The Collaborative Governance Graduate Certificate allows you to earn a graduate-level credential in just over one year.
The Collaborative Governance Graduate Certificate allows you to earn a graduate-level credential in just over one year (depending on which electives you choose and their availability). With your certificate, you will be able to lead collaborative projects in your professional sphere or community to create and implement solutions to public issues.
You’ll complete 16 credit hours of graduate coursework—four core classes and one elective. All core courses are offered online. Electives may be offered online or in-person.
Core Courses
(Take all three)
PA 575: Foundations of Collaborative Governance (3 credits) - Fall
This initial course provides an overview of the current governing context and the new models that have emerged in response. In addition, students will explore the nature of collaborative relationships, the role of trust, harnessing the potential power of groups, and how to address conflict and reach consensus.
PA 576: The Practice of Collaborative Governance in Public Policy (3 credits) - Winter
This skills-based course focuses on the assessment, organization, and phases of facilitating collaborative agreement-seeking processes, emphasizing techniques and challenges for reaching mutually satisfying agreements, including how to frame an issue to increase the group's chance for success.
USP 584: Negotiation in the Public Sector (4 credits) - Summer
This course offers an overview of the conventional and innovative applications of negotiations in public sector activities, and the potential and limitations of negotiation-based approaches to public decision making. Key components include negotiation theory, individual skill development and a review of the institutional, legal, and political context of negotiations.
Electives
(Choose two. Courses not on this list may be eligible with program pre-approval. Timing of these courses depends on the department offering the course. Verify offerings in the PSU Course Calendar)
PA 533 Public Policy Origins and Processes (3 credits)
PA 549 Cross-Cultural Communities in the Public Sector (3 credits)
PA 558 Managing Public Projects and Programs (3 credits)
PA 547 Culture, Values, and Leadership (3 credits)
PA 519 Civic Capacity (3 credits)
PA 543 Creating Collaborative Communities (3 credits)
PA 553 Sustainable Development Policy and Governance (3 credits)
PA 563 Citizens and Administration (3 credits)
PA 570 Environmental and Natural Resources Leadership (3 credits)
USP 550 Participatory Planning (3 credits)
PAP 512 Introduction to Policy Leadership (3 credits)
PAP 514 Institutional Dynamics of Public Policy (3 credits)
CR 512 Foundations of Conflict Resolution (3 credits)
CR 515 Negotiations and Mediation (3 credits)
CR 518 Psychology of Conflict Resolution (3 credits)
CR 523 Dialogue across Differences (3 credits)
CR 524 Advanced Mediation (3 credits)
CR 526 Intercultural Conflict Resolution (3 credits)
SW 541 Societal, Community, and Organizational Structures and Processes (3 credits)
SW 593 Practice and Leadership with Communities and Organizations (3 credits)
Technology Requirements
Students must meet PSU’s minimum technology requirements in order to participate effectively. For more information, see the PSU Online minimum technology requirements webpage.
Contact
For program information and student advising:
Kristen Wright
(503) 725-9078
kjwright@pdx.edu
For registration and admissions:
Public Administration Department, Main Office
T (503) 725-3921
F (503) 725-8250
publicad@pdx.edu