Nov 19, 2024  
National University Volume 87-2 Catalog - September 2024 
    
National University Volume 87-2 Catalog - September 2024

Post-Master’s Certificate in Public Service


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Post-Master’s Certificate


Description of Program


In order to earn a Post-Master’s Certificate, students must complete six courses (18 credit hours) within the chosen Post-Master’s Certificate program. With the exception of the General Business program, each Post-Master’s Certificate program is prescribed, meaning students can only take what is listed for the particular Post-Master’s Certificate program (students may not substitute alternative courses with the exception of the School of Business and Economics doctoral level elective course). Students must complete all six courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in order to receive the certificate.

Click here for potential career opportunities within the Post-Master’s Certificates.

Basis for Admissions


Admission to the Post-Master’s Certificate program requires a completed master’s level or higher degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution or university.

Scope


6 Courses (18 Credit hours) must be completed from the coursework outlined within the corresponding Post-Master’s Certificate specialization. Courses taken as part of a master’s program cannot be applied towards a Post-Master’s Certificate program.

Certificate Requirements


The University may accept a maximum of 3 semester credit hours from a graduate-level program to the University’s Post-Master’s certificate program. Coursework must have been completed at an accredited college or university within the last seven years with a grade of “B” or better. See the Transfer Credit Policy  for additional information.

The Post-Master’s Certificate has the following graduation requirements:

  • Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 (letter grade of “B”) or higher
  • Official documents on file for basis of admission: a conferred master’s level or higher degree from an accredited academic institution
  • Official transcripts on file for all transfer credit hours accepted by the University
  • All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their complimentary diploma

Time to Completion


The University allows 2 years to complete all certificate programs.

The median time to completion for this program is 14 months.

Time to completion varies depending upon the pace in which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most students are working adults, balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic and finance counselors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.

Students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 10 months.

Post-Master’s Certificate Transfer into a Doctoral Sequence


Specialization coursework completed as part of a doctoral degree, where a degree was conferred, cannot be applied towards a Post-Master’s Certificate program.

  • Coursework completed within a Post-Master’s Certificate program may be applied towards the specialization sequence within a doctoral program.
  • Applying Post-Master’s Certificate coursework towards a doctoral degree is contingent upon coursework and degree relevance under the most current doctoral degree program version.

Criminal Justice Specialization


The Criminal Justice Post-Master’s Certificate connects ethical, managerial, and theoretical decision making with strategic planning and public policy within local, State, Federal, and multinational criminal justice agencies, departments, and organizations. This Post-Master’s Certificate specialization is intended to encourage students to focus on developing competencies across a wide spectrum of criminal justice subjects and issues required for career advancement in law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and criminal investigation.

Doctoral Level Elective


The Post-Master’s Certificate allows students to select one course from a broad range of electives to fit their personal and professional goals. Students must complete a minimum of 3 credit hours at the doctoral level (7000 or 8000) offered from the School of Business and Economics.

Homeland Security - Leadership and Policy Specialization


This specialization prepares senior leaders of public administration, law enforcement, public safety, and emergency medical care and disaster preparedness agencies for positions of executive leadership in the general field of homeland security. Curriculum covers terrorism, strategy, intelligence, emergency management, and critical infrastructure security issues. The program also provides senior-level homeland security professionals the opportunity to apply theory and emerging concepts to real world issues through innovative approaches to complex problems.

Doctoral Level Elective


The Post-Master’s Certificate allows students to select one course from a broad range of electives to fit their personal and professional goals. Students must complete a minimum of 3 credit hours at the doctoral level (7000 or 8000) offered from the School of Business and Economics.

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