Graduate Certificates

Data Science for Public Administration

DESCRIPTION

The Graduate Certificate in Data Science for Public Administration (GCDS) prepares public, private, and nonprofit sector professionals who wish to enhance their quantitative and analytical skills. The course of study helps students develop their ability to conduct data analysis, draw inferences and insights, generate and assess solutions, and communicate the results to diverse stakeholders.

PROGRAM LOCATION

Courses for this graduate certificate program are only offered on the Tampa campus. We offer a mixture of in person, hybrid blend, and online courses.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

For full consideration, your completed application should be received by the following deadlines:

  • Fall semester: June 1
  • Spring semester: October 15
  • Summer semester: February 15

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university and should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale average in their undergraduate study.

APPLICATION PROCESS

For new non-degree seeking students: In addition to your and non-refundable $30 application fee, you will also need to submit the following documents:

  • Undergraduate transcripts;
  • Letter of intent (aka statement of purpose);
  • Resume (aka curriculum vitae); and
  • Two letters of recommendation.

Current graduate students at USF: DO NOT submit an online application. Instead, you will download and fill out the . Send the completed paperwork and supplemental materials (statement of purpose and up-to-date resume only) via email to gradstudies@usf.edu as one PDF file (do not send via DocuSign).

CURRICULUM

  |  View Sample Grad Check

Core Requirements

15 total credit hours; 6 credit hours of required core courses.

  • PAD 6703 Quantitative Analysis in Public Administration (3)
    • Can be substituted with URP 6201 Quantitative Analysis in Urban and Regional Planning (3)
  • URP 5277 GIS for Urban and Regional Planners (3)
    • Can be substituted with PAD 6717 GIS Applications for Urban Management (3)

Elective Requirements

9 credit hours of required elective courses. Please select 3 courses from the following list:

  • ISM 6136 Data Mining (3)
  • LIS 5802 Information Analytics (3)
    • Can be substituted with PAD 6934 Data Visualization (3)
  • LIS 5937 Visual Analytics (3)
  • MAN 6347 People Analytics (3)
  • QMB 6358 Data Analytics for Business (3)
  • SYA 7357 Introduction to Social Network Analysis (3)

TIME LIMIT

The graduate certificate time limit is 5 years. However, students can complete this program within 1-3 years.

CREDIT TOWARD GRADUATE DEGREE

All 15 credit hours/5 courses from this certificate program may be eligible for transfer into the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, as long as a grade of "B" or higher is received in each certificate course taken.

STANDARDIZED TESTS

No standardized tests are required for admission to the certificate program. International applicants from non-English speaking countries must provide a minimum score of 79 on TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on IELTS, or 110 on Duolingo taken within 2 years of the desired term of entry. Click here for more information on USF's English Proficiency Requirement.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

  • International students who do not hold the required degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution must submit translated transcripts from an certifying equivalency to a U.S. degree.
  • Certificate students are ineligible for a student visa based on the certificate program alone (non-degree seeking), but concurrently enrolling in a master's program (graduate degree seeking) would make you eligible for a student visa.

If you have questions about the application process or the status of your application, please contact the Academic Program Specialist, Annie Valdez, at annievaldez@usf.edu.