Dec 05, 2024

2021-2022 Graduate Catalog

2021-2022 Graduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Public Policy-Ethics, Certificate

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Colleges > Hobby School of Public Affairs > Public Policy-Ethics, Certificate

While earning their Public Policy and Ethics certificate, students will study diverse value perspectives that inform different public policy issues, assess the strengths and weaknesses of these different value perspectives in diverse policy domains, learn to identify the value trade-offs that invariably underlie public policy decisions, and gain a better understanding of the ethical challenges and responsibilities associated with policy research, leadership, and organization behavior.

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for the Public Policy and Ethics graduate certificate program, students must already hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for unconditional admission. Students who are already admitted to a graduate program at the University of Houston may apply for admission to this certificate program by filling out a UH Graduate School application through ApplyWeb. Students who are not currently UH graduate students must complete a UH Graduate School application and provide official transcripts of all college-level coursework, current resume, and a statement of purpose. The deadline for applying to this certificate will be the same as the MPP program.
The GRE and two letters of recommendation required for the MPP will be waived for admission into the certificate program. If students wish to pursue an MPP, they will be required to submit a new application that includes all application materials that would be required for the MPP application at the time of the transfer, including the GRE and letters of recommendation. If certificate-seeking students apply and are accepted into the MPP application, the courses that they complete for the certificate will also count towards the MPP.

Certificate-seeking students will have the same rights and privileges as MPP students and will have access to all of the Hobby School of Public Affairs events and resources. Besides faculty support, these students will also be advised by HSPA staff to help them select the classes needed.

Certificate Requirements

Credit hours required for this certificate: 12.0

Course Requirements

POLC 6330 - Philosophy and Public Policy I Credit Hours: 3.00
POLC 6331 - Philosophy and Public Policy II Credit Hours: 3.00

Non-MPP Degree Student Course Options

Students who are not MPP degree students may also take (but are not required to take) one of the following Hobby School introductory policy courses for credit toward their certificate:

POLC 6311 - Leadership and Professional Development Credit Hours: 3.0
POLC 6313 - Policy Analysis I: Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3.00

Elective Courses

Students who do not take POLC 6311 or POLC 6313 must take two other ethics-related classes. Students who take POLC 6311 or POLC 6313 for certificate credit need only take one other ethics related class.

POLC 6342 - Political Economy and Ethics of the Market Processes Credit Hours: 3.00
POLC 6371 - Rockwell Ethics and Leadership Center Seminar Credit Hours: 3
POLC 6397 - Selected Topics in Public Policy Credit Hours: 3.00
POLC 6372 - Research Ethics Credit Hours: 3
POLC 6373 - Philosophy for Public Policy Students Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 6356 - Medical Ethics Credit Hours: 3.00
LAW 6321 - Professional Responsibility Credit Hours: 3.0
LAW 6395 - Race and the Law Credit Hours: 3.0
MANA 6A25 - Ethical Leadership & Critical Reasoning Credit Hours: 1.5
MANA 7330 - Employment Law & Labor Relations Credit Hours: 3
MANA 7375 - Global Leadership Credit Hours: 3
MANA 7347 - Managerial Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility Credit Hours: 3
In addition to these specific courses, students can petition the Hobby School to include other courses. These will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will require the consent of the Hobby School Director of Graduate Studies and the applicable department where the course is offered.

Academic Policies

University of Houston Academic Policies