Graduate Degrees, page 4
School of Public Administration

Certificate Programs

Certificate Programs in Public Financial Management

Students interested in this field can specialize in public financial management or international development finance. Students may also complete a double specialization in intergovernmental management and public financial management.

Students enrolled in the public financial management certificate program are required to take 48 graduate units of course work. Twenty of these units are M.P.A. core courses (PUAD 500, 526, 558, 585 and 597). In addition, students must take 20 units of course work in finance. Of these 20 units 16 are in specified courses (PUAD 512, 513, 514 and 551), while four are finance electives. Students with no prior financial management experience must also serve an internship.

The international development certificate program consists of three courses (PUAD 581, 583 plus a third international development finance course, which varies from year to year). This certificate program may be pursued independently or in conjunction with the public financial management certificate program by any M.P.A. candidate within the school.

The double specialization in intergovernmental management and public financial management is also a 48-unit program, requiring one year in Los Angeles and one semester each in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. In addition to completing both the intergovernmental management and public financial management course work, each student serves three internships, one at each site. Students interested in pursuing this double specialization should so indicate at the beginning of their enrollment in the M.P.A. program by contacting the director of the intergovernmental management program and the director of the finance field committee.

Students interested in either the public financial management certificate program or the international development finance certificate program should so indicate by contacting the director of the finance field committee at the beginning of their enrollment in the M.P.A. program.

Courses offered include PUAD 512, 513, 514, 515, 521, 525, 531ab, 551, 581 and 583.

Certificate in Public Policy

Persons needing training in policy analysis and evaluation who are unable to enroll in a Master's in Public Policy (M.P.P.) degree program may be interested in this certificate program. It provides an opportunity for understanding of the public policy process, assists in the development of analytical skills necessary for effective professional performance and offers an opportunity for study in a substantive field of public policy. This certificate is available only at the Washington Public Affairs Center and the Sacramento Center.

The program consists of four courses: PUAD 526; 513; one of the following, PUAD 527, 528, 529, 591; and one elective from a substantive policy field (examples are PUAD 530, 549, 562, 580, 581) to be selected in consultation with an academic advisor.

Certificate Program in Public Policy Analysis and Management

Students interested in this field may complete the 48-unit program leading to the M.P.A. and a certificate, which is offered only in Los Angeles. They may also complete a double specialization in intergovernmental management and public policy analysis.

The double specialization is also a 48-unit program, requiring one year in Los Angeles and one semester each in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. In addition to completing both the intergovernmental management and policy analysis course work, each student serves three internships, one at each site. Those interested in this double specialization should so indicate at the beginning of their enrollment by contacting both the director of the intergovernmental management program and the director of the policy analysis field committee.

Courses offered include PUAD 512, 526, 527, 559, and 529 or 591.

Certificate Programs in Health Services Administration

The Health Services Administration Program of the School of Public Administration offers three certificate programs in specialized areas of health care administration. Certificates are offered in Administration of Long Term Care Programs, Executive Administration of Mental Health Programs and Management of Ambulatory Care Systems. These certificate programs are open to unmatriculated students and students registered in any academic unit of the University of Southern California.

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: PUAD 530, 558 or 585, 531a or 551; one elective. One specialized seminar as follows (four units): PUAD 569, 508, 509 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. Students in this program, however, may qualify for award of these certificates if they complete the applicable course requirements.

Certificate in Training and Human Resources Development

Students may earn the Certificate in Training and Human Resources Development by completing PUAD 417 or 522, 517, 587, 588, and 503 and/or the Certificate in International Training of Trainers by completing the seven-week summer International Training of Trainers program consisting of PUAD 522, 588 and 501.

Certificate in City Management

Students interested in developing the expertise required for careers in city management are recommended to follow this course of study. Students are required to: (1) complete all the required core courses in the M.P.A. program, (2) take two required courses (PUAD 520 and 552), (3) take two more required courses from among the offerings in public finance (PUAD 512, 513, 514, 515, 551) and public policy (PUAD 527, 528, 529), one in each area, and (4) take one of a series of management courses, chosen from PUAD 506, 515, and 516.

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. This certificate is available in Los Angeles, at the Sacramento Center and at the Washington Public Affairs Center.

The program consists of four courses: PUAD 500, 585, 526 or 591; and one elective selected from any 500-level offering in the PUAD curriculum.

Certificate in Local Agency Financial Administration

The Certificate in Local Agency Financial Administration consists of four classes (16 units) in financial management. Classes are offered throughout the year and students may enroll at any time. The following classes are required: PUAD 550 Local Agency Debt and Cash Administration; PUAD 521 Financial Administration in Local Government; PUAD 513 Finance of the Public Sector or PUAD 514 Public Financial Management; and PUAD 558 Quantitative Analysis I or PUAD 551 Governmental Managerial Accounting. Students must have public sector financial experience and must maintain a 3.0 grade point average to obtain the certificate.

Management and Public Policy for Development

This program provides training for individuals who will be working with or in developing countries. The basic program is 36 units, but students may also specialize in one of five 48-unit tracks in public policy, financial management, public management, human resource development and training, and health policy and planning. Specialized development courses in the program include PUAD 525, 534, 555, 556, 579, 581, 582, 583 and 584.

Certificate in Regulatory Policy and Management

This program is designed to provide the depth and breadth of knowledge and skills needed by regulatory agency managers, analysts, scientists, and policy support personnel to augment their previous specialized training in a particular discipline such as engineering, law, medicine or science. The courses and the course content are designed to meet specific needs identified through initial and ongoing discussions with agency staff members, agency executives and other key stakeholders.

The program consists of four courses: PUAD 567 Decision Making in Regulatory Agencies and either PUAD 526 Public Policy Analysis or PUAD 527 Public Policy Formulation; and two of the following: PUAD 528 Public Policy Implementation, PUAD 529 Public Policy Evaluation, PUAD 557 Business and Public Policy, PUAD 566 Management of Intergovernmental Programs, PUAD 568 Presidency, Congress, and the Bureaucracy, and PUAD 591 Research and Evaluation in Public Administration. For this certificate, PUAD 567 Decision Making in Regulatory Agencies is available only at the Washington Public Affairs Center.

Non-Credit Programs Offered by the Center for International Training and Development

Management Effectiveness Program This is a four-week intensive training program in the art and science of management. The program is designed to enhance leadership effectiveness and the development of a management generalist perspective.

International Executive Development Laboratory This five-week laboratory focuses on issues in executive leadership, strategic management, environmental analysis, international finance and economics, computer-based project planning, and implementation of planned change strategies.

County Treasurer and Tax Collection Management Certificate This non-credit Certificate in Achievement/Completion in Public Treasury Management is offered in conjunction with the California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors. It consists of eight, two-day seminars covering personnel management, cash management, tax collection, investment portfolio management, debt management, fundamentals of data processing and the legislative process.

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Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
David Henriquez
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu