Shape the world through policy

Designed with working professionals in mind, Oregon State’s online Graduate Certificate in Public Policy Analysis will help you gain in-demand research and analytical skills to advance your career in public policy and beyond.

This 18-credit program will teach you how to gather qualitative and quantitative data, research and analyze important issues and propose policy initiatives that solve problems and promote change. As a student at a leading research university, you’ll learn how to apply social science methods and policy analysis to practical problems that impact governments, communities, regions and the world at large.

Understand the interplay of policy and identity

Your online coursework will explore public policy through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion to help you better understand the historical and present-day societal impacts of policy-making. You’ll examine complex identities and social groups to better understand how they face unique challenges due to systems of power, both in the current and past political, economic and social frameworks.

This DEI lens will prepare you to better collaborate with racially, culturally and economically diverse groups of people and will give you a critical framework to analyze important policy decisions.

Apply your graduate certificate toward a master's degree

The specialized knowledge you gain through the public policy analysis graduate certificate program can serve as a pathway to Oregon State's 54-credit online Master's in Public Policy degree.

Students planning to use credits from a graduate certificate towards a master's degree should discuss transfer credit policies with an advisor in advance.

Benefits of an Oregon State University online program

• All classes are developed by Oregon State's renowned faculty, who are known worldwide for their research, expertise and innovation in natural resources and science fields.
• Oregon State is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
• Online students receive the same credits as on-campus students, and credits transfer to most higher education institutions.
• OSU Ecampus is consistently ranked as one of the nation's best providers of online education.
• Students can complete their courses from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

NOTE: The U.S