Program Overview
Fully online program begins April 26, 2021
The Center is pleased to once again offer the Mini-MPA™ certificate program for Spring 2021.
The Mini-MPA™ program provides the tools to build a successful career in public and non-profit management. This program, offered in collaboration with the Rutgers Camden Department of Public Policy and Administration is a fast-paced learning environment with an exceptional roster of instructors and industry professionals. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) approved.
Designed for experienced managers in the public and nonprofit sectors, the Mini-Master of Public Administration™ (Mini-MPA™) certificate program is an accelerated, 30-hour program led by Rutgers faculty and experienced practitioners.
The program is asynchronous, running for four weeks, and includes an examination of critically important topics for public managers. Seminars provide participants with new skills, new ideas, and new ways of thinking about how they manage their work and teams.
The online format provides an engaging environment between faculty and participants, while fostering learning from a distance. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible for up to three credits toward the Rutgers-Camden Executive MPA program.
A camera and microphone are required to participate.
Qualifies for veteran training.
For information related to taking our online courses, visit our Online Course Information page.
Online Course InformationNew Online Program Format Launching in April 2021:
Participants may choose to register for the complete Mini-MPA™ program, or to register separately for the individual course modules:
Module 1: Leading Public Organizations
Leading is more than adapting your personal style to situations and the public sector poses new challenges for even experienced managers. Managers must combine personal leadership and organizational leadership to accomplish goals in the public sector. In this module, you will be provided with both theory and practical knowledge for leading in uncertain times.
Module 2: Building Relationships Through Communications
How do you get your message across so that your constituents can be engaged? In this module, that question will be explored. As organizations become more complex and the citizenry more diverse, public managers need effective tools to keep communities informed and interested.
Module 3: Challenges and Opportunities in Public Management
This module dives into the realities of public sector management. You will have an opportunity to develop skills to optimize organizational behavior and performance. This can be a challenge when working and negotiating with collective bargaining units. Being effective in this realm requires developing a better understanding of the complex relationships between decision-making, actions, and public management ethics. In the public sphere, how we resolve conflicts and manage change matters.
Module 4: Financial and Performance Management
A common frustration for public managers is the ability to identify and secure resources necessary for operations. This difficulty directly impacts short-term and long-term planning and performance management. Money and how it is spent is a priority of any organization. Combining performance measurement with skills for management requires insights to people and how we behave.
Quotes from Recent Program Participants:
"Having the course available remotely was a huge advantage to my schedule and allowed me to take the time to engage myself fully in the program."
"I found it beneficial that the program captured all the aspects of a real life situation in a very short period of time (4 weeks). It did a great job of
covering project management concepts."
"Learning about
different motivators and emotional intelligence was helpful in thinking about leading a department and working with other managers."