Executive Certificate in Public Policy Leadership
Develop and hone the skills professionals need to become effective change agents and to provide critical vision-based, motivational leadership in public policy, and in organizations and firms that interact with government and policy-makers.
Quick Facts
Deadlines
- November 1: Spring Entry Deadline
- March 1: Summer Entry Deadline
- April 1: Fall Entry Deadline
Certificate Information
Format
- Executive program; five in-person modules of one-week each
Length
- One year
Type
- Credit Certificate
Who’s it for?
Preparing Experienced Senior Managers Seeking to Move into Public Policy and Advocacy
The Executive Certificate in Policy Leadership from the McCourt School of Public Policy is designed to provide a practical understanding of how leaders, advocates, and change agents succeed in the public policy environment, to become grounded in the best in academic literature on policy leadership and followership, to develop in-depth skills cultivating your own meaningful leadership vision, and mastering how to persuasively communicate that vision to achieve positive and durable change, along with a dedicated followership.
Targeted at currently employed senior managers with at least ten years of experience, the Executive Certificate in Policy Leadership is an executive program that allows students to stay employed while earning this Certificate. This flexible 15-credit program can be completed in as little as one year, and is designed for leaders working in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Expert Faculty and Practitioners
All courses are taught by Georgetown’s McCourt School faculty. Our scholars and practitioners are intellectual leaders in the field of leadership and public policy, and are regularly called upon to advise policymakers. The McCourt School’s distinguished experts and our roster of leadership mentors bring extensive scholarship, demonstrated leadership experience and innovative teaching methods to the classroom to help students become successful future policy leaders.
Access to Leadership and Public Policy Resources
The McCourt School’s location in the center of the policy world in Washington, DC. Our mentors are available to guide emerging leaders, and our many institutional affiliations combine with access to extensive resources, expert faculty and cutting-edge research that greatly benefit and enrich the academic experience.
A Flexible Policy Leadership Curriculum Customized By You
The McCourt School offers a robust selection of one-week course modules in leadership, advocacy, communications, public policy, and influence. To earn the Executive Certificate, students must take 5 modules of 3-credits each (3 required core courses, and 2 elective courses), to earn the 15 credits needed to earn the cCertificate.
The course modules are listed below. With permission of the Associate Dean of Academic & Student Affairs, students may substitute other one-week course modules to meet this requirement. Students must earn a B or better in all courses to complete the certificate.
Executive Certificate course modules are currently only offered in-person on Georgetown’s Capitol Campus in Washington, DC.
The Executive Certificate is not open to degree-seeking McCourt students.
Policy Leadership Core Courses
- Leadership and Politics and Policymaking (PPOL 5400)
- Leadership/Followership in Public Policy (PPOL 5404)
- Leadership in Public Policy Evaluation (PPOL 5406)
Influence & Process Courses
- AI-Augmented Leadership (PPOL 6637)
- Ethics in Public Policy (PPOL 5404)
- Negotiation (PPOL 6616)
- Budget and Financial Management (PPOL 5403)
- Economic Analysis (PPOL 5402)
Ready to take the next step toward executive public policy leadership?