Certificate Programs
The School of
Economic, Political and Policy Sciences offers seven graduate certificate
programs for both degree and non-degree seeking students. Certificate programs
are a valuable component of the School’s educational mission and can be an
important resource for both mid-career professionals and others seeking to
advance their knowledge and expertise. The Certificates are offered in: Crime
and Justice Analysis, Economic and Demographic Data Analysis, Evaluation
Research, Financial Economics., Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Local
Government Management, and Non-profit
Management.
Graduate
Certificate in City Planning
The Graduate
Certificate in City Planning is a 15 credit hour Master’s level certificate.
The 15 hours earned in the Certificate program will count toward the Master of Public Affairs (MPA) degree if the student decides to pursue the MPA. The academic focus of the proposed certificate is the basic elements of
the body of knowledge of the field of city planning. These elements include the
theory and legal elements of planning, developing and implementing plans, land
use management, land use law and regulation, and functional topics such as
transportation and housing.
The Dallas/Ft.
Worth metroplex is the fourth largest metropolitan
area in the United States. The scope and growth of this urban area create many
demands for professionals whose role is to plan for and manage this urban
complex. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the profession of
city planning to grow by between 9%-14% by the year 2014. The BLS further
notes that, "Most new jobs for urban and regional planners will be in
local government, as planners will be needed to address an array of problems
associated with population growth, especially in affluent, rapidly expanding
communities. For example, new housing developments require roads, sewer
systems, fire stations, schools, libraries and recreation facilities that must
be planned for in the midst of a consideration of budgetary constraints."
The Certificate is
intended for professionals already working in city planning in the public
sector, those employed in private for-profit or governmental settings who work
with planning and development projects, and students
without professional experience who seek to prepare themselves for careers in
city planning or local government.
The 15 hours of
course offerings noted below incorporate the essential knowledge base of city
planning. Students may petition the program coordinator to include other
graduate courses offered by the School of Economic, Political and Policy
Sciences as guided electives; however, courses from other institutions may not
be applied to the required 15 semester credit hours.
PA 6324:
Community Planning
PA 6330: Basics of Development
PA 6331: Land Use Law and Development Regulation
PA 6354: Transportation Planning
SOC 6381: Geographic Information Systems
Fundamentals
or PA
6341: Urban Development
or PA 6342: Local Economic Development
Graduate
Certificate in Economic and Demographic Data Analysis
The
Certificate in Economic and Demographic Data Analysis may be acquired by
graduate degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students. For the certificate,
students must complete 15 graduate hours (5 courses). Students are required to
take (A) EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics and EPPS 7316 Advanced Regression Analysis. (B) Students must
choose at least one of the following courses: ECO
6306 Applied Econometrics or EPPS 7318 Structural Equation Modeling or EPPS
7344 Categorical and Limited Dependent Variables. (C) In addition, two other
empirically oriented courses must be completed. Students should check with the
Director of the Certificate Program or the program office for details as to the
list of acceptable courses.
Students seeking
the certificate who do not plan to seek a degree should (1) submit an
application and (2) an undergraduate transcript. No GRE score is required.
Note: (a) up to 15 hours of coursework taken as a non-degree seeking student
can be applied later to a graduate degree (b) currently enrolled students may
use up to 9 hours of courses required for their degree for the certificate. Non
degree seeking students interested in continuing their graduate education must
formally apply to the university and their program of interest to be considered
for admission.
Graduate
Certificate in Evaluation Research
A graduate-level
certificate program in Evaluation Research is offered jointly by the Schools of
Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
Students who complete this program will have an opportunity to gain
competencies in the design and implementation of program evaluations in fields
such as education, health care, human services, criminal justice, and economic
development. The Certificate in Evaluation Research program may be incorporated
into graduate degree programs in the Schools of Economic, Political and Policy
Sciences or Behavioral and Brain Sciences, or may be taken on its own by non-degree
seeking students. Students in the Evaluation Research certificate program are
normally expected to have completed undergraduate courses in social statistics
and research design; students lacking appropriate preparation may be asked to
take needed courses prior to admission to the program.
