The 15-credit advanced certificate in Public Administration prepares students in public and nonprofit organizations to meet the challenges of mid and upper level management and supervisory positions. Students whose careers or prospective careers interact with local, state, or federal government organizations and funding streams, will benefit from this certificate. The certificate is strategic in providing competencies that can be applied to high growth areas of public administration, such as Human Services, Public and Social Policy, Emergency Management, Criminal Justice, Fire Science, Homeland Security, and Public Safety. Similarly, business policy, labor policy, and students interested in private sector employment who expect to interact with government agencies and public sector bureaucracies and funding streams will enhance their potential employ-ability with expertise in public administration. Increasingly, the boundaries between the public sector, not-for-profit, and private sectors are diminishing as the reach and authority of the federal government expands. The Certificate in Public Administration prepares students and future administrators for new intergovernmental relationships that are emerging.

Program Delivery and Tuition Rate

This certificate is delivered through online courses and is billed at the non-MBA rate.

Admission

Admission to this graduate certificate program is not competitive. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. 

Application Requirements 

A complete application includes: 

• Official transcript(s) from all previously attended institutions 
• Proof of a conferred bachelor’s degree on an official transcript 

Start Terms 

This program admits new students in the: 

• Fall 
• Spring 
• Summer 

Deadlines 

Application deadlines do change from term to term. For specific deadlines, please see the Graduate Admissions Deadline page. 

How to Apply 

To apply, visit the SUNY Empire application portal and select Graduate: https://www.sunyempire.edu/application.html 

Students may begin this 15-credit certificate in the fall, spring or summer terms. The certificate offers two 3-credit opening courses, two 3-credit functional courses, and a 3-credit capstone course as shown in the suggested enrollment sequence below.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PADM 6085	Public Administration	3
PADM 6170	Public Finance	3
PADM 6175	Leadership, Decision-Making, and Governance	3
PADM 6180	State & Local Government	3
PPOL 6030	Public Policy Analysis (Capstone)	3
Total Credits		15

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

• Identify relevant historical developments in the field as they affect current practice.
• Articulate prominent theories in the field and relate theory to practice.
• Demonstrate facility with public finance and budgeting methods and techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and evaluate public finance and budgeting.
• Apply decision-making strategies for government agencies.
• Demonstrate facility with the structures and functions of New York State and local governmental institutions; students from other states will have the opportunity to apply concepts to their state instead of New York.