The MPA Program at the College of Charleston offers Certificate degrees in two cognate areas which allows professionals to gain more specialized knowlege in an area in a shorter time frame. More information about the program requirements of these Certificates is found in the links below.

Arts Management Program Description

The Graduate Certificate Program in Arts Management serves professionals currently working in arts management or related fields who desire to expand their knowledge and skills, but may not be able to enter a full graduate program. The program offers courses currently available in the Master's of Public Administration Program with an emphasis on preparing arts managers to meet the ever-changing challenges placed on non-profit cultural institutions.

Urban Planning Program Description

The Graduate Certificate Program in Urban and Regional Planning provides advanced training to in-service professionals in the public and private sector who seek to acquire the skills and competencies required to address the multi-faceted problems posed by rapid growth and development in the Lowcountry.  The Lowcountry Graduate Center provides central support for the program and may certificate courses are offered at the LGC campus in North Charleston.

The certificate courses are offered through the Master in Public Administration Program but successful completion of certificate courses does not entail admission to the MPA program. Students who wish to apply to the MPA program should do so within the first six hours of certificate study. All twelve hours as a certificate student can be counted towards the MPA degree.