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 who want to improve their administrative and management skills.
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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) *International 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 for domestic students is approximately $1,598 and $2,492 for international students. Students are also required to pay on-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 in person, and students must attend all classes in person. If you live outside of Regina or Saskatoon, please consider applying for the online offering of this certificate. |
| 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 hrs):
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, 2023, the tuition rate per three-credit-unit course for domestic students is approximately $1,598 and $2,492 for international students. Students are also required to pay on-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 International Students* | Latest Application Deadline for Domestic Students |
| September/Fall | May 1 | May 1 |
| January/Winter | October 1 | October 1 |
| May/Spring | February 1 | 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.
Application Qualifications
Please ensure that you meet the entrance requirements of either the University of Regina Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research or the University of Saskatchewan College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (depending on your choice of campus).
| Application Qualifications | |
| University of Regina |
Applicants interested in this program must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree with a minimum overall GPA of 70 percent. There is also a mid-career option for admission, through which prospective students with at least five years of government or non-profit organization management experience may be admitted without an undergraduate degree. |
| 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. |
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 Process and Required Documentation
The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy has aligned its application requirements (where possible) across its two university campuses; however, please note that the application portal varies by campus.
Please apply through one campus only
When applying to the JSGS University of Regina campus, please note that you must submit an application through the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
You may choose to upload unofficial transcripts, supporting documents, letter of intent, and resume via your online application portal.
You will have the opportunity to enter the names and email addresses of your referees in the online application portal. Once you pay the application fee and submit the application, the system will automatically contact your referees with a link for their submission. Remember to advise your referees to check their spam folder for the auto-email from uregina.ca domain.
To troubleshoot document uploads, referee issues, other technical aspects of the online application, contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at grad.publicpolicy@uregina.ca.
| Required Documents | Description |
| Student waiver form |
Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy is a collaboration between the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan. To share information between the two universities, please complete and upload the student waiver form. |
| Official Transcripts |
Upload unofficial transcripts for all post-secondary education, that is, from each accredited institution you’ve attended where you’ve received at least one grade for one course for academic credit. If you are registered in such a course presently, upload a transcript even without the course completed. Do NOT upload University of Regina transcripts. FGSR staff will access these internally. JSGS will evaluate applications based on unofficial documents. JSGS only requires official documents after an acceptance letter is issued. Option 2: Is it easy to obtain official transcripts? Is it inexpensive? Is the application deadline at least a month away? If you answer yes to all questions, consider skipping the unofficial transcript upload and send your official documents directly to FGSR. |
| Proof of English proficiency (if required) |
International applicants may need to submit proof of English proficiency in the form of a recognized test. Search for your post-secondary institution on the WHED database. If this database clearly indicates solely English as language of instruction, this will suffice as proof of English proficiency. |
| Resume | An updated resume with scholarly contributions, background information, education history, and relevant employment history. |
| Personal Statement / Letter of Intent |
The University of Regina’s online application form includes a personal statement section where applicants are asked to answer the following four questions:
As you answer these questions, please keep in mind the Admissions Committee is assessing your ability to write in a clear, coherent and professional manner. 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. Please limit your response to each of the questions to no more than 200 words. |
| Letter of Recommendation |
The University of Regina requires three letters of recommendation. Please choose academic and/or professional people who can comment on your ability to succeed in the program. Applicants can supply name and contact information in the online application portal. |
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 |
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