Graduate Certificate in Planning and Economic Development
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

The Graduate Certificate in Planning and Economic Development is intended to provide a credential for students preparing for careers in the public, private, or third sectors requiring familiarity with planning and economic development concepts and methods. This certificate is not intended as a substitute for a professional degree in planning, but as an opportunity to supplement another graduate degree.

The certificate will provide courses covering planning theory, planning methods and urban and regional theory, plus an opportunity to select electives in a single substantive planning specialization such as economic development planning, health planning, transportation planning, environmental planning or land use planning.

Regulations for the Certificate Program

1. Application.

   All Graduate Certificate students will be required to be admitted as master's students. The application procedures, regulations, and policies given in the master's degree section apply to all certificate students. The time limit for completing the certificate program is three years from the term of entry.

2. Required Courses:

       PAUS 8021    Urban Policy Planning
       PAUS 8141    Microeconomics for Public Policy
       PAUS 8311    Planning Theory and Analysis

3. Elective Courses

   One additional course in a substantive planning specialization such as urban economics, economic development planning, health planning, transportation planning, environmental planning or land use planning. Written approval by the faculty advisor is required.

4. Awarding of the Certificate.

   After completing the requirements for the certificate according to these regulations, the students must make a written request to the Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies to have the certificate awarded. The request and an official GSU transcript must be sent to the departmental coordinator. The faculty advisor then reviews the student's record. If all requirements have been met, the certificate, signed by the Certificate Program Coordinator and the Chair of the Department, will be issued to the student.

Download the certificate procedures forms.