How is public policy created? How is it implemented? How does it transform daily life? The Public Policy Studies Certificate Program is an interdisciplinary program that enables degree-seeking Florida International University students to gain a critical understanding of public policy.
Besides providing students with a wide range of interdisciplinary perspectives on public policy, the certificate program also provides students with practical experience through internships with public, private, non-profit and political organizations in South Florida, Tallahassee, and Washington, D.C. For those students looking for careers in public policy, in or out of government, this experience is crucial.
The Course Catalog contains the FIU courses which count towards credit for the Undergraduate Certificate. Please check the FIU Public Class Search to verify which classes are offered during a specific semester. Students may submit other classes for approval by email to jgitalentdev@fiu.edu
- Program Requirements
The certificate program requires completion of 18 semester hours of college credit. All students must then complete a common core of coursework by selecting one course from each of the following three core course categories for a total of nine hours.
Then, the student must complete 9 credits to fulfill the requirements of one of the four internship tracks:
- Federal Policy Track
- State Policy Track
- Local Policy Track
- Non-Profit Policy Track
- Certificate Core Requirement Part I: (3 Credit Hours)
Certificate Students must complete at least 1 of the following courses with a minimum grade of a C or higher.
- ECO 2023 - Principles of Microeconomics
- ECO 2013 - Principles of Macroeconomics
- Certificate Core Requirement Part II: (3 Credit Hours)
Certificate Students must complete at least 1 of the following courses with a minimum grade of a C or higher.
- POS 3424 - The Legislative Process
- PAD 4223 - Public Sector Budgeting
- Certificate Core Requirement Part II: (3 Credit Hours)
Certificate students must complete at least 1 of the following courses with a minimum grade of a C or higher. Students need to ONLY take 1 of the courses below to satisfy the certificate requirement.
The following courses fulfill certificate requirements for core courses and those exercising the Local Policy or Non-Profit track. The student should consult with the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy (JGI) about current course offerings. Other courses may be substituted upon approval by the Director of Academics. Transfer students may only transfer up to two courses from institutions previously attended. The program is intended to expand student options and complement other certificate programs.
Biology Certificate Elective Courses
- PCB 3063 - Genetics
- PCB 4452 - Introduction to Wetland Ecology and Management
- PCB 4467C - Marine Protected Areas
- PCB 4553 - General Population Genetics
Business Administration Certificate Elective Courses
- MAN 4711 - Business-Community Leadership
Civil and Environmental Engineering Certificate Elective Courses
- ENV 5007 - Environmental Planning
- ENV 5062 - Environmental Health
- ENV 5659 - Regional Planning Engineering
- ENV 5666 - Water Quality Management
Construction Management Certificate Elective Courses
- BCN 3753 - Financial Management of Construction Organizations
- BCN 5755 - Construction Financial Management
Criminal Justice Certificate Elective Courses
- CJL 3512 - The Courts
- CJC 2000 - Corrections
- CJJ 2001 - Juvenile Justice
Economics Certificate Elective Courses
- ECO 3041 - Consumer Economics
- ECO 3101 - Intermediate Microeconomics
- ECO 3203 - Intermediate Macroeconomics
- ECO 3223 - Money and Banking
- ECO 4504 - Introduction to Public Finance
- ECO 4622 - Economic History of the United States
- ECO 4701 - World Economy
- ECO 4703 - International Trade Theory and Policy
- ECO 4713 - International Macroeconomics
- ECP 3302 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
- ECP 3203 - Introduction to Labor Economics
- ECP 4314 - Natural Resource Economics
- ECP 4403 - Industrial Organization
- ECS 3013 - Introduction to Economic Development
Education Certificate Elective Courses
- EDF 6852 - Educational Development Issues in Context: A Multidisciplinary Perspective
- EEX 5771 - Personal Foundations and Transitional Services for Individuals with Disabilities
- HME 5255 - Independent Living for the Handicapped
- LEI 5510 - Program Administration in Parks, Recreation and Sport
Earth and Environment Certificate Elective Courses
- EVR 3011 - Environmental Resources and Pollution
- EVR 3013 - Ecology of South Florida
- EVR 4112 - Climate Change Policy
- EVR 4211 - Water Resources
- EVR 4352 - U.S. Environmental Policy
Health Services Administration Certificate Elective Courses
- HSA 3111 - Introduction to Health Services Systems
- HSA 4110 - Healthcare Organizational Behavior and Resource Management
- HSA 4113 - Global Issues and Trends in Healthcare
- HSA 4140 - Program Planning and Evaluation
- HSA 4150 - Global Healthcare Systems and Policy
- HSA 4421 - Legal Aspects of Healthcare
Interdisciplinary Social Studies Certificate Elective Courses
- ISS 4385 - Effective Governmental Communication
- ISS 4364 - Introduction to Structured Analytic Methods
History Certificate Elective Courses
- AMH 4130 - The American Revolution
- AMH 4140 - Age of Jefferson
- AMH 3560 - History of Women in the United States
Communication and Journalism Certificate Elective Courses
- ADV 4300 - Media Planning
- JOU 4101 - In-Depth Reporting
- MMC 4609 - Integrated Communication Research Strategy
- PUR 4100 - Writing for Public Relations
- PUR 4101 - Digital Editing and Design
- PUR 4106 - Advanced Public Relations Writing for Multimedia Platforms
- PUR 6607 - Global Strategic Communication Management
- PUR 6806 - Global Account Planning
Labor Studies Certificate Elective Courses
- LBS 4401 - Labor Contract Negotiations
- LBS 3001 - Labor and Globalization
- LBS 4101 - Theories of the Labor Movement
- LBS 4150 - Contemporary Labor Issues
- LBS 4210 - Women and Work
- LBS 4461 - Labor Dispute Resolution
- LBS 4501 - Labor Law
- LBS 4654 - Comparative and International Labor Studies
Music Certificate Elective Courses
- MUM 4301 - Business of Music
- MUM 4302 - Business of Music II
Politics and International Relations Certificate Elective Courses
- INR 3043 - Population and Society
- POS 4071 - Corporate Power and American Politics
- POS 3152 - Urban Politics
- POS 3413 - The Presidency
- POS 3424 - The Legislative Process
- POS 3443 - Political Parties
- POS 3603 - Constitutional Law: Powers
- POS 3604 - Constitutional Law: Limitations
- POS 4122 - State Government and Politics
- POS 4154 - Topics in Urban Politics and Policy
- POS 4182 - Florida Politics
- POS 4188 - Miami Politics
- POS 4463 - Interest Group Politics
- POS 4605 - Gender Justice
- POS 4930 - Topics in Public Law
- PUP 4004 - Public Policy: U.S.
