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MPPA's undergraduate certificate in public policy allows UMass Amherst undergraduate students to complement their majors with an 8-course sequence in public policy and administration. All of the courses selected can also be used toward the student's major or distributional requirements.

What is public policy & administration?
Public policy and administration refers to the work of both government and also the broader structure--including non-profits, community members, the press, business interests -- involved in how community (or "public") decisions are made. For example, in a government, who decides which actions are taken or not taken? Who designs the actions (or "policies") that will be implemented? Who monitors the expected change? Who is or should be involved in the process? A certificate in public policy and administration positions undergraduates to pursue both graduate education in a policy-related field (public policy, public health, government administration, law, sociology and others). It also positions undergraduates to pursue careers in the public and policy sectors both in the US and internationally and that include government, public services, consulting and non-profits.

What are the certificate's requirements?
Students pursuing a certificate in public policy can be from any major. The certificate requires three courses, one each in economics, public policy and administration and one statistics course. It also requires five electives that can be from any UMass department. As stated above, all of the courses selected can also be used toward the student's major or distributional requirements. Working with a faculty advisor, students custom design a course sequence to focus on their specific interests. A certificate policy focus could be education, health, environment, social welfare, international aid, science and technology, or another area of student interest.

Contact: Obed Pasha
Center for Public Policy and Administration
Office: 117 Gordon Hall, 418 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA  01003
Phone: (413) 577-0652
Email: opasha@pubpol.umass.edu
Website: www.masspolicy.org/