Course
Become a Leader in Your Community
With UMass Lowell's online Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and Leadership, you will develop the communication, analytical and management skills you need to lead with confidence. 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.
Complete in 9 Months
Offered by the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, this program has been designed specifically for those who currently work — or those who aim to work — at justice-related organizations in the public sector such as law enforcement, social service agencies and the court system.
This program 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 (such as criminal justice or social work), and prospective master of public administration students who want to earn an intermediate credential on the way to their graduate degree.
Increase your career opportunities and deepen your professional knowledge of a diverse 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
UMass Lowell's College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences offers a supportive and challenging learning experience. Our programs give students the skills and knowledge they need to assume leadership roles in areas such as business, research, education, government and community organizations.
One Success Leads to Another
Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:
Courses for this graduate certificate program are aligned with UMass Lowell's Master's in Public Administration curriculum, which means this program can serve as both a standalone certificate and as a pathway into the master's program. Certificate holders who earn a GPA of 3.5 and above in the Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and Leadership program can apply for a GRE waiver when applying to the master's degree program.