The Certificate in Public Affairs is designed for students interested in a career in government. Students are required to earn a grade of C or better in 15 hours of public affairs courses. Students take the core courses in public administration and public policy and three upper division public affairs courses from the list below (additional courses can be substituted at the discretion of the faculty). Students are encouraged to serve an internship in government and complete an honors thesis in the area of public affairs. Credits earned toward the certificate also count toward the political science major. The certificate is open to non-majors as well.
Students may apply here. NOTE: the Department has paused acceptances for the PA Certificate for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.
Certificate Requirements: Core Courses (6 hours)
PUP 3002 Current Controversies in Public Policy
PAD 3003 Introduction to Public Administration (or approved substitute)
Upper Division Public Affairs Courses (9 hours)
INR 3102 U.S. and World Affairs
POS 4940 Political Internship
POS 4931 Politics and Economic Crisis in Europe
CPO 3401 Politics Middle East
POS 3603 American Constitutional Law
POS 3606 American Civil Liberties
POS 4077 African American Politics
POS 4931 Women and Politics in Africa
POS 4931 Food Politics
PUP 3323 Women in Politics
POS 2032 Politics of Sustainability
INR 3333 International Security
INR 4303 Making American Foreign Policy
INR 4350 International Environmental Relations
POS 3263 Policy Ethics and Public Leadership
POS 4264 Ethics in US Politics
POS 4624 Race, Law, and the Constitution
POS 4931 Politics of Immigration
POS 4931 Latino Politics and Policy
POS 4931 Race, Poverty, and Voting Rights
POS 4931 Human Rights Africa
POT 3503 Environmental Ethics
CPO 4722 LA & Caribbean Migration
POS 4931 Israel Women and Politics
POS 4931 National Security
PUP 4008 Analyzing Public Policy
PUP 3623 Politics of Policy
POT 3509 Environmental Ethics and Politics
PUP 4712 Politics of Markets and Governments
STUDENTS WHO ARE ALSO PURSUING AN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CERTIFICATE CAN ONLY COUNT TWO INR COURSES TOWARD THIS CERTIFICATE
Students May Substitute Additional Courses with the Approval of the Program Coordinator
For more information, contact Professor Cristian Perez-Munoz.
Students may petition the director of the International Relations certificate program for permission to substitute one other course for one of the courses in the electives list. Please speak to a program coordinator for information about PUP4931/PAD4931.