ClickCease

Certificate in Public Policy

*Information here is for those admitted prior to 2019. For those admitted in 2019, please click here.

The USC Price Certificate in Public Policy exposes students to policy issues of interest, while fostering analytic skills built around the most forward-looking methodologies. Designed as an alternative for those who will not pursue the Master of Public Policy degree, students completing the certificate gain foundational knowledge and expertise to advance their career in public policy or related fields. In addition, the certificate complements other graduate course work by offering invaluable new perspective on the student’s primary area of study.

12467199493_f5c392030a_z

Courses

The program consists of 16 units of graduate course work.

Core Courses (12 units)

Choose one PPD or PPDE elective course. It can be a course managed by the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program or a course that is part of the MPP’s “Analytic Elective” options. Refer to the MPP catalogue listing for the list of PPD and PPDE “Analytic Elective” options Analytic Elective List. The MPP program administrator, Suzanne Alexander can be consulted at [email protected] to provide advisement on other courses that are managed by the MPP program.

Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Current USC Graduate Students — Applicants for the Certificate in Public Policy who are currently enrolled in a graduate program at USC (and are in good standing with a 3.0 GPA ) need only to submit the appropriate paperwork for adding the certificate program, which may be requested from Suzanne Alexander, Program Administrator, Graduate Programs in Public Policy at [email protected].

Prospective Applicants — Applicants who have not matriculated at USC must make a formal application at the USC Graduate Admission website.

Applicants must submit the following items:

Deadlines:
November 1 – Spring Semester
April 1 – Summer Semester
July 1 – Fall Semester

Please contact the USC Price Office of Admissions at [email protected] for more information.

For certificate programs that meet federal Title IV eligibility, USC is required by the U.S. Department of Education to disclose certain Gainful Employment (GE) information. The following Gainful Employment Disclosure Template link provides information regarding related jobs, cost, loan debt and completion rate for the program:

https://financialaid.usc.edu/general/special-programs/certificates/publicpolicy.html