Political Management Certificate

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This graduate certificate program provides students with a foundation in political management. It is designed to provide expertise for students who wish to work in public policy advocacy, in political relations, with elected officials and with the public, nonprofit or private sectors.

Applicants who are currently enrolled in a graduate program at USC and are in good standing with a 3.0 GPA only need to submit the appropriate paperwork for adding the certificate program which may be obtained from the student services adviser.

Applicants who have not matriculated at USC must make a formal application for admission to the certificate program, as well as provide transcripts of all college work, a resume and one letter of recommendation.

The Certificate in Political Management consists of 14–16 units of graduate course work depending on the courses selected.

Core Course (4 Units)

PPD 658 Advocacy in Public Administration Units: 4

Foundation Course (2-4 Units)

Select one:

PPD 540 Fundamentals of Public Administration Units: 4
PPD 554 Foundations of Policy Analysis Units: 4
PPD 684 Leadership Development in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors Units: 2
PPD 672 Collaborative Governance Units: 4

Choose Two of the Following (8 Units)

PPD 616 Participatory Methods in Planning and Policy Units: 4
PPD 656 Political Management: Theory and Applied Techniques Units: 4
PPD 657 Political Leadership in Public Organizations Units: 4
PPD 693 Communicating Public Policy Units: 4

Note:

Up to 10 units of the certificate may be applied toward both the certificate and to the core requirements or electives in the Master of Public Administration. Up to 12 units may be applied toward both the certificate and toward core or electives in the Master of Public Policy or Master of Planning.

The director of the graduate programs in public policy and management will provide advisement.