PDF version of this chapterGraduate Degrees
Certificate Programs
Graduate Certificate in Transportation Systems
The graduate certificate in transportation systems is an interdisciplinary program administered by the Department of Civil Engineering. The certificate program allows students to specialize in transportation applications, while simultaneously receiving a degree in their home department. The certificate in transportation systems combines elements of transportation engineering with transportation policy, planning and project management. The program is especially appropriate for students intending to pursue careers as developers of transportation technologies or as implementors of technologies within government agencies.Students electing the certificate program apply to the Department of Civil Engineering.
Course prerequisites for the program are:
1) one course in statistics or uncertainty, equivalent to CE 408, ISE 225 or PPD 404x;
2) one course in engineering economy, equivalent to ISE 460;
3) one course in microeconomics, equivalent to ECON 203; and
4) one course in a high level programming language, such as C or Fortran.
These prerequisites may be satisfied after enrollment in the certificate program by taking the indicated courses or their equivalent. Graduate students cannot receive credit for courses numbered below 400. Detailed admissions requirements are published by the Department of Civil Engineering.
Requirements for Completion
The curriculum consists of five graduate courses for a total of 17 units.| Required courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CE 519 | Transportation Engineering | 3 |
| CE 585 | Traffic Engineering and Control | 3 |
| ISE 515 | Engineering Project Management | 3 |
| PPD 633 | Urban Transportation Planning and Management | 4 |
| PPD 634 | Institutional and Policy Issues in Transportation | 4 |
Qualified students holding a bachelor's degree also have the option of enrolling in the certificate program without receiving a separate graduate degree.
Certificate Programs in Public Financial Management
Students enrolled in the public financial management certificate program are required to take 52 graduate units of course work (53 for pre-service students). Sixteen of these units are M.P.A. core courses (PPD 500, PPD 501, PPD 540 and PPD 546); and 12 units of management competencies (PPD 541, PPD 542 or PPD 557 or PPD 666, and PPD 545). In addition, students must take 16 units of course work in finance and related subjects (PPD 516x, PPD 554 or PPD 555, PPD 647 and PPD 661 or PPD 662 or PPD 669). Eight units of approved electives will be selected from among: PPD 510b, PPD 542, PPD 652, PPD 660, PPD 661, PPD 662, PPD 669, PPD 679 and PPD 688. Pre-service students must also serve an internship and be enrolled in PPD 543.Students may receive this certificate with a specialization in intergovernmental management provided they complete the three course sequence (PPD 661, PPD 662, PPD 669). Students may satisfy this requirement if they apply two of these courses toward the eight-unit elective requirement and apply the third course toward the 16-unit finance and related subjects requirement.
Certificate Program in Public Policy Analysis and Management
Students enrolled in the public policy analysis and management certificate program are required to take 52 graduate units of course work leading to the M.P.A. and the certificate (53 for pre-service students). Sixteen of these units are M.P.A. core courses (PPD 500, PPD 501, PPD 540, PPD 546); 12 units are from management competencies (PPD 541, PPD 545 and PPD 557). In addition, students must take 16 units of course work in policy analysis (PPD 542 or PPD 558, PPD 554 or PPD 555, PPD 560, PPD 561). Eight units of approved electives are required. Pre-service students must also serve an internship and be enrolled in PPD 543.
Students may receive this certificate with a specialization in intergovernmental management provided they complete the three course sequence (PPD 661, PPD 662, PPD 669). Students may satisfy this requirement if they apply two of these courses toward the 8-unit elective requirement and apply the third course to the 4-unit policy analysis requirement.
Certificate Programs in Health Services Administration
The Health Services Administration Program of the School of Policy, Planning, and Development offers three certificate programs in specialized areas of health care administration. The certificates are designed to provide practitioners with means for improving or updating their knowledge and experience in a challenging and professionally relevant course of study. Certificates are offered in Administration of Long Term Care Programs and Management of Ambulatory Care Systems. Applicants for the Health Services Administration certificate programs must make formal application for admission to the certificate program, provide transcripts of all college work, supplemented by three letters of recommendation, including one from a former instructor, a resume and a personal statement describing their career goals and the relationship of the certificate to those ends.It is expected that applicants to the certificate programs should have graduated from a recognized college with an approximate grade point average of B in the last 60 units of college work. Non-graduates may be admitted if the director believes that there is evidence to suggest that the applicant is capable of graduate level work.
Successful completion of the certificate will not be a deciding factor in the admission decision for the degrees offered by the Health Services Administration Program or the School of Policy, Planning, and Development.
Each program requires 20 units of graduate credit including a 16-unit core and a four-unit specialized seminar in the area of the certificate concentration. Core courses (16 units) are: PPD 509; PPD 510a or PPD 516x; PPD 545 or PPD 557; one elective. One specialized seminar as follows (four units): PPD 600, PPD 601 or GERO 550.
Completing a certificate program does not constitute completion of or admission to the Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) degree program nor will it be a deciding factor in the admission decision to the M.H.A. degree program. Students in the M.H.A. program, however, may qualify for award of these certificates if they complete the applicable course requirements.
Certificate in Training and Human Resources Development
Students enrolled in the Certificate Program in Training and Human Resources Development are required to take 52 graduate units of course work (53 for pre-service students). Sixteen of these units are M.P.A. core courses (PPD 500, PPD 501, PPD 540, PPD 546); 12 units are management competencies (PPD 541, PPD 542 or PPD 557 or PPD 666, PPD 545). In addition, students must take 16 units of human resources development courses (PPD 649, PPD 650, PPD 680 and one elective) and 8 units of approved electives.Students may also choose to complete the seven-week International Training of Trainers (ITOT) program. They will be given credit for three courses (PPD 650, PPD 653 and PPD 680). These students will be able to complete the human resources management and elective requirements by taking PPD 649 and two four-unit electives. Pre-service students must also serve an internship and be enrolled in PPD 543.
Certificate in Public Management
This program provides students with a solid foundation of training and skills in management. Individuals who need training in public administration but who are unable to enroll for the Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree may find this certificate program of particular interest. Key to the program's success is the close integration of the academic curriculum and the application of skills and theory to managerial work assignments. Students may enroll at any time throughout the year.The program consists of four courses: PPD 540, PPD 542, PPD 545, and one elective selected from any 500-level offering in the PPD curriculum.
Certificate in Public Policy
This graduate certificate program provides students with a foundation in public policy analysis. It is designed to provide expertise in public policy to individuals who do not want to pursue the Master of Public Policy degree. Potential students include those who are pursuing another degree and want to complement that work with a specialization in public policy, as well as qualified students holding a bachelor's degree who have not matriculated at USC. The certificate develops policy analytic skills and their integration with a policy issue area of interest to the student.Applicants for the Certificate in Public Policy who have not matriculated at USC must make a formal application for admission to the certificate program, provide transcripts of all college work, a resume and one letter of recommendation.
The program consists of four graduate courses for a total of 16 units.
| Required Courses | 16 Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPD 554 | Public Policy Formulation | 4 |
Choose two courses from: | ||
| PPD 500 | Cross-Sectoral Governance | 4 |
| PPD 501 | Public Sector Economics | 4 |
| PPD 557 | Quantitative Analysis I 4 | |
| PPD 558 | Quantitative Analysis II | 4 |
| PPD 559 | Policy Implementation and Evaluation | 4 |
| PPD 560 | Methods for Policy Analysis 4 | |
| Choose one course from a policy area. There are many policy issues courses from which to choose (e.g., Health, Nonprofit, Transportation, Environment, Housing). | 4 | |
The Master of Public Policy director will provide advisement