Public Management Graduate Certificate
November 1, 2025
January 12, 2026
A Public Management Certificate prepares you for a rewarding career in public service
The Graduate Certificate in Public Management through the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, meets the needs of working adults who are looking to enhance their public management and leadership skills. The 13 credit hour graduate certificate is perfect for professionals across a multitude of fields who wish to prepare themselves for management roles. The certificate also serves professionals looking for a career change with ambitions of leadership in the public sector.
Why choose Ohio State for the online Public Management Graduate Certificate?
As a John Glenn College student at Ohio State, you’ll benefit from a supportive learning community, access to world-class faculty, and the opportunity to network with influential professionals. Additionally, lifelong learning is always available to you as an Ohio State graduate. From podcasts and monthly events to conferences and a variety of professional development courses, the Glenn College is committed to supporting you throughout your career. One of the benefits of completing this online certificate is that your journey can continue with the online Master of Public Administration (MPA) or the Master of Public Administration Leadership (MPAL). 100% of the certificate’s credits can be applied into one of these master’s degree programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our 13-credit hour online public administration certificate caters to working professionals seeking to enhance their public management and leadership skills. Ideal for professionals across various fields, this certificate prepares you for management roles within the public sector. This certificate is also perfect for those who ultimately want to pursue a master’s degree but wish to make your application more competitive or aren’t quite ready to commit to a master’s degree program. Whether you’re aiming for a career change or seeking advancement, this flexible program is designed to meet your needs.
Public management is the practice of administering public organizations for the purpose of achieving public goals. It involves planning, organizing, leading, and controlling resources to deliver public services efficiently and effectively. Public managers work in a variety of settings, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and public-private partnerships.
This public management certificate offers specialized knowledge, practical skills and networking opportunities which can effectively lead to professional development and career advancement. By gaining in-depth understanding of public sector principles, developing essential management skills and connecting with professionals in the field, you can position yourself for leadership roles and make a positive impact on your community.
One of the benefits of completing this online certificate is that your journey can continue with the online Master of Public Administration (MPA) or the Master of Public Administration Leadership (MPAL). 100% of the certificate’s credits can be applied into one of these programs.
Related Programs
Accelerate your career with one of our other public affairs programs. All certificate credits transfer into either the Master of Public Administration or the Master of Public Administration and Leadership program. Whether you’re exploring professional development opportunities or building a strong foundation for a master’s degree, our programs offer in-demand skills in a flexible format.
Related Programs
Accelerate your career with one of our other public affairs programs. All certificate credits transfer into either the Master of Public Administration or the Master of Public Administration and Leadership program. Whether you’re exploring professional development opportunities or building a strong foundation for a master’s degree, our programs offer in-demand skills in a flexible format.
Federal Policy and Management Graduate Certificate
Learn to skillfully navigate the federal policy environment.
Criminal Justice Administration Graduate Certificate
Advance into administrative roles within criminal justice organizations.
Nonprofit Management Graduate Certificate
Lead nonprofits to create meaningful change in your community.
Academic Calendar
Students can enroll in the Online Public Management Certificate year-round. Start your program in Spring, Summer, or Autumn term with application deadlines in November, March, and June.
Academic Calendar
Students can enroll in the Online Public Management Certificate year-round. Start your program in Spring, Summer, or Autumn term with application deadlines in November, March, and June.
Admission Criteria
To qualify for this certificate, you must meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
For your application, you will be required to submit:
- College transcript(s)
- If your GPA is below a 3.0, then one letter of recommendation is required for consideration
- Statement of purpose
- Resume or CV
The Ohio State University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).
SARA is a national initiative that increases student access to distance education courses and programs while maintaining compliance with state regulations. Institutions participating in SARA can offer educational opportunities in all 49 SARA member states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico without seeking individual approval in each state.
California is not a SARA member state, however, OSU may offer online courses and programs to students located in California under the California Private Post-Secondary Act of 2009.
The Application Process
Once you understand your program’s admission criteria, please note the application deadline. You’ll need a quiet space and a variety of materials for your application. To learn more, please see our Admissions page for the full process. Ready to Apply? Find your application here.
Career Outlook
The field of public administration offers strong career opportunities. With the increasing complexity of government and the growing demand for efficient services, skilled public managers are in high demand across various roles including program management, public and government relations and public affairs.
Top Occupations by Median Income
What They Do
Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.
Work Activities
Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Set goals and deadlines for the department. Acquire, distribute and store supplies.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $64,740
- Mid Level: $108,390
- Senior Level: $200,010
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
6.2%
Related Careers
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
- Facilities Managers
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- General and Operations Managers
- Project Management Specialists
Job Sectors
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
What They Do
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
Work Activities
Direct preparation and distribution of written and verbal information to inform employees of benefits, compensation, and personnel policies. Design, evaluate, and modify benefits policies to ensure that programs are current, competitive, and in compliance with legal requirements. Fulfill all reporting requirements of all relevant government rules and regulations, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $81,660
- Mid Level: $140,360
- Senior Level:
Job Outlook
Below Average
Projected Growth
2.1%
Related Careers
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
- Financial Managers
- Human Resources Managers
- Human Resources Specialists
- Labor Relations Specialists
Job Sectors
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Economics and Accounting
What They Do
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.
