Northern Illinois University
Department of Public Administration
School of Public and Global Affairs

Graduate Certificate in Public Management (GCPM) students are classified by the university as "Students-at-Large" completing fifteen hours of course work toward a Certificate in Public Management. You must have experience working in a mid-level or upper-level management position in the public or nonprofit sector. GCPM students are usually those who have been out of school for a number of years and are trying to decide whether to pursue an advanced degree.

Upon completion of the certificate, the fifteen hours of credit earned may be applied towards a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree with the advice and approval of the department chair. You may apply for the M.P.A. program as a mid-career student.

We offer two options for pursuing a Public Management Certificate:

• Online Graduate Certificate in Public Management – local government focus. 2019-2020 Online Class Schedule
• Graduate Certificate traditional: Our program uses an executive format. Classes meet one night per week for eight weeks. Midcareer professionals can focus on one class for eight weeks and complete two classes each semester.                               2019-2020 Class Schedule

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