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Program Directors:
Dr. David Kozak - (814) 871-7535
Dr. Duane Prokop - (814) 871-7576

Overview

The graduate certificate in Organizational Leadership will develop the requisite skills necessary to succeed in management and leadership roles in public administration and to enhance your leadership potential in the public, for-profit, and non-profit sectors. All 15 of the credits earned in this program can be used towards a Master’s in Public Administration.

Admissions Requirements
Applicants must:

• Complete an application for admission
• Have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited program
• Submit final, official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended
• Submit three letters of recommendation
• Submit official scores from the GRE (if undergraduate GPA is less than 3.2)

Coursework
(15 credits)

GMPA 522 Ethics and Public Policy (3 credits)
This course explores the problems public administrators face in the decision-making process. We will discuss the policy cycle and use case studies to stimulate your thoughts regarding ethical/unethical behavior; provide you with a framework for making tough decisions; and get you to think about where you stand on various issues of public policy and ethics.

GMPA 601 Strategic Planning (3 credits)
This course will teach you how to do effective strategic planning. Strategic planning is the art of deliberately matching the organization’s resources to the environment in order to maximize the contribution of its mission and its customers. You will then facilitate a strategic plan for a local nonprofit or government agency.

GMPA 632 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 credits)
Through extensive reading and site visits, you will explore the many challenges facing nonprofits and examine the functions and roles of nonprofit staffs and boards. You will also reflect on the similarities and differences between the business, government and nonprofit sectors and the effective ways in which these three sectors collaborate.

And choose two of the following courses (Substitutions can be made with the approval of the program director):

GMPA 633 Program Development (3 credits)
In this course, you will learn a variety of tools and processes that are used in the program/service development process including feasibility studies, financial analysis, and project management software. You will then apply what you have learned through an experiential project with a local nonprofit organization or government entity.

GMPA 634 Grant Writing (3 credits)
This course introduces you to the basics of grant writing. You will learn effective communication strategies with prospective grant seekers, how to match requirements between requesters and providers, methods of basic project assessment, and specific steps for submitting and writing quality proposals. You will then work on a project for a local nonprofit or government agency.

GMPA 635 Community Power (3 credits)
Through extensive reading, this course introduces you to the concept of community power after which you will apply what you learn to the Erie community.

GMPA 745 Community Development Process (3 credits)
This course focuses on defining community problems and establishing priorities and objectives for the response of the public and private sectors. The course trains students in techniques to elicit citizen participation and input and engages them in comprehensive, coordinated and innovative approaches to community-building. Students conduct community forums of residents and help communities and/or organizations to develop visions and action plans for the future.

GMPA 794 Inspirational Leadership (3 credits)
This course explores the leadership styles of those who have so powerfully and passionately inspired their followers and introduces you to the differences between motivation and inspiration. It also focuses on defining the cause and serving those around you by helping them to find their calling and then aligning their calling with the cause.