The Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Public Management requires 12 credits (4 courses). Coursework is available in-person or online. Certificate students and their advisors decide the most appropriate course of study. Below are examples of courses that might be applied to the Certificate. Visit our course schedules to view options by semester.

PP 5324 Grant Writing and Government Contracting (3 credits, online)
Description: This course will provide the student with the core understanding and approaches to researching private and government grants to fulfill the work of a nonprofit. The course provides a strong grounding in grant and proposal writing that supports the usage of program outcomes, financial, and qualitative data to “tell the story” of a nonprofit and its case for financial support. The course also provides a strong foundation in the skills essential to responding to RFPs for government contracts for service provision, along with examining the pros and cons of contracting with government agencies. In addition, the course will focus on the holistic organizational system approach to responding to grants and government contract RFPs, along with collaborative multi-agency collective strategies which can strengthen proposals and the impact of final deliverables.

PP 5329 Nonprofit Advocacy, Government Relations, and Law (3 credits, online)
Description: This course will provide students with a comprehension of the legal landscape, rights, and obligations in which nonprofit organizations operate in the United States. A second pillar of the course is the examination of advocacy practices of nonprofits with government in support of its client communities, and the support community voice and action in civil discourse and grass roots action with government and other stakeholders. The course will also the review of the legal and tax implications related to advocacy, lobbying, and political activity of nonprofit organizations.

PP 5349 Public Procurement and Contracting (3 credits, in-person)
Description: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the principles of contract formulation and administration in public procurement.  The growing significance of contracting out and outsourcing in the public sector requires the availability of procurement specialists that are educated and comfortable with best practices in procurement activities from the identification of the need through the close out of contact activities.  Students will learn about best practices for effective contracting relationships between the public and private and nonprofit sectors. 

PP 5363 Local Government Management and Leadership (3 credits, in-person)
Description: In this course students will examine the characteristic functions of local government management, such as finance & administration, human services, parks & recreation, planning & zoning, public safety, and public works. The focus will be on understanding of the structure and role of local governments, learning about issues critical to the operation and effectiveness of local governments in Connecticut and elsewhere, and gaining an appreciation for current trends in public management thought and practice.

PP 5365 Human Resource Management (3 credits, in-person or online)
Description: In this course students learn about public and nonprofit managers’ human resource management responsibilities. The course covers personnel functions such as job analysis and design, recruitment and selection, and performance appraisal. A portion of this course is devoted to understanding how to influence employees’ learning, growth and performance through motivation, effective communication and feedback, and professional development. This course also covers current issues within human resource management such as diversity at work, labor-management relations, and volunteer management.

To be awarded a certificate, a student must satisfactorily complete (with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher) a set of courses specified in the certificate program requirements. Please see the Graduate School Academic Regulations for further information.

Admission to the program is based on an assessment of the applicant’s potential to succeed in graduate study. Applicants are evaluated based on their demonstrated aptitude for graduate study, experience, and academic achievement. Learn more about our admissions process. 

Visit our Cost and Financial Aid page for more information about this certificate program.