Concurrent Certificate and Degree Options

As part of the Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) degree, students may choose a concentration of courses resulting in a certificate.  The following is a selection of available certificate options. 

Certificate of Legal Studies

Public Administration students may earn a Certificate in Legal Studies from the College of Law, in addition to the EMPA degree.  The certificate is available upon completion of four law courses, beginning with PPA 742 Public Administration and Law and including PPA 751 JD/MPA Seminar: Regulatory Law and Policy.  Advance application is required to Professor William C. Banks of the College of Law as early in the fall semester as possible. 

Graduate Certificate in Environmental Decision Making

In addition to the course work outlined for the Environmental Policy and Administration area of study, public administration students have opportunities to pursue course work toward a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Decision Making at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF).  The certificate requires 15 credits (five courses) as specified in the certificate requirements.  Further information is available from the program advisor.  Advanced application is required to Dean Robert Frey of SUNY ESF.

Certificate Options in Conflict Resolution

The Certificate of Advanced Study in Conflict Resolution is a 12 (twelve) credit certificate available to 1) matriculated graduate students at Syracuse University and SUNY ESF to be completed in conjunction with their graduate degree; 2) Mid-Career Professionals as a stand-alone graduate program. (Please note: Mid-career applicants should have 7 or more years of mid-level professional experience, including management responsibilities with some public sector work
preferred.)

The Certificate is recognition of learning and experience in conflict studies. The requirements include four components: (1) substantive familiarity with at
least one source of conflict that will be of major concern during the coming decade, (2) knowledge of traditional approaches to resolving conflicts, (3) knowledge of alternative approaches to resolving conflicts, and
(4) experience in conflict resolution activities.

Students complete 12 credit hours of coursework in one of four areas of interest.

• Applied Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management

• International Conflicts and their Management

• Social Movements and Strategies of Conflict

• Environmental, Public Participation and Conflict Studies

Requirements and application information is available from, Catherine Gerard, in the PARC Offices, 4th floor Maxwell Hall, (315) 443-2367 or on the PARC website.  

Information Technology Policy and Management Certificate Program

The Certificate Program in Information Technology, Policy and Management is designed in conjunction with Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies and the School of Engineering and Computer Sciences.  The ITPM Certificate Program is a 12 credit Certificate of Advanced Studies.  It combines the policy, management and technical components of the three schools to offer a unique integrated curriculum.  Admission to the certificate program and successful completion of all required courses will allow for this certificate designation to be on your transcript.  

The program requires that students complete two approved Maxwell courses, one approved IST course, and one approved Engineering and Computer Sciences course (this course will have a hands-on lab component).  The ITPM certificate program is administratively housed in the Maxwell School's Information Computing and Technology Group (ICT) and led by the ITPM Director, Professor Stuart Thorson.  Students must apply internally to the ITPM Certificate Program.  Current students may apply by sending Professor Stuart Thorson  (thorson@syr.edu) an email outlining your current program of study, your specific interest in the IT policy and management and your interest in matriculating into the ITPM Certificate Program.  

Certificate of Security Studies

This concentration recognizes graduate students who have sought to prepare themselves as professionals in the expanding fields of national security and counterterrorism.  A certificate recognizing this accomplishment is available to graduate students, in good standing, who have taken a concentration of courses during their graduate degree program at Syracuse University. Further information is available online at http://insct.syr.edu/Certificate_Security.htm

Concurrent Degree Programs

It is possible to earn the EMPA degree jointly or concurrently with other graduate degrees at Syracuse University.  Concurrent degree programs allow for a partial sharing of credits between programs, so that students can obtain both degrees with fewer credits than would be required if they obtained both separately. While just about any combination of areas of study is possible; some recent examples of concurrent degrees completed include graduate study in Public Administration combined with Anthropology, Information Science and Technology, Economics, Geography, and Management.  Additionally, current graduate students enrolled in SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry may apply to obtain the MA concurrently with their other studies.  SUNY ESF students should seek approval from their home program office in ESF prior to application to Maxwell.