In order to receive
the certificate, students must successfully complete three required courses and
a two-semester long evaluation research project that culminates in a final
report. The courses in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
leading to the Certificate in Evaluation Research are EPPS 7313 Descriptive
and Inferential Statistics for the Economic, Political and Policy Sciences,
EPPS 6352 Evaluation Research Methods in the Economic, Political and Policy
Sciences, an elective course approved by the Evaluation Research certificate
program coordinator, and POEC 6V91 Evaluation Research (six credit hours) for a
total of 15 semester credit hours. With permission of the Evaluation Research
program coordinator, students may substitute appropriate courses from the
School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences or prior coursework taken at other
institutions. This is discussed in the Behavioral and Brain Sciences section of
the catalog.
Students interested
in applying for admission to the Certificate in Evaluation Research program
should consult the graduate advising office in the School of Economic,
Political and Policy Sciences or the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
Graduate
Certificate in Geographic Information Sciences (GIS)
The School of
Economic, Political and Policy Sciences offers a certificate in Geographic
Information Systems for both novice and experienced GIScience
professionals. The certificate is available to both graduate degree-seeking and
non-degree-seeking students. The certificate requires 15 graduate hours (5
classes).
Students seeking
the GIS certificate must have completed an undergraduate degree in some area
relevant to GIS. Primary admissions requirements are: (1) an application to
U.T. Dallas, and (2) an undergraduate transcript. Applicants for the
certificate program do not need a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score. They
should apply as "non-degree-seeking" students to the Geospatial Information
Sciences program. Admissions requirements are the same for students who would
simply like to take one or more of the related courses without pursuing
certification.
The Graduate
Certificate in Geographic Information Science requires the following three
courses. Students must earn an average grade
point average (GPA) of 3.0 across these classes.
GISC 6381 Geographic Information Systems
Fundamentals
GISC 6382 Applied GIS
GISC 6387 Geographic Information Systems
Workshop
In
addition, students must take two courses from the following list:
GISC 6301 Geospatial Data Analysis
Fundamentals
GISC 6317 Computer Programming for GIS
GISC 6325/GEOS 5325 Introduction to Remote
Sensing
GISC 6383 GIS Management and Implementation
GISC 6384 Spatial Analysis and Modeling
GISC 6388 GIS Application Software
Development
GISC 7310 Regression Analysis with Spatial
Applications
GISC 7360 GIS Pattern Analysis
GISC 7361 Spatial Statistics
GISC 7363 Internet Mapping and Information
Processing
GISC 7365/GEOS 5326 Remote Sensing Digital
Image Processing
GISC 7366 Applied Remote Sensing
GEOS 5322 Global Positioning System Satellite
Surveying Techniques
GEOS 5324 3D Data Capture and Ground Lidar
Other courses in
Geosciences, Computer Science, Management, or Economic, Political and Policy
Sciences may be applied to the certificate at the discretion of the Director of
the Certificate Program. All courses applied to the Certificate must have
been taken within the three year period prior to the award of the Certificate.
No more than two courses can be transferred from another institution.
Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence (GeoInt)
Geospatial
Intelligence (GEOINT) is a rapidly evolving field that demands certain
technical skill sets, the ability for individual rapid critical thinking and a
global awareness of supporting information for national security and other
intelligence activities. This certificate program produces graduates that
have met the requirements for such professionals set forth by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation
(USGIF).
Classes are offered
through the state of the art facilities housed within the Geospatial
Information Sciences program in the school of Economic, Political and Policy
Sciences. The certification requires 15 graduate hours (5 classes)
detailed below. All courses taken as part of this certificate also count
toward the Master of Science
in Geospatial Information Sciences degree, and can be taken in conjunction
with the Graduate
Certificate in Geographic Information Systems and the Graduate Certificate in
Remote Sensing.
The mission of the
Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence is to provide students with a
broad set of skills in the areas of geographic information systems, remote
sensing, geospatial statistical analysis, intelligence gathering and global
positioning systems. Courses will emphasize these skills along with the
ability to find and interpret data, conduct accurate analysis, work in a
professional and collaborative environment and communicate effectively.
