Northern Illinois University
Department of Public Administration
School of Public and Global Affairs

Graduate Certificate in Public Management (GCPM) students are classified by the university as "Students-at-Large" completing fifteen hours of coursework toward a Certificate in Public Management. You must have experience working in a mid-level or upper-level management position in the public or nonprofit sector. GCPM students are usually those who have been out of school for a number of years and are trying to decide whether to pursue an advanced degree.

Upon completion of the certificate, the fifteen hours of credit earned may be applied towards a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree with the advice and approval of the department chair. You may apply for the M.P.A. program as a mid-career student.

How To Apply

If you are applying for the graduate certificate in public management you must complete the following two steps:

1. Visit Students-at-Large Admissions to submit a student-at-large application to the Graduate School.
2. Submit the following documents directly to the Department of Public Administration at publicadm@niu.edu
   • Unofficial copies of non-NIU undergraduate and graduate transcript(s).
   • A career goal statement detailing how work experience and career objectives can be enhanced by completing the public management certificate.
   • A current resume.
   • One professional letter of recommendation from a current or recent supervisor on official letterhead bearing an original signature.

Apply