Program Overview
The Public Management Certificate provides you with a solid foundation of understanding and skills in public-sector management. Throughout the course of the program, you will develop the ability to analyze governing institutions and the processes of modern government along with some of the basic skills and techniques required to manage effectively in the public sector.
This certificate is designed for individuals currently working in the public sector who do not have a background in administration and want to improve their administrative and management skills through a flexible learning schedule.
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Quick Facts
| Program Type | Certificate Program |
| Program Length | 12 months studying part time (one course per term) |
| Start Date | Entry is possible in any semester (September/Fall, January/Winter, and May/Spring). |
| Application Deadline |
Domestic Students: May 1 (for September entry), October 1 (for January entry), February 1 (for May entry) *JSGS does not recommend graduate certificate programs to international students due to complications with maintaining registration across terms and course offerings per term that may affect full-time student status. |
| Tuition | Effective September 1, 2023, the tuition rate per three-credit-unit course is $2,809 for domestic students and approximately $4,382 per three-credit-unit course for international students*. Students pay as they take courses. Students are also required to pay off-campus graduate student fees. |
| JSGS Scholarship Funding | None |
| GRE/GMAT Requirement | None |
| English Language Requirements | Proof of language proficiency is required. |
| Location | This certificate is delivered fully online and is offered only by the University of Saskatchewan campus. |
| Potential Career Paths | Manager, Program Advisor |
Core Learning Outcomes
In consultation with our public sector and community partners, the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy has created a signature JSGS pedagogy to support your development in core competencies and skills needed for success in public administration. This competency framework encourages students to demonstrate the ability to:
- Develop and apply an evidence-informed approach to policy issues and policy options;
- Be able to communicate with different audiences to build relationships and harness diverse perspectives to gain understanding, design, and advance policy solutions; and
- Lead self, teams, and partners to implement policy decisions, manage change initiatives, monitor progress, and support continuous improvement.
As a student enrolled in the Public Management Certificate, depending on your course selection, you may be exposed to specific readings, assignments and activities that will help you both acquire and develop the ability to:
- Apply the key concepts and principles of modern governance and administration, focusing particularly on the philosophical, ethical and constitutional issues associated with the function of public managers in a democratic context;
- Demonstrate critical and analytical thought about issues central to governance and public management;
- Critically communicate meaningful research and knowledge about democratic
institutions and public management; - Characterize the multiple institutional roles that are necessary for democratic societies to function effectively;
- Reflect and demonstrate growth in your core competencies of Politics and Democracy;
- Describe contemporary concepts and theories in strategic management and understand
the scope and limits of their application to public sector management; - Apply methods for thinking strategically when confronting organizational challenges;
- Apply techniques to influence those around you for achieving organizational objectives;
- Assess and respond to the forces of change;
- Identify cultural markers and consider ways to manage cultural change in the public
sector; - Consider opportunities for identifying and pursuing higher-level organizational goals;
- Characterize the multiple institutional roles that are necessary for democratic societies
to function effectively; and - Understand the current trend of “self-awareness” in management
Upon successfully completing your Public Management Certificate, we encourage you to speak with an academic advisor to explore the option of applying your courses to a full master's degree at JSGS.
Courses
Curriculum
Certificate students are required to complete 9 credit units, consisting of one core course (3 credit units) and two elective courses (6 credit units). Students must register in one of the following core courses (3 credit units) – online section only – offered by the University of Saskatchewan campus:
This class analyzes governing institutions and the process of modern government within Canada as a means of enhancing a student's understanding of policy formulation and implementation. This course is intended to provide a basis for critically assessing political and administrative decision-making and policy outcomes.
Students must also complete two of the following elective courses (6 credits hrs):
This class provides a survey of Canadian public finance. Students will examine rationales for government intervention in a market economy, the assessment of public policy, how government decisions are made, and the impact of government expenditures and taxation on the economy and the well-being of Canadians. The course will also examine fiscal policy in a federated system and how fiscal matters affect federal/provincial relations in decision-making.
Administrative decision-making and policy development often require the analysis of quantitative data. This course will introduce students to descriptive and inferential statistics often used in policy environments so that they will be effective data users and interpreters. Students will be taught how to use and present descriptive statistics.
There is growing attention being given to executive leadership, applied ethics and efforts to create and sustain trust within and through the profession of public administration. This course descriptively and critically examines these three key concepts in relation to the professional public servant and the environments of public sector decision and policy making.
Through lectures, videos, exercises and simulated role-plays, this course will provide a theoretical foundation useful in understanding dispute resolution; analyzing the styles (competitive, cooperative, etc.) adopted in problem-solving; enhancing communication and problem-solving skills used in reaching agreements; considering the strategic and tactical options available when resolving disputes; and reviewing the ethical dimensions of bargaining and facilitating agreements. Negotiation and mediation practices will be considered extensively with reference made to arbitration and other Alternate Dispute Resolution options. One-on-one, multi-issue, multi-party and multi-setting scenarios will be explored.
