Program director:
Diane M. Hartmus
420 Varner Hall
(248) 370-2375
hartmus@oakland.edu
Program coordinator:
Suzanne Rossi
457 Varner Hall
(248) 370-4117
ssrossi@oakland.edu
Program description
The Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Court Administration program is designed to provide students who have already earned an M.P.A. or an M.B.A. degree with additional education and training in the specialized area of court administration. Students will be required to take at least 16 credits of graduate work beyond the master’s degree. The court administration specialty area is based on elective coursework currently offered by the M.P.A. program.
Admission terms and application deadlines
Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.
- July 15 for fall semester
- November 15 for winter semester
- March 15 for summer semester
Readmission and program transfer
Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.
International application deadlines
International applications are reviewed for fall and winter admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission and by September 1 for winter admission. International applicants are not eligible for Special Graduate classification.
Special Graduate classification
Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission. The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department. Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.
Students may request special graduate classification beginning with the dates below.
- August 1 for fall semester
- December 1 for winter semester
- April 1 for summer semester
Note: Special Graduate classification will not be granted after the first week of classes in a semester.
Application requirements
To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following university and program application documents by the published application deadlines.
University graduate application requirements
Program application requirements
- Two essays (Forms are downloadable from www.oakland.edu/mpa.)
- Applicants to the Post-Master’s Certificate program must hold an M.P.A. or equivalent degree to be considered for admission. If the degree is not from an NASPAA accredited program, the M.P.A. director, in consultation with the M.P.A. faculty group, will determine whether a specific degree program provides adequate background training.
- Applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in the Master of Public Administration degree or M.P.A.-type degree.
Admission review and assessment
Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.