CPAP Graduate Certificates

Homeland Security

Take your knowledge to a higher level.  CPAP in partnership with the Center for Technology, Security, and Policy (CTSP), offers a graduate certificate program in homeland security focusing on domestic security issues from a policy perspective. The certificate serves either as a stand-alone credential of advanced educational achievement for non-degree students or as a supplement to a masters or doctoral degree. Four homeland security courses with a major paper introduces you to the complexity of the homeland security environment and exposes students to issues of homeland security strategy, policy formulation, administrative and organizational challenges, planning, and operations. You will find the Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security is a challenging and practical research-based curriculum designed by experienced thought-leaders. 

CTSP focuses on providing education and research related to national and homeland security theory, operations, and decision support technology at the strategic and operational levels.

Course Offerings

Website: Discover - Prepare - Lead: Homeland Security Policy

Local Government Management

Facilitating knowledge transfer for the next generation of public administrators: In partnership with the Virginia Local Government Management Association (VLGMA), CPAP proudly provides a challenging, master’s level, “real world” based educational opportunity in local government management and public policy. Our certificate prepares pre-career students for capable public service at the local level and also enhances the capacities of existing local government officials who aspire to lead local governments and local agencies. The certificate program consists of four 3-credit hour courses, for a total of twelve hours of graduate coursework. Case studies are used within the courses to emphasize the relationship between the political and management worlds which all local government managers must understand and navigate in order to be successful. The Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management is addressing leadership development challenges facing local governments in the coming decades.

VLGMA is a non-profit, non-partisan organization composed primarily of city, town, and county managers and key members of their management teams.

Course Offerings

Website: Developing the Next Generation Leaders in Local Government

Public and Non-Profit Financial Management

Designed to develop students’ understanding of concepts and practice of financial management in government, university and complex non-profit organizations, this certificate program is designed for career professionals and students wishing to enter the field financial managment. Individuals currently working in finance areas of local government, nonprofit entities, public schools, universities will further refine knowledge and learn more about best practices, current trends and develop leadership and management skills. Full time master’s degree students who wish to establish a strong foundation in public and non-profit financial management will enter the workforce better able to address myriad challenges facing the field. Students attend the three hour, one day a week, highly interactive classes delivered through live two-way video using a computer with a microphone and web camera from any location (office, home, etc.). The curriculum is a series of five courses from which the students choose four to complete the Certificate (every student must take the Overview course).

Course Offerings

More Information : Public and Non-Profit Financial Management

Other Virginia Tech Graduate Certificates

CPAP encourages students to make the most of the graduate school experience by pursuing course work relevant to the individual’s areas of interest. One way to achieve this is by incorporating a Graduate Certificate in your plan of study. Along with the three certificates CPAP offers, there is also an extensive range of graduate certificates available through the Virginia Tech Graduate School. 

More Information : Virginia Tech Graduate Certificates