UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

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Public Affairs Professional Certificate

Contact Persons
Applied Politics Emphasis:
Audrey Haynes
apspia@uga.edu or polaah@uga.edu
School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA)

Public Affairs Communication Emphasis:
Joseph Watson, Jr.
joseph.watson@uga.edu
Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication


Description of the Program
The Public Affairs Professional Certificate is designed to help prepare students for careers in applied politics and public affairs communication through both classroom and experiential learning. These careers may include positions such as communications director for a political organization or government entity, campaign manager, lobbyist, legislative aide, political director, pollster, policy analyst, crisis manager, as well as a host of others in the realm of politics and public affairs.

Program Requirements and Prerequisites
Admission is open to majors in SPIA and Grady/SPIA majors who meet the following criteria:

• Completion of 30 hours
• Completion of POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H, American Government, or equivalent AP credit
• Completion of one upper-division studies course (3000 level or above) offered by either POLS or Grady College; for Applied Politics Emphasis students, the upper-division course must be in American Studies (see Bulletin). Public Affairs Communication Emphasis students should have an upper-level course from a Grady College prefix (ADPR, JOUR, JRLC, EMST, or SPTM). A combined grade average of a 3.2 or higher for the three required courses for Applied Politics Emphasis students, or a 3.2 overall GPA for the Public Affairs Communication Emphasis.
• Submission of an essay that details the student’s interest in applied politics or public affairs communication.
• An application is required. The application period is held each spring semester.
• If courses listed below are used to satisfy degree requirements, they may also be used to satisfy certificate requirements.
• A minimum grade of C (2.00) is required for all Public Affairs Professional Certificate courses within the program tracks, including internship courses.

Applied Politics Emphasis (17-21 hours)
For students majoring within the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA).

Level I (6 hours in fall semester):
ADPR 3860
POLS 5030

Level II (3 hours in spring semester):
POLS 4150 or POLS 4150H

Level III (8-12 hours taken after prior courses are completed):
Students will take the first course listed in the area category (S/U) and then choose one or both of the graded options:

Legislative Internship
POLS 5100 Legislative Internship (S/U)
POLS 5101 Legislative Internship Research
POLS 5102 Legislative Internship Analytical Essays

Lobbying/Issue Advocacy/Polling Internship
POLS 5110 Lobbying Internship (S/U)
POLS 5111 Lobbying Internship Research
POLS 5112 Lobbying Internship Analytical Essays

Campaigns Internship
POLS 5120 Campaign Internship (S/U)
POLS 5121 Campaign Internship Research
POLS 5122 Campaign Internship Analytical Essays

Public Affairs Communication Emphasis (18 hours)
For students majoring within the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Level I (6 hours):
ADPR 3860
POLS 5030

Level II (6 hours):
ADPR 3960
Choose one of the following:
POLS 4150 or POLS 4150H
POLS 4155
POLS 4510
POLS 4515 or POLS 4515H
POLS 4520/6520 or POLS 4520H
POLS 4530 or POLS 4530H
POLS 4540 or POLS 4540H
POLS 4551
POLS 4600 or POLS 4600H
POLS 4605 or POLS 4605H
POLS 4610/6610 or POLS 4610H
POLS 4660

Level III (6 hours):
Choose two of the following:
ADPR 5010
ADPR 5011
ADPR 5120
ADPR 5940
ADPR 5991/7991
JOUR 3190
JOUR 5320/7320
JOUR 5420/7420