Graduate Certificates
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Thursday, April 27 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
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Thursday, June 22 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
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Complete this form to receive more information about Hobby School graduate programs.
The Hobby School now offers six graduate certificates in public policy:
Graduate Certificate in Public Policy
Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and Public Administration
Graduate Certificate in Public Policy-Data Analytics
Graduate Certificate in Public Policy-Energy Policy
Graduate Certificate in Public Policy-Ethics
Graduate Certificate in Public Policy-Health Care Policy
Graduate certificates are an excellent way for students to earn an additional academic credential and relevant training in a shorter period of times compared to a full master's degree. These graduate certificates require four approved courses that can also be counted towards the Master of Public Policy degree if students later apply and join this program.Admissions
The Fall 2023 priority deadline for domestic and international applicants is March 1, 2023. The Fall 2023 application deadline for international applicants is June 15, 2023, and for domestic applicants is August 1, 2023.
The Spring 2024 priority deadline for domestic and international applicants is October 15, 2023. The Spring 2024 application deadline for international applicants is November 1, 2023, and for domestic applicants is December 1, 2023.
All required application materials MUST be submitted by these deadlines.
The application process for the graduate certificates is similar to the MPP and completed entirely online via ApplyWeb.
Applicants must complete a UH Graduate School application and provide official transcripts of all college-level coursework with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, statement of purpose, and resume.
The statement of purpose (or personal/goal statement) explains why the applicant wants to pursue a graduate certificate and why the applicant would be a good candidate for the program. This document should be between 1-2 pages.
The GRE is not required when applying for admission to the graduate certificate programs.
The graduate certificate programs have a $25 application fee.
International applicants should also visit the UH Graduate School's International Students page for more detailed information regarding transcripts, English language proficiency requirements, and visa procedures.
Public Policy (POLC) Graduate Certificate Course Descriptions
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1) POLC 6311 Leadership and Professional Development
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of graduate faculty advisor.An introduction to policy process and public policy careers, with special emphasis on leadership, teamwork, and organizational dynamics. Professional skill development will also be emphasized
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2) POLC 6312 Public Finance
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of graduate faculty advisor.
Effects of economic incentives on voters, government officials, economy, and markets. Analysis of situations where private markets fail to be efficient. Applications to government policies at federal and local levels, including welfare, insurance, health care, policing, roads, and Social Security. Analysis of tax system and interaction among federal, state, and local governments. -
3) POLC 6313 Policy Analysis I: Microeconomics
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of graduate faculty advisor.
Overview of microeconomic tools to measure and weigh the gains and losses from any public policy, including consumers’ choices, firms’ decisions, supply and demand framework, market equilibrium, allocative and productive efficiency, property rights, externalities and market failures, and public choices and public goods. -
4) POLC 6314 Policy Research Methods I: Introduction to Statistics
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of graduate faculty advisor.
Provides a basic understanding of statistical analysis for policy research, introduces basic statistical techniques and statistical software packages. Introduces research design and discusses the ethics of quantitative policy research -
5) POLC 6315 Policy Research Methods II: Multivariate Analysis
Prerequisite: POLC 6314 and/or consent of graduate faculty advisor.
Reviews more advanced statistical concepts and tools used to study the association between variables. Introduces students to regression analysis and explores its uses in policy analysis -
6) POLC 6316 Policy Research Methods III: Advanced Quantitative Modeling
Prerequisite: POLC 6314, POLC 6315, and/or consent of graduate faculty advisor.
Focuses on time series, panel data, and other more advanced statistical concepts and tools used to study the association between variables and systems of variables. -
7) POLC 6320 Policy Analysis II: Political Analysis
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of graduate faculty advisor.
Introduction to analytical models of politics applied to such topics as collective action, majority rule, coalition formation, and the functioning of government -
8) POLC 6330 Philosophy and Public Policy I
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of graduate faculty advisor.
Evaluating value claims in policy with regard to political theory; normative, ethical, and political goals of policy; and applied ethics on issues of environment, punishment, inequality, gender, race, and research ethics -
9) POLC 6331 Philosophy and Public Policy II
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of graduate faculty advisor.
Philosophical and critical examination of the value commitments behind different policy proposals. Comparative study of conservative, liberal, and other policy proposals in areas such as education, health care, social security, and income support.
Contact Us
Please contact Scott Mason (smason@uh.edu; 713-743-5572) if you have any questions concerning your application.