Public Budgeting and Financial Management Certificate Program

PBFM Program Advisor: Dr. Alejandro Rodriguez

Sound fiscal management at all levels of government is essential for meeting the demands of an increasingly expensive and complex service-delivery need. The purpose of this certificate is provide students interested in public sector affairs and local government officials (budgeters, planners, finance analysts, and elected officials) with the skills to enable them to effectively support local government financial decision-making.

Participants should expect to attain a comprehensive understanding of public budgeting and financial management processes and theories including knowledge of the various government revenue sources, major expenditures, and borrowing mechanisms used to finance long-life capital assets.

The program consists of 15 hours of coursework including 9 hours of required “core” courses and 6 hours of electives:

Core Courses (Required):
URPA 5326 – Public Budgeting
URPA 5332 – Public Capital Budgeting and Planning*
URPA 5329 – Financial Mgt. in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors

Electives (Select two courses):
SUPA 5302 – Fundamentals of Urban Research & Analysis*
URPA 5345 – Evaluation Research*
URPA 5310 – Urban Policy & the Law*
URPA 5312 – Economic Policy*
URPA 5324 – Urban Public Finance
URPA 5306 – The Urban Economy
URPA 5392 – Govt and Non-for-Profit Accounting
CIRP 5322 – Economic Development Planning & Policy
CIRP 5306 – Urban Revitalization

*Courses available online