The Graduate Certificate in Public Financial Management requires 12 credits (4 courses). Coursework is available in-person. 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 5317 Capital Financing and Budgeting (3 credits)
Description: This course is designed to familiarize students with the municipal bond market and to expose them to key public policy and management issues. Specifically, the course will focus on how the proceeds from municipal bonds are used, the types of securities and issuers, who the players are in the bond market, how prices are determined (including the municipal bond credit rating process), disclosure, and ethical issues in the industry. The course focuses on long term tax exempt public debt; however, there will be some discussion of short term debt.

PP 5318 Financial Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 credits)
Description: This course is designed as a survey of the principles, issues, and skills of financial management in the public sector. The focus will be on preparing students to be skilled consumers of financial information who possess the ability to analyze it and make sound decisions based on their analysis. This is not a government accounting class, but the development of the ability to understand accounting practices is an important part of the course.

PP 5326 Public Investment Analysis (3 credits)
Description: This course is a study of investment theory and public financial management. Students will acquire an introductory understanding of financial instruments and portfolio theory, the theory and evidence on efficient markets, and proficiency in the key dimensions of investment decision making.

PP 5364 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 credits)
Description: This course covers the techniques, practices, and organization of the financial functions in governmental administration. Some topics include tools for analyzing revenue systems; analysis of specific revenues (such as income, sales, and property taxes); analysis of financial statements; costs concepts; budget cycles; and applied budgeting exercises.

PP 5373 Budgeting in Public Service Organizations (3 credits)
Description: In this course, students will explore various public budgeting and financial management issues facing decision makers. The budget represents an organization’s priorities, and as such, is arguably its most important policy document. Further, budget approaches send strong incentives through an organization—for good or ill. As a result, the budget process is where policy and management intersect. In the end, students will be familiar with important public budgeting issues, understand different budget and finance concepts, and be able to construct and analyze simple budgets using Microsoft Excel.

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.