Work Activities
Report violations of compliance or regulatory standards to duly authorized enforcement agencies as appropriate or required. Identify compliance issues that require follow-up or investigation. Discuss emerging compliance issues to ensure that management and employees are informed about compliance reporting systems, policies, and practices.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $68,860
- Mid Level: $136,550
- Senior Level: $227,590
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
5.7%
Related Careers
- Compliance Officers
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors
- Management Analysts
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
Job Sectors
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Personnel and Human Resources
What They Do
Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
Work Activities
Establish and maintain relationships with individual or business customers or provide assistance with problems these customers may encounter. Oversee the flow of cash or financial instruments. Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of workers in branches, offices, or departments of establishments, such as branch banks, brokerage firms, risk and insurance departments, or credit departments.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $86,490
- Mid Level: $161,700
- Senior Level:
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
16.5%
Related Careers
- Accountants and Auditors
- Credit Analysts
- Financial and Investment Analysts
- Loan Officers
- Personal Financial Advisors
Job Sectors
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Economics and Accounting
- Administrative
- Mathematics
What They Do
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.
Work Activities
Assign, supervise, and review the activities of public relations staff. Confer with labor relations managers to develop internal communications that keep employees informed of company activities. Design and edit promotional publications, such as brochures.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $78,880
- Mid Level: $138,520
- Senior Level:
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
6.9%
Related Careers
- Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Management Analysts
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Marketing Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
What They Do
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.
Work Activities
Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management. Direct activities of professional and technical staff members and volunteers. Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $50,020
- Mid Level: $78,240
- Senior Level: $129,820
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
8.2%
Related Careers
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Community Health Workers
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
- Healthcare Social Workers
- Rehabilitation Counselors
Job Sectors
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Psychology
- Education and Training
What They Do
Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.
Work Activities
Analyze training needs to develop new training programs or modify and improve existing programs. Evaluate instructor performance and the effectiveness of training programs, providing recommendations for improvement. Plan, develop, and provide training and staff development programs, using knowledge of the effectiveness of methods such as classroom training, demonstrations, on-the-job training, meetings, conferences, and workshops.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $75,810
- Mid Level: $127,090
- Senior Level: $219,990
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
7.3%
Related Careers
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Instructional Coordinators
- Management Analysts
- Training and Development Specialists
Job Sectors
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Customer and Personal Service
What They Do
Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
Work Activities
Negotiate collective bargaining agreements. Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability. Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $49,880
- Mid Level: $93,500
- Senior Level: $153,440
Job Outlook
Below Average
Projected Growth
-0.3%
Related Careers
- Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
- Human Resources Managers
- Human Resources Specialists
Job Sectors
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Administration and Management
What They Do
Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.
Work Activities
Interpret and explain human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations. Hire employees and process hiring-related paperwork. Maintain current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $45,440
- Mid Level: $72,910
- Senior Level: $126,540
Job Outlook
Bright
Related Careers
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
- Human Resources Managers
Job Sectors
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Administrative
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
What They Do
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.
Work Activities
Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source. Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility. Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $40,750
- Mid Level: $69,780
- Senior Level: $129,480
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
6.2%
Related Careers
- Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Marketing Managers
- Public Relations Managers
- Writers and Authors
Job Sectors
- Communications and Media
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
What They Do
Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.
Work Activities
Present information with a variety of instructional techniques or formats, such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or lectures. Obtain, organize, or develop training procedure manuals, guides, or course materials, such as handouts or visual materials. Evaluate modes of training delivery, such as in-person or virtual, to optimize training effectiveness, training costs, or environmental impacts.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $37,510
- Mid Level: $65,850
- Senior Level: $120,190
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
11.5%
Related Careers
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Instructional Coordinators
- Management Analysts
- Training and Development Managers
Job Sectors
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Administration and Management
National occupational information in Ohio State Online’s Career Outlook tool is sourced from O*NET Online and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual wage displayed to the right of each occupational title above is based on the BLS Employment Projections program. Outlook and percent change indicate projected growth or decline over the next 10 years.
Curriculum
Designed for professionals and students from diverse backgrounds, this certificate equips you with skills essential in project management, managerial decision-making, and organizational leadership. For this graduate certificate, ten credits will be in core courses and three credits will be elective.
Learn to manage public sector organizations with a focus on the external environment: context of public sector organizations, their structure, how they operate; managing organizational performance, innovation, and change.
Focuses on planning and financial decision-making in public and nonprofit organizations. It provides a higher-level understanding of government and nonprofit budgeting processes.
