Degree Awarded: Participatory Governance Graduate Certificate

Develop the knowledge and skills to design, implement and evaluate more inclusive, democratic and participatory processes for public governance and financing.

This transdisciplinary certificate program combines academic rigor with practical skills. Students examine the main theories and research findings on participatory governance and public engagement and familiarize themselves with past and current democratic innovations in the U.S. and around the world. Students also develop the capacity to design, carry out and examine processes of participatory governance and public engagement.

Students may pursue the certificate program as a specialization within an existing ASU graduate program or as a stand-alone certificate.

College/School: Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions

Location: Downtown Phoenix, Tempe

Degree Requirements: 15 credit hours

Required Core (9 credit hours)
Choose three of the following courses:
PAF 530 Management of Urban Government (3)
PAF 531 Community Conflict Resolution (3)
PAF 565 Theories and Practices of Democracy (3)
PAF 566 Participatory Governance and Civic Engagement (3)

Electives (6 credit hours)
Electives are chosen from a list of preapproved courses and are selected with the faculty advisor. The faculty advisor directs the selection of the electives to ensure that they focus on a common theme and to see that the student's experiences in the courses align with the learning goals outlined for the certificate.

Students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") and to have no more than one grade below a "B-" in courses taken to complete the certificate program.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:

• Demonstrate knowledge of democratic theory and its connection to participatory governance, and;
• Understand advantages and disadvantages of different models of participatory governance

Students receiving this certificate are prepared to pursue a career in a field related to public administration or public policy, particularly in the areas of participatory governance and public engagement. This may include opportunities as a director, manager or policy analyst whose work in a local, state or federal agency, nonprofit organization, or private organization interfaces with the public sector.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree, in any field, from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• statement of career and educational goals
• proof of English proficiency

Students from related fields such as political science, planning, urban and metropolitan studies, sociology and other social science degrees might be interested in this program. However, all eligible students are considered.

See the graduate programs website for additional application information.

Contact Information

School of Public Affairs 
spa@asu.edu
602-496-0450