Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management

Program coordinator:
Diane M. Hartmus
421 Varner Hall
(248) 370-2375
hartmus@oakland.edu

Program description

The Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management program is designed to provide students who have already earned an M.P.A. or a similar degree with additional education and training in the specialized area of local government management. Students will be required to take at least 16 credits of graduate work beyond the master’s degree. The local government management 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 Admissions by the semester deadlines listed below.

• November 15, 2011 for the Winter 2012 semester
• March 15, 2012 for the Summer 2012 semester
• July 15, 2012 for the Fall 2012 semester
• November 15, 2012 for the Winter 2013 semester
• March 15, 2013 for the Summer 2013 semester
• July 15, 2013 for the Fall 2013 semester

International applicants:  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 to the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission and by September 1 for winter admission.

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.

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

• Application for Admission to Graduate Study       
• Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
• Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
  • As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
• Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
• Proof of English language proficiency
• International supplemental application and supporting documentation  must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.

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 G.P.A. 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.