What kind of professional training does the school offer?
The certificate programs offered by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs provide abbreviated graduate-level course sequences of 15 to 18 credit hours for individuals who want to enhance their academic and/or professional backgrounds without pursuing master’s degrees.

These post-baccalaureate and graduate certificate programs are offered in criminal justice, historic preservation planning, nonprofit management, planning information systems, public management and urban revitalization.

How long does it take?
Most can be completed in one year of study.

Can I transfer my certificate credits into a master’s program later?
Generally the courses taken for certificate programs are the same as those offered for master’s degrees, and will transfer readily. However, completion of a certificate program does not guarantee admission into a degree program. Check with the program director or coordinator, and find specific requirements in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.

Are there other resources for professional training at VCU?
With the focus of public affairs in the school, and our opportunities for those interested or already employed in the nonprofit sector, the Nonprofit Enterprise Institute coordinates academic functions of the nonprofit curricula at VCU in order to ensure a strong nonprofit sector for the Richmond area. And the Especially for Nonprofits program offers courses that can be structured to result in a Certificate of Achievement for participants.