Public Administration and Public Management, Certificate
Build a foundation in public policy management that prepares you for careers across the public sector. Through this undergraduate certificate, you gain the practical grounding and expertise to step into government and public service roles with confidence.
Quick facts
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Additional facts
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Certificate description
Public Administration and Public Management certificate description
If you are interested in public service, the certificate program in public administration and public management is designed for you; whether you are an undergraduate student who is interested in developing leadership skills or want to enhance your degree in an existing major at ASU; you are a working adult who wants to further your education yet is not looking for a degree program; or you are a student of the Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies who seeks to combine certificates with your degree.
You learn skills that enable you to analyze critical issues, build and bridge communities, deliver and manage public programs, improve the quality of life, lead change in public policy, preserve natural resources, provide public safety, reform welfare and strengthen democratic governance.
Why earn a public administration and public management undergraduate certificate at ASU?
You study at ASU, a university ranked among the top 10 nationally for public affairs graduate programs (U.S. News & World Report, 2026), which gives your coursework real academic weight.
The certificate pairs well with majors in political science and pre-law, public health and health sciences, sustainability and urban planning, and criminology and criminal justice.
This certificate zeroes in on where management and public policy meet, preparing you for the demands of "managing across boundaries," the space where the public, private and nonprofit sectors intersect.
Courses
This undergraduate certificate includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
The certificate requires 15 credit hours. A "C" minimum is required for all courses in the certificate, although students must maintain a 3.00 GPA in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
|
The certificate in public administration and public management consists of 15 upper-division credit hours of coursework. Students complete nine credit hours of core classes and six credit hours of elective courses. |
||
|
PAF 300 Public Management and Administration
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
PAF 315 Cross-Sector Collaboration
(CIVI)
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
PAF 460 Public Service Ethics
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
Upper Division
PAF Elective
6 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 6 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
|
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Apply management principles within the context of public administration issues.
- Apply ethical reasoning to the context of public administration and policy issues.
Apply management principles within the context of public administration issues.Enrollment requirements
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this public administration and public management undergraduate certificate prepares you for
Graduates are prepared to pursue a career in a field related to public administration or public policy, particularly in the areas of participatory governance and public engagement. This may include opportunities as either a manager or policy analyst in local, state or federal agencies; in nonprofit organizations; and in private organizations whose work interfaces with the public sector.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
School of Public Affairs
|
UCENT 400
spa@asu.edu
602-496-0450
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