UTD geospatial intelligence certificate graduates will have demonstrated to the
intelligence community that they have acquired the basic skills needed for
employment in this high growth industry.
Students seeking
the Geospatial Intelligence certificate must have completed an undergraduate
degree and should apply to the graduate school as "non-degree seeking"
students. Admissions paperwork requires only:
You may complete
and submit an application for
admission online. You should apply as a "non-degree" student to
the MGIS program. You do not need a GRE (graduate record examination)
score or letters of reference for admission to the certification program.
Although applicants
are not required to submit GRE scores, TOEFL scores (for International
Students), or 3 letters of recommendation, but doing so will strengthen their
chances of being accepted. Competence in microcomputer use and
familiarity with MS Windows and file management (directories, copying, etc.) is
expected. Up to 15 hours of course work taken in the certificate program can be
applied later to a graduate degree should you desire to pursue such a degree.
Registration by
Current UTD Students
Graduate students
in any degree program within UT Dallas may register for GISC courses using
standard registration procedures. Undergraduate students eligible for the Fast
Track program may also enroll. See your program adviser regarding degree-plan
credit assignment. Courses are listed under geospatial information sciences
(GISC) in the UTD Class Schedule, with additional offerings under Geosciences
(GEOS) and Political Economy (POEC).
Five
courses are required to earn the certificate:
Individuals
experienced with GIS may have the introductory course (GISC 6381) waived at the
discretion of the Certificate Director, but must take an additional course from
the topics courses listed above. No more than two courses may be transferred
from another institution. Courses for the Certificate must be completed within
a 3-year period with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Graduate
Certificate in Homeland Security
The
graduate Certificate in Homeland Security is a 15-semester credit hour Master’s
level certificate. The fifteen (15) semester credit hours in Homeland Security
can be applied toward the Master of Public Affairs, the Master’s in Criminology
or the Master’s in International Political Economy degree. Students must
complete all requirements for full admission as a graduate student to apply
these courses to a Master’s degree.
Strengthening
the preparedness of the U.S requires a body of trained professionals in
homeland security. The relative novelty of homeland security as a field of
practice and study further strengthens the need for expanding the training and
educational needs of both current homeland security professionals and other
professionals with an interest in moving in to a career in homeland security.
The certificate is directed to homeland security professionals and those aspiring
to such employment in both government and business.
The certificate in
Homeland Security emphasizes the strategic dynamics of prevention and response
with a special emphasis on intelligence-led policing. This approach requires
increased collaboration and information sharing across organizations and
jurisdictions. This approach also requires information sharing across both
public and private entities to move intelligence to end-user and responders in
a rapid manner. Finally, intelligence led policing requires strong analytical
tools and effective planning to effect successful security of the nation.
Requirements for
admission to the certificate program are the same as for a non-degree seeking
graduate student.
Students receiving
the certificate may choose to sit for the International Association of
Emergency Managers (IAEM) Certificate in Emergency Management. The Homeland
Security Certificate is housed in the Public Affairs program within the School
of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.
The five course
(15 hour) Homeland Security Certificate requires
completion of the following courses:
PA 6351: Introduction to Homeland Security
PA 6353: Emergency Management
PA 6471: Strategies for Homeland Security
PA 6390: Administration and Leadership in Justice
Agencies
PA 7309: Protecting Critical Resources and
Infrastructure
Other courses may substitute for
those above listed with the approval of the Associate Dean for Graduate
Education or the MPA Director through consultation with the Homeland Security
Certificate Coordinator.
Graduate
Certificate in Local Government Management
The
School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences offers a Graduate Certificate
in Local Government Management for local government professionals and for MPA
students who desire to broaden their knowledge of important issues and
approaches employed by professional local public administrators. Local
governments in the United States play an important role in our democratic
system. They are the place in our democratic system where citizens have
the most direct contact with elected and appointed officials on numerous
issues.
Local
government managers operate in a complex legal and political environment.
They are responsible for the provision of varied services directly to citizens,
such as land use planning, law enforcement, water and sewer services, and
recreation. Both the method and quality of service delivery are greatly
influenced by managers who are hired by elected officials. The management
of cities and counties has become increasingly professional over the past
several decades. How the professional staff delivers services to the
public within the political environment in which it works is the topic of many
of the courses in this program.
