Department of Public Administration

Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis

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The Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation & Policy Analysis prepares you to design, analyze, and evaluate public programs and policies across diverse settings, including government, nonprofit, and consulting. Students receive hands-on training in both qualitative and quantitative methods and learn culturally responsive and ethical evaluation frameworks through analysis and program evaluation anchored in real cases. 

This certificate has two options for completion: Option 1, totaling 15 credits, for students enrolled in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, allowing them to use the certificate for their elective skill development requirement; Option 2, totaling 17-18 credits, is for students applying to the certificate as a standalone program.

Designed with working professionals in mind, this certificate will be offered in multiple formats, including in-person, online, and hybrid, to accommodate full-time and part-time students. 

Admission Requirements

Current PSU graduate students can add this certificate to their program using the GO-19 Form. Non-PSU applicants must submit an application with the following:

  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  • One transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.
  • Copy of current professional resume.
  • Copies of official course descriptions and syllabi for all non-PSU graduate courses that you would like evaluated for transfer credit may be requested by the admissions committee. Please list the courses on the online application under pre-admission/Transfer credits.
  • Two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references. Letters should comment on the applicant's potential to succeed in a graduate program.
  • Statement of Purpose (250 words): In the statement of purpose, applicants will be asked to discuss their values and the strengths they bring to their future work as a professional in public or nonprofit service. Describe significant factors influencing your decision to pursue the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate at Portland State University. Include information regarding personal or professional values, academic factors, and past governmental, nonprofit, or other community service experiences, if any, that will contribute to your success as a graduate student and later as a professional in the field of public or nonprofit service.

The admission cycle for this certificate aligns with that of our MPA program, and can be found on our MPA Admissions page.

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Who Should Apply

This certificate is designed for:

  • Analysts, evaluators, and managers seeking applied methods and evaluation skills.
  • Public and nonprofit professionals moving into policy or research roles.
  • Graduate students in related fields who want rigorous analytic training.
  • Career changers aiming to enter evidence-informed public service.

Program Objectives

By completing this certificate, you will be able to:

  • Connect social theory to evaluation practice and policy analysis.
  • Apply culturally responsive and ethical approaches to research and evaluation.
  • Design evaluations—including stakeholder engagement and data collection tools.
  • Use qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze programs and policies.
  • Communicate actionable findings for decision-makers and communities

Students who complete courses in the Graduate Certificate may subsequently apply to the MPA program (all regular admissions criteria apply) and transfer those courses toward degree completion. Please reach out to publicad@pdx.edu for more information!

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Degree Requirements

Students who apply to the Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis as a standalone program (17-18 total credits) complete the following coursework: 

  • PA 551: Qualitative Methods for Public and Nonprofit Managers (4 credits)
  • PA 552: Quantitative Methods for Public and Nonprofit Managers (4 credits)
  • PA 554: Policy Analysis Research (3 credits)
  • PA 555: Program Evaluation (3 credits)
  • 1 additional graduate-level methods or skill development course (3-4 credits)

Approved Elective List

  • PA 520 Nonprofit Governance and Management
  • PA 521 Nonprofit Foundations
  • PA 525 Fundamentals of Grantwriting and Fundraising
  • PA 536 Strategic Planning
  • PA 538 Advocacy and Political Participation by Nonprofit Organizations
  • PA 539 National Policy Process
  • PA 542 Sustainable Development Implementation
  • PA 554 Policy Analysis Research
  • PA 555 Program Evaluation and Management
  • PA 556 Public Contract Management
  • PA 558 Managing Public Projects and Programs
  • PA 560 Local Government Administration
  • PA 561 Intergovernmental Relations
  • PA 579 Policy Tools in Policy Design

Students who are enrolled in the MPA program have the option to add this graduate certificate as part of their elective skill development coursework. See the MPA Degree Requirements page for details.