Online Education Policy Graduate Certificate
Overview
The Online Educational Policy Graduate Certificate offers students an excellent opportunity to develop substantive knowledge in educational policy and practical analytical skills that can be applied in a variety of educational and policy settings. The curriculum is desiged to meet certain learning competencies, which can be reviewed here: Education Competencies (PDF).
A completed graduate certificate waives the GRE requirement for those considering application to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program. In addition, each class counted towards the graduate certificate will be accepted into the MPP program (for certificate holders who apply and are accepted into the MPP program) so long as the student earned a 3.0 (B average) or higher in the course.
All applicants must fulfill the program's admissions requirements. The links provided describe in detail what applicants must do and provide in order to be admitted into the program.
Program information
The Online Educational Policy Graduate Certificate Program is designed to provide students with:
- the critical knowledge and skills required to understand and impact educational policy in the United States
- a detailed understanding of the unique financial and organizational challenges faced by 21st century educational institutions
- a fluency and in-depth understanding of contemporary debates in education policy
- a contextual background regarding the historical, political, social, and economic influences on educational policy and practice in the United States
Courses in Educational Policy are designed to develop each student's critical understanding of educational issues and institutions. Students must complete 12 total credits (four courses) including:
Two Required courses:
- POL 500 Public Institutions and the Policy Process
- POL 570 Social, Historical and Philosophical Foundations of American Education
Two electives from the following:
- POL 511 Organizational Behavior in Educational Settings
- POL 531 Program Evaluation
- POL 542 Law and Education
- POL 561 Public Finance in Education
- POL 611 Administrative Law*
*Note on POL611 Administrative Law: Certificate students wishing to apply to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program after completion of the certificate must apply this course to the core course requirements of the MPP. This will necessitate students taking another concentration course in order to satisfy the MPP requirements.
For detailed course descriptions click on our Course Descriptions page.
Fall
| Course | Offered |
|---|---|
| POL 500 Public Institutions and the Policy Process | First 7 Weeks of Semester |
| POL 531 Program Evaluation | First 7 Weeks of Semester |
| POL 570 Social, Historical and Philosophical Foundations of American Education | Second 7 Weeks of Semester |
| POL 542 Law and Education | Second 7 Weeks of Semester |
Winter
| Course | Offered |
|---|---|
| POL 611 Administrative Law | Expedited 3 Week Semester |
Spring
| Course | Offered |
|---|---|
| POL 500 Public Institutions and the Policy Process | First 7 Weeks of Semester |
| POL 511 Organizational Behavior in Educational Settings | First 7 Weeks of Semester |
| POL 561 Public Finance in Education | Second 7 Weeks of Semester |
Summer
| Course | Offered |
|---|---|
| POL 611 Administrative Law | Expedited 3 Week Semester |
Attention Students: Course offering schedules are subject to change, and in such cases this information will be updated. Any changes in schedule will respect the commitment that a student can complete the certificate in two semesters. Please refer to Online & Continuing Education for information on upcoming courses.
When students are close to completing their studies and plan to graduate, they will need to declare their intention to graduate.
A completed graduate certificate waives the GRE requirement, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and transcript retrieval for those considering application to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program. In addition, each class counted towards the graduate certificate will be accepted into the MPP program (for certificate holders who apply and are accepted into the MPP program) so long as the student earned a 3.0 (B average) or higher in the course.
Students successfully completing the graduate certificate in education policy who wish to apply to the MPP program are expected to achieve a B (3.0) or higher in each of the four (4) courses taken to comprise the graduate certificate program. Students who fail to meet this minimum requirement are unlikely to be admitted to the MPP program. Apply to the MPP program now at Online & Continuing Education.