Requirements for
admission to the certificate program are the same as for a non-degree seeking
graduate student. Completion of fifteen (15) semester
credit hours is required to attain the Graduate Certificate in Local Government
Management and those hours may count toward a degree if the student completes
all requirements for full admission as a graduate student. Required courses in
the certificate program are PA 6353 Human Resource Management, PA 6321
Government Financial Management and Budgeting, and PA 6344 Local Government
Management. The other two courses may be selected from among courses that
pertain to local government offered in the graduate programs of the School of
Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. Permission of the certificate
coordinator must be obtained for the two elective courses.
Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit
Management
Non-profit
organizations constitute an increasingly significant sector of the American
economy as well as an essential element in American civic life. Non-profits are found in such diverse fields as
health care, education, human services, and criminal justice, as well as in
cultural and civic activities. Faced with resource constraints and rising
demands for accountability, non-profit
organizations require professional managers with an understanding of both
administrative principles and techniques and of the distinctive legal,
economic, and social environment within which non-profits
operate.
The Certificate in Non-profit Management is designed to provide an
overview of the nature and context of non-profit
organizations combined with skill-based courses to develop the competencies
needed by non-profit
managers. The Certificate is intended for professionals already working in the non-profit sector, those working in private
for-profit or governmental settings who would like to work or volunteer in the non-profit sector, and students without
professional experience who seek to prepare themselves for non-profit careers.
Completion
of fifteen (15) semester credit hours are required to
attain the Certificate in Non-profit
Management. Requirements include three core courses and two guided electives
from the list below. Students may petition the program coordinator to include
other graduate courses offered by the School of Economic, Political and Policy
Sciences as guided electives. Courses from other institutions may not be
applied to the required fifteen semester credit hours.
Core Courses – Nine (9) Hours
PA 6316: Leadership in Public and Non-profit
Organizations
PA 6380: Non-profit Organizations
PA 6390: Non-profit Management
Guided Electives – Six (6) Hours from the
following:
PA 6311: Public Management
PA 6321: Government Financial Management and Budgeting
PA 6333: Marketing and Communications for Non-profit
Organizations
PA 6335: Resource Development for
Non-profit Organizations
PA 6374: Financial Management for Non-profit Organizations
PA 6375: History and Theories of the
American Philanthropic Sector
PA 6376: Assessment and Outcomes for
Non-profit Organizations
Graduate
Certificate in Remote Sensing
The
Remote Sensing Certificate is administered jointly by the School of Economic,
Political and Policy Sciences and the Department of Geosciences. The American
Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (1997) defines remote sensing as
the art, science, and technology of obtaining reliable information about
physical objects and the environment through the process of recording,
measuring and interpreting imagery and digital representations of energy
patterns derived from non-contact sensor systems. Remote sensing involves a
powerful set of computerized software and hardware, and sophisticated
mathematical, statistical and logical techniques for extraction and
presentation of information acquired via non-contact sensors. It provides
reliable and cost-effective means of studying the Earth’s surface for urban
planning, natural resources management and protection, and a wide variety of
other fields. Government and non-government organizations continuously seek qualified
professionals to use remote sensing for a wide range of applications.
Students seeking
the Remote Sensing Certificate must have completed an undergraduate degree in
some relevant area. Primary admissions requirements are: (1) an application to
U.T. Dallas, and (2) an undergraduate transcript. Applicants for the
certificate program do not need a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score. They
should apply as "non-degree-seeking" students to the Geospatial
Information Sciences program. Admissions requirements are the same for students
who would simply like to take one or more of the related courses without
pursuing certification.
The Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing
requires 15 credits earned through the following courses:
GISC 6325/GEOS 5325 Introduction to Remote
Sensing
GISC 6381 Introduction to GIS
GISC 7365/GEOS 5326 Remote Sensing Digital
Image Processing
GISC 7366 Applied Remote Sensing
GISC 7367/GEOS 7327 Remote Sensing Workshop