Certificate Programs

Earn Certificates in Communication or Program Planning and Evaluation

Students enrolled at the Clinton School of Public Service can now add skill-building certificates in Communication for Social Change or Program Planning & Evaluation for Social Change while earning their Master of Public Service.

Each certificate was created with on-the-ground knowledge and feedback from Clinton School alumni and partner organizations, and grounded in the principles of creating transformative, sustainable change. Students learn innovative strategies for communication, leadership, and evidence-based program design while adding certifications that create a standout addition to their résumés.

Communication for Social Change Certificate

The Communication for Social Change certificate is designed to help students interested in becoming public service leaders improve their impact, performance, and effectiveness as communicators. It responds to significant interest from non-governmental organizations, the nonprofit sector, and government bodies seeking graduates with strong written and oral communication skills. This certificate specializes in developing leadership skills that inspire people to create solutions for complex challenges in their communities.

To earn a Communication for Social Change certificate, students must complete a total of three courses and a Capstone project focused on communication strategies for social change.

Curriculum Requirements for the Communication for Social Change Certificate:

CSPS 7303 – Communication and Social Exchange

Being an effective public service professional requires the knowledge and skills to act in positive and productive ways that allow for authentic participation by those affected by policies, processes, and actions. This course focuses on the constitutive nature of communication to create and maintain equitable social worlds. Students will explore various theories of democracy, civic participation, and public issue and policy research and formation, analyze case studies to understand the complexities of creating and maintaining equitable social worlds, and engage in exercises to develop practical facilitation skills.

CSPS 7383 – Professional Communication and Civic Engagement

Following the principles of a social construction perspective of communication, this course focuses on the communicative behaviors used in effective civic participation. Following a review of the practical implications of social construction theory on civic engagement, students will study and practice the kinds of effective interpersonal and public communication that contribute to effective public service.

CSPS 7314 – Advocacy in Public Service

This course examines the role of public discourse in constituting (molding, shaping, and even distorting) publics, public decisions, and, ultimately, public life. Specifically, it considers persuasion and advocacy and their influence on democratic processes and public policy.

CSPS 7320 – Capstone project focused on communication strategies for social change.

The Capstone is the culminating field course designed to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their expertise. The Capstone employs an independent study format primarily overseen by a Clinton School faculty advisor. Through the Capstone, students: (1) apply the knowledge, skills, and values from the Clinton School program in a sophisticated way to a real-world problem or challenge; (2) understand, engage, and seek to transform complex systems; and (3) produce a deliverable that meets an identified community need and exemplifies, in its product, the knowledge, skills, and values of the Clinton School curriculum. Students have three (3) semesters to complete Capstone once they enroll in the course.

Program Planning & Evaluation for Social Change Certificate:

The Program Planning and Evaluation for Social Change Certificate teaches students how to analyze data to produce real change in the communities they serve. While earning this certificate, students will grow stronger in the areas of field research, information collection, management, and implementation techniques and in evaluating the performance, outcome, and impact of a project.

To earn their Program Planning and Evaluation for Social Change certificate, students must complete a total of three courses, and a Capstone project focused on program planning, development, and evaluation.

Curriculum Requirements for the Program Planning & Evaluation for Social Change Certificate:

CSPS 7333 – Program Planning and Development

This course provides students with the analytical tools to enhance their skills and competencies to diagnose problems effectively and formulate solutions within organizations and communities. Emphasis is placed on models, theories, methods, and processes used to systematically plan public service interventions that contribute to the well-being of communities and organizations. Topics covered include identifying and assessing needs and assets, setting goals and objectives, researching best practices, developing a feasible and sustainable plan for change, and evaluating how well the project is likely to affect the change envisioned. Underlying values of social justice and collaborative problem-solving provide a benchmark for discussions on these topics. Prerequisite: CSPS 7335 - Field Research in Public Service.

CSPS 7334 – Program Evaluation

This course builds on the skills students gain in Program Planning and Development and Field Research in Public Service. The primary objective is for students to learn and apply tools frequently used to determine whether local, national, and international public policies and programs are achieving their intended goals. In addition, in this course, students learn how to use appropriate research methods to evaluate public and not-for-profit programs and entities (e.g., nonprofit organizations, foundations, NGOs), develop strategies for assessing, and manage evaluation projects. Prerequisites: CSPS 7333: Program Planning and Development and CSPS 7334: Field Research in Public Service.

CSPS 7315 – Data Analysis

This course provides an overview of statistical methods and hands-on application of statistical tools to managerial decision-making in public service. Understanding statistical analysis and working with qualitative data are essential competencies of professionalism in public service. Course topics include research design, data collection and measurement, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, processes for selecting statistical tests and assessment of statistical assumptions, measures of association and other bivariate statistics, index variable construction, regression analysis, and an overview of other selected statistical and quantitative methods applied to social problems in public service. In addition, students get hands-on experience using statistical analysis software. Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on understanding the reasoning behind the methods and tests, the assumptions under which they are valid, and the correct interpretation of results.

CSPS 7320 – Capstone project focused on program planning, development, and evaluation.

The Capstone is the culminating field course designed to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their expertise. The Capstone employs an independent study format primarily overseen by a Clinton School faculty advisor. Through the Capstone, students: (1) apply the knowledge, skills, and values from the Clinton School program in a sophisticated way to a real-world problem or challenge; (2) understand, engage, and seek to transform complex systems; and (3) produce a deliverable that meets an identified community need and exemplifies, in its product, the knowledge, skills, and values of the Clinton School curriculum. Students have three (3) semesters to complete Capstone once they enroll in the course.

Enrolling in a Certificate Program

Certificate programs are available only to students enrolled in the Master of Public Service degree program. To enroll in a certificate program, students should talk with their advisors about completing the required courses and focusing their Capstone project so that it aligns with the certificate requirements.

Ready to Make a Change?

You can request more information on the certificate programs, schedule a video chat with the admissions team, or start your application by clicking here. We look forward to hearing from you.