Online Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and Leadership
Develop the communication, analytical and management skills you need to lead with UMass Lowell's online Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and Leadership. This program places a special emphasis on regional and state government, preparing you to analyze social problems and tackle community issues at a local level.
This four-course program is offered by the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, and is intended for those who currently work, or aim to work, at justice-related organizations in the public sector such as law enforcement, social service agencies and the court system.
The Public Administration certificate is ideal for managers seeking to expand their leadership skills, staff members who are preparing to move into management roles, those looking to gain a management-oriented credential who hold an existing master's degree in relevant fields and Public Administration graduate students who want to earn a credential on the way to their degree.
Complete in 9 Months
One of the Most Affordable Tuitions in the Nation
Career Outlook
Key Takeaways
Deepen your knowledge of a range of topics, including:
- Theoretical and practical aspects of public administration
- Effective change strategies for criminal justice agencies
- The structure and sources of government revenue
- Budgeting as a tool for performance management and accountability to the public
- The use of analytic tools in understanding public policy problems and questions
- Leadership within public and community-serving organizations
- The role of the criminal justice manager in the adult and juvenile justice systems
One Success Leads to Another
Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:
Curriculum Outline
4 Courses / 12 Credits
Required Courses
- MPAD.5010 Foundations of Public Administration (3cr)
- MPAD.5020 Public and Non-Profit Budgeting and Financial Management (3cr)
Choose 1
- CRIM.5210 Managing Justice Organizations (3cr) - Available Spring 2023!
- Additional On-Campus Courses: View Here »
Choose 1
- MPAD.5040 Data Analysis (3cr)
- CRIM.5900 Descriptive & Inferential Statistics (3cr) - Available Spring 2023!
Course Descriptions
Graduate Certificate Requirements
Students enrolled in graduate certificate programs through UMass Lowell must complete all courses indicated in the curriculum outline. Students may complete the certificate program at their own pace by registering for and successfully completing one or more courses each semester, depending upon his/her personal time constraints. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 with no more than one course grade below B to receive the certificate.
Online courses meet throughout the year during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters (see Calendar for details). Online students generally log into their online course website one or more times per week to retrieve lectures and assignments or to participate in a chat session. Online students should expect to spend 6 to 10 hours per week engaged in course-related activities for each course. For more information on online courses, visit our online program home page .
Completing a Graduate Certificate Program
Graduate certificate courses must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 3.0 grade point average and no more than one course with a grade below B. Once all courses for a graduate certificate have been completed, students must complete and submit the Graduate Certificate Clearance Form. Students must submit their clearance form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.
Tuition & Fees
At UMass Lowell, we believe that students should have as much information as possible up front so they can make informed decisions before enrolling in a degree program or signing up for a course.
Tuition for all undergraduate courses offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition for all online graduate courses is also the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition is priced per credit. To calculate the tuition for a course, simply multiply the per-credit tuition by the total number of credits per course. Exception: If the total number of course contact hours is greater than the total number of credits, the per-credit tuition is instead multiplied by the total number of contact hours.
Spring 2023 Tuition |
Cost Per Credit | Cost Per 3-Credit Course* |
|---|---|---|
Graduate |
||
| Online | $585 | $1,755 |
| Online Business** | $655 | $1,965 |
| Online IT and Engineering*** | $600 | $1,800 |
| Online Education | $470 | $1,410 |
| Graduate Online Education Courses in the Ed.D. and Ph.D.**** | $495 | $1,485 |
| On Campus | View Here | View Here |
Additional Costs |
|
|---|---|
| Term Registration Fee | $30 |
| Late Fee | $50 |
| Graduate Degree and Certificate Application | $50 |
Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Estimate the cost of this program with our online tuition calculator
Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?
Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).
For General Assistance:
For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!
Already Applied?
Check the Status of Your Application
Applying into an Online Graduate Certificate Program
UMass Lowell Graduate Certificate Programs provide knowledge and expertise that are vital in today's rapidly changing workplace. In many cases, graduate certificate courses may be applied toward a master's degree at UMass Lowell. Most graduate certificates consist of four courses, for a total of 12 graduate credits. This is a great way to earn a graduate-level credential on the way to earning your master's.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Holders of an appropriate bachelor's degree
HOW TO APPLY?
Learn more about specific application requirements for your program of interest. When you're ready, you can apply online or download an application at http://www.uml.edu/grad.
There is a $50 application fee for all programs except engineering and business, for which there is a $75 application fee. NO Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for graduate certificate programs. Credits earned from a graduate certificate may be used toward a related graduate degree with the approval of the graduate program coordinator. Students who complete a graduate certificate with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better in a UMass Lowell graduate certificate program (3.20 or better in a graduate certificate from the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) may be able to waive the GRE when applying to a related master's degree. Note: the GRE is not required for many master's degrees including education, criminal justice and more. Graduate Certificate Programs must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 3.0 grade point average and with not more than one course with a grade below B. Courses completed for one certificate may not be used for other certificates. Once you have completed all of the courses required for your certificate, please complete and submit the Graduate Certificate Clearance Form.
For specific information regarding any of the above application materials (which may vary for some programs), please see UMass Lowell's Graduate Application Requirements at https://www.uml.edu/Grad/Process/.
Applications can be completed and submitted at any time during the year. Each application is processed — and each applicant notified — as soon as all admissions materials have been received and reviewed. For additional details, please visit https://www.uml.edu/grad/.
Graduate Program Admissions Requirements
Admission to all graduate programs at UMass Lowell is contingent upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree. In many cases, applicants may register for a course before they have formally applied into the program; however, students requiring financial aid may want to wait until they have been formally accepted into the program to ensure that their course(s) will be covered. Contact UMass Lowell's Office of Graduate Admissions if you have questions about the application process.
Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?
Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).
For General Assistance:
For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!