduction is available.
If You Intend to Pursue the Certificate
Please let us know if you intend to pursue the online PPM certificate. While you are not required to inform us in advance of your intention to complete the certificate program, doing so will help us stay in touch with you to let you know about internship or career opportunities, changes to course availability, and online and on-campus events that may be of interest.
Completion of the Certificate
Students who have completed the certificate requirements should submit the certificate eligibility form found here to the Graduate Programs Office. The graduation eligibility deadlines can be found here for obtaining your certificate in the mail. Email the form to @email.