This course focuses on developing practical knowledge and skills public sector managers require to effectively “get things done” through others. Management skills developed include self-assessment/reflection, goal-setting, teamwork/collaboration, verbal/written communication, influence/persuasion, conflict resolution, stress management, and creative thinking.
Tuition
Effective September 1, 2024, the tuition rate per three-credit-unit course is $2,977.50 for domestic students and approximately $5,210.62 per three-credit-unit course for international students*. Students pay as they take courses. Students are also required to pay off-campus graduate student fees.
If you are offered admission into the Public Management Graduate Certificate program, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $1,000 CADis required to save your seat. You have 30 days from the date of the offer of admission being made to accept. If you enroll in the program consistent with the terms of the offer, the $1,000 deposit will be applied to your student account. If you do not enroll, the deposit is retained by JSGS.
NOTE: Tuition and fees are subject to change. Should there be a discrepancy between the information posted on the institution's website and information posted on the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy website, the institution's website should be viewed as accurate.
Admissions and Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Applications to Graduate Certificate programs are accepted on an ongoing basis and are reviewed in the order in which they are completed. Therefore, it is to your advantage to submit a completed application as early as possible, as enrollment is limited. The admission process is competitive and late application submissions may be at a disadvantage.
Entry is possible in any semester (September/Fall, January/Winter, and May/Spring).
| Program Entry | Latest Application Deadline for Domestic Students |
| September/Fall | May 1 |
| January/Winter | October 1 |
| May/Spring | February 1 |
To meet these deadlines, ALL components of your application must be received by the dates above. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed nor will they be deferred to future terms.
* JSGS does not recommend graduate certificate programs to international students due to complications with maintaining registration across terms and course offerings per term that may affect full-time student status.
NOTICE: JSGS does not recommend graduate certificate programs to international students for the following reasons:
- The certificates are only 3 courses (9 credit units) in length, and to be considered a full-time student, you must register in 6 credit units (2 courses) per term.
- For example, if a graduate certificate student wants to maintain full-time status, the maximum time in the graduate certificate program would be 6 months if starting in January (encompasses Winter and Spring terms), or 8 months if starting in May (encompasses Spring and Fall terms) or September (encompasses Fall and Winter terms), and a student would need to take a fourth course and pay additional tuition to have full-time status in each term.
- JSGS cannot guarantee that courses required for our graduate certificate programs will be available each term.
- If a required course is unavailable, it can affect the opportunity for full-time studies.
Application Qualifications
Please ensure that you meet the entrance requirements of the University of Saskatchewan College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
| Application Qualifications | |
| University of Saskatchewan | Applicants must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university. A cumulative weighted average of at least 70 percent must be maintained during the final two years (60 credit units). Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English. |
Application Process and Required Documentation
Please note that you must submit an application through the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at the University of Saskatchewan campus. The online application takes about 30 minutes to complete. You may start an application, save it and return to it any time before the application deadline.
When applying to the JSGS University of Saskatchewan campus, please note that you must submit an application through the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The online application takes about 30 minutes to complete. You may start an application, save it and return to it any time before the application deadline.
Once you have completed an online application, you will need to upload a series of documents. Please note that in most cases, you will need to allow one business day after paying your application fee before you are permitted to upload documents.
If your application fee has not been processed after 48 hours after being submitted, please contact grad.studies@usask.ca or phone 1-306-966-5788 for assistance. Please ensure you are checking the status of the application fee before emailing or calling. To check the status, please log into your application profile.
| Required Documentation | Description |
| Transcripts | Preliminary Statement of Marks
Post-secondary Transcripts If you receive an offer of admission, you will then be required to have your official post-secondary transcripts sent (by mail in a sealed envelope directly from the institution) to the address below. Please do not send official documents until we request them. College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
|
| Letter of Recommendation |
When applying to the University of Saskatchewan campus, you will need to submit three letters of reference. Two of these referees must be academic, and one must be professional. As an applicant, you are responsible for sending the reference letter links and updating the referee’s contact information. Through your application profile, you can update your referees, change your referee contact information, and send/re-send the link for the letter of reference. |
| Proof of English language proficiency (if required) |
For students who are required to provide proof of English proficiency:
If you receive an Offer of Admission you may be required to have your official language test scores sent to the address below. Please do not send official documents until we request them. College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies |
| Resume | A current resume that includes background and relevant employment history. |
| Personal Statement / Letter of Intent | The University of Saskatchewan requires that all Graduate Certificate applicants submit a personal statement, two pages maximum, that outlines your purpose in applying to the certificate program. The Admissions Committee wants to see that you can clearly articulate your interests and ideas. You should make every effort to ensure your personal statement is free of spelling and grammatical errors, is properly referenced (if applicable) and is concise. For questions about the application process or requirements for the Graduate Certificate program, please contact: Graduate Administrator | jsgs@usask.ca Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy |
Career Focus
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