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Department of Political Science

Public Affairs Certificate

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.