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Online MPA Public Administration and Nonprofit Administration Certificates

Advance in Your Career with a Personalized, Online MPA Certificate

100% Online

Finish in 9 months

Affordable Tuition

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  • Duration 9 Months
  • Cost per Credit $660
  • Credit Hours 13-16

Program Benefits

  • Complete your Public Administration or Nonprofit Administration Certificate in just 9 months.
  • Continue your master’s program by applying course credit earned from the certificate programs.
  • Experience a Christian, liberal arts education.

Become a Transformative Community Leader

Personalize your studies with an online Public Administration or Nonprofit Administration Certificate from Calvin University. Build a deeper understanding of the public and nonprofit sector and complete your MPA graduate certificate in just 9 months.

Guided by Calvin’s mission of renewal, MPA certificate programs feature a liberal arts foundation and Christian curriculum taught by experts. Advance in your career with a 100% online, flexible, and affordable MPA certificate.

Qualify for Advancement Opportunities

Graduates of Calvin’s MPA certificate programs are highly qualified for top roles in public and nonprofit administration. With skills in leadership, ethics, communication, and finance, you’ll be sought after by top employers in the field.

Top positions for MPA certificate holders include Social and Community Service Manager ($74,000/year)1 and Urban and Regional Planner ($78,500/year).2

Explore Careers

Choose from Three Certificate Options

The online MPA program offers three certificates for a personalized degree that furthers each student’s individual career goals. And courses from the MPA certificates will apply to the full master’s program.

Public Administration Certificate

Prepare for a leadership role in public organizations by exploring topics in public service, management, community development, and local government.

Nonprofit Administration Certificate

Gain the skills needed for nonprofit management such as leadership, policy and program evaluation, financial management, marketing, and fundraising.

Program and Policy Analysis Certificate

This certificate provides analytic skills necessary to conduct and understand policy analysis and program planning in public and nonprofit sectors.

Personalize Your MPA

13 – 16 credits

8-week terms

Earn a customized MPA certificate that will help you meet your goals. Complete your certificate in nine months and continue your master’s program with foundational skills in leadership, ethics, and communication.

The MPA certificates require five courses and require 13-16 total credit hours depending on the certificate. Study is 100% online and asynchronous, providing flexible and affordable instruction in eight-week terms.

Public Administration Certificate Course Highlights (16 total credit hours):

  • PNA 501 Foundations of Public Service
  • PNA 502 Foundations of Public and Nonprofit Administration
  • PNA 522 Public Management
  • PNA 524 Economic and Community Development
  • PNA 526 Local Politics and Government

Nonprofit Administration Certificate Course Highlights (14 total credit hours):

  • PNA 501 Foundations of Public Service
  • PNA 502 Foundations of Public and Nonprofit Administration
  • PNA 524 Economic and Community Development
  • NOPM 608 Nonprofit Financial Management
  • NOPM 607 Nonprofit Boards and Community Leadership or NOPM 609 Designing an Effective Nonprofit Organization

Program and Policy Analysis Certificate Course Highlights (13 total credit hours):

  • PNA 501 Foundations of Public Service
  • PNA 502 Foundations of Public and Nonprofit Administration
  • PNA 600 Program Evaluation for Public and Nonprofit Sectors
  • INFO 601: Data Wrangling
  • INFO 603: Data Visualization
View Complete Curriculum

Online MPA Certificate Program Admission Details

9 transfer credits accepted

No application fee

The online MPA certificate programs are now enrolling and have six start dates each year. To apply for a program, you will need:

A completed application
Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Official transcripts of all post-secondary academic coursework to demonstrate a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
A personal statement, one letter of recommendation, and a CV or resume

Take the next step toward achieving your goals today. Apply now.

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Estimated Tuition

$660 per credit

$9,240 – $10,560 total tuition

Calvin University’s online MPA certificate programs offer students an affordable, effective education that builds upon existing knowledge to offer a valuable return on investment. Gain skills in public and nonprofit administration through a flexible, financially competitive program.

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What You’ll Learn

The Public Administration and Nonprofit Administration certificate programs provide opportunities for students to develop and apply leadership and management skills to specific areas of public and nonprofit administration, including communication, critical thinking, and problem solving.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of Calvin’s MPA programs will demonstrate ability to:

  • Articulate and apply a Reformed Christian vision for public service across government, society, and the church.
  • Participate in, and contribute to, the policy process.
  • Analyze and synthesize data and think critically to solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment.
  • Lead and manage in the public interest.
  • Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.

Faculty Spotlight

Mark Hessler

Mark Hessler, Program Director

Education

  • Bachelor of Science (BS) – Criminal Justice – Grand Valley State University (1993)
  • Master of Public Administration (MPA) – Grand Valley State University (1999)

Academic Interests

  • Public and Nonprofit Administration
  • Public Management and Policy
  • Local Politics and Government
  • Management and Leadership
  • Law Enforcement Policy and Practice
  • Law Enforcement : Leading Organizations, Structure, Culture, and Change
  • Security Studies
  • Criminal Justice

Teaching Focus

  • Public and Nonprofit Administration
  • Local Politics and Government
  • Public Policy
  • Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement Leadership, Policy and Practice

Research and Scholarship

  • Public and Nonprofit Leadership: Service, Influence, and Transformation
  • Issues in Law Enforcement policy and practice
  • Criminal Justice and Security Studies

Your Support Network

All of our instructors and staff are dedicated to your success. With diverse experience and a commitment to students, our faculty will support you every step of your journey. Their real-world experience is reflected in the classroom curriculum, ensuring that you’ll graduate prepared for the challenges and opportunities of public and nonprofit administration.

Online Learning That Fits Into Your Life

At Calvin, we believe that learning comes from doing, and we maintain our commitment to practical, hands-on application and experience for online students.

Embrace the flexibility of an online program coupled with individualized instruction.

  • Asynchronous format
  • Engaging course content
  • 8-week terms
Online Student Experience

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question we don’t cover here, request more information or call 1-855-474-8346.

Prior work experience is not required. Explore admission to the program.

No, the MPA certificate programs does not require an entrance exam. Learn more about admission to the program.

Most students complete the MPA certificate in approximately 9 months. For more information, contact an admissions counselor or call 1-855-474-8346.

Credits differ by certificate. You’ll complete 16 credits to earn the Public Administration Certificate, 14 to earn the Nonprofit Administration Certificate, and 13 credits to earn the Program and Policy Analysis Certificate. Review our curriculums .

The MPA program is seeking accreditation through the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Tuition is $660 per credit hour. You’ll need 16 credits to earn the Public Administration Certificate,14 to earn the Nonprofit Administration Certificate, and 13 to earn the Program and Policy Analysis Certificate. Review our tuition page for more information.

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