- POS 4035 - Environmental Politics
- POS 4072 - Women in Politics
Psychology Certificate Elective Courses
- CYP 3003 - Introduction to Community Psychology
Public Policy and Administration Certificate Elective Courses
- PAD 3003 - Introduction to Public Policy and Service
- PAD 3034 - Policy Development and Implementation
- PAD 3803 - Government and Administration of Metropolitan Areas
- PAD 4223 - Public Sector Budgeting
- PAD 4432 - Administrative Leadership and Behavior
Social Work Certificate Elective Courses
- SOW 3232 - Social Welfare Policy and Services I
- SOW 3233 - Social Welfare Policy and Services II
- SOW 3203 - Introduction to Social Work
- SOW 4654 - Child Welfare: Policy and Practice
- SOW 5109 - Crises in the Lives of Women
- SOW 5235 - Social Welfare Policy and Services I
- SOW 5641 - Understanding the Process of Aging
- SOW 5710 - Current Issues in Addiction Practices
Global and Sociocultural Studies Certificate Elective Courses
- ANT 3442 - Urban Anthropology
- SYD 4410 - Urban Sociology
- SYD 4700 - Racial and Ethnic Relations
- SYD 3804 - Sociology of Gender
- SYP 3520 - Crime & Society
- SYP 3530 - Youth, Crime, and Society
- SYP 4730 - Aging in Society
- GEO 3602 - Urban Geography
- GEO 5415 - Topics in Social Geography
Hospitality and Tourism Management Certificate Elective Courses
- HFT 3701 - Sustainable Tourism Practices
- HFT 3713 - International Travel and Tourism
- HFT 3735 - Destination and Cultures
- HFT 4509 - Tourism Destination Marketing
- Certificate Track Specialization – Federal Policy Track (9 Credit Hours)
State Policy Track: 9 Credit Hours
Students obtain nonpaying internships in State of Florida government agencies in Tallahassee or in South Florida. Advisors from the JGI work with students to determine which agency is most suitable, depending upon the student’s interests. Although the students are responsible for their own room and board, the institute helps to arrange housing in Tallahassee and assists in the application for financial aid. The State Policy Internship option is worth a total of 9 semester hours.
Fulfill ANY of the following requirements:
Required Courses
Complete 1 - 2 course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
- PUP 4004 - Public Policy: U.S.
- PAD 3034 - Policy Development and Implementation
- POS 4122 - State Government and Politics
- POS 4182 - Florida Politics
State Policy Internship
Earn up to 6 credits
Students should register for the internship, field study, or independent study course in their department (e.g., PAD4940, POS4944, POS4941, ISS3940).
- Certificate Track Specialization – Local Policy Track (9 Credit Hours)
Local Policy Track: 9 Credit Hours
This option may be the most viable for those who want to earn the certificate, but who are unable to leave South Florida for an internship. This option is designed to be as flexible as possible. The nature of this option is worked out between the student and the JGI advisor. The student receives three credit hours for whichever courses are completed, including a local internship. Courses must be taken in at least two different disciplines, at least one being outside the student’s departmental major. Core courses may not count toward the fulfillment of these requirements.
Fulfill ANY of the following requirements:
Required Courses
Complete 1 - 2 course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
- PUP 4004 - Public Policy: U.S.
- PAD 3034 - Policy Development and Implementation
- SYD 4410 - Urban Sociology
- POS 3152 - Urban Politics
- POS 4188 - Miami Politics
Local Internship
Earn up to 6 credits, depending on the number of internship hours worked.
Students should register for the internship, field study, or independent study course in their department (e.g., PAD4940, POS4944, POS4941, ISS3940).
- Certificate Track Specialization – Non-Profit Policy Track (9 Credit Hours)
Non-Profit Policy Track: 9 Credit Hours
Students obtain internship placement in a local private non-profit organization. JGI advisors will work with the student to select a work assignment related to policy issues.
The student may earn up to 6 credits for the internship, depending on the number of internship hours worked. The student will also take one or two courses related to urban issues, non-profit organizations, special interest groups, social policies, or similar issues as determined appropriate by JGI advisors.
The student should register for the internship, field study, or independent study course in their department (e.g., PAD4940, POS4944, POS4941, ISS39