Managerial Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Organizations with focus on internal operations, processes, and resources; human resource management, information technology; other aspects of internal capacity.
Electives
Courses vary from 1 to 3 credit hours.
Negotiation skills have been identified as critical for effective, successful public management and leadership. This course explores the major concepts and theories of negotiation to improve negotiation skills. Through readings, role play exercises and class discussion, students develop an understanding of individual negotiation styles, core approaches to negotiation and dispute resolution, how to negotiate with multiple parties and to increase confidence in individual negotiation skills.
This course provides opportunities for managers to identify common biases and logical fallacies in decision-making and employ skills and techniques to compensate for them.
Introduction to international standards and methods for project management (PM); the application of tools, the basic, ancillary, and “soft” skills for successful PM; public sector challenges; and strengths/limitations in a complex organic environment.
Performance Management has been used by the private sector for decades, but is now being adopted at all levels of government as a management tool to help government organizations become more effective and efficient. This course will provide students with an understanding of performance management principles including how to create useful performance information, how to use performance data to manage operations, how to use performance information to develop more effective employees, and how to use performance information to make financial decisions.
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an integrated strategic perspective on the management and leadership of public sector organizations. In the course, we adopt the viewpoint of an upper level manager – an individual charged with diagnosing complex situations and resolving them in ways that enhance organizational performance. We will focus on how public managers can position their organizations to achieve desired program outcomes through fundamental strategic management techniques.
Upon completion of the course, students should understand that public officials have the responsibility to ethically acquire goods and services at the local, state and federal levels to meet the public’s needs in a cost-effective manner. This requires an understanding of basic procurement principles, legal authorities, socio-economic considerations, and various procurement methods available to accomplish these responsibilities. This course provides students with practical knowledge regarding contracting for goods and services, techniques to ensure successful outcomes, and a perspective on public procurement policy and issues, providing students an understanding of the government procurement process from both the government and private industry perspectives.
Understanding Online Course Types
As you research the right online program for you, you likely will come across the terms “asynchronous” and “synchronous.” Learn what these terms mean and how they’re important to consider when understanding how a program will fit into your life.
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Program Faculty
Our faculty of industry experts bring real-world knowledge directly into the classroom. Learn practical skills that can be immediately applied in the workplace to gain experience and make an impact.
Dr. Megan LePere-Schloop
Assistant Professor
Professor Megan LePere-Schloop is a leading expert in public and nonprofit management. Her work, recognized with prestigious awards, has been published in top academic journals including Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly (NVSQ), the Journal for Public Administration Research and Theory (JPART), and the International Review of Administrative Sciences and informs real-world practices. In the classroom she incorporates insights from her own professional management experience, emphasizing active learning and the practical application of theory.
David Landsbergen
Associate Professor
Testimonials
See what our students and alumni have to say about their experience at The Ohio State University.
Testimonials
See what our students and alumni have to say about their experience at The Ohio State University.
"The certificate in public management gave me a strong foundation in leadership and management practices that I was able to implement in my career immediately. I made invaluable connections with both my peers and instructors, opening doors to future career opportunities."
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"I could not have faced so many obstacles without the support, strength and guidance from the faculty and staff. Even when times were tough, they believed in me, so I believed in me."
Tomitha Zimmerman Ohio State Online Grad -
"While going into the program, I was concerned that by Ohio State being one of the largest institutions, I would feel like one in 1,000 students. Instead, I felt a sense of close-knit, connected support from both classmates and faculty."
Stephanie Moore Ohio State Online Grad -
"Being able to apply everything I was working on for school immediately to my work was my favorite part of the program."
Derek Danek Ohio State Online Grad -
"I attribute my recent two promotions to educating myself at Ohio State. I really think that getting the coursework done helped me excel at my current position, and it was recognized."
Demi MacLennan Ohio State Online Grad -
"Ohio State is a large institution with a lot of possibilities and opportunities. You will meet people who you can connect with and who will connect you with others."
Cara North Ohio State Online Grad -
"As an online student, there's so many connections you can make that will have a really meaningful impact on your education. The opportunities that exist at Ohio State feel limitless."
Audra Hanners Ohio State Online Grad
Tuition Fee Overview
Investing in your future with a higher education degree is one of the best investments you can make for your future success. At Ohio State, we know understanding your program’s cost is an important part of your decision-making process. Below are the tuition fees you can expect with your program. Estimates are based on the expenses typical of an Ohio State Online student who would take 6 credit hours each semester as a part-time student. Actual costs may vary.
| Tuition Fees | Part-Time – Per Credit Hour (unless otherwise noted) |
|---|---|
| Instructional Fee | $829.75 |
| General Fee | $32.63 |
| Distance Learning Fee | $100.00 (per semester) |
| Non-Resident Surcharge (if applicable) | $200.00 (per semester) |
Tuition fees are subject to change. The table above serves as a guide and not an official bursar’s bill. Full-Time costs are total tuition costs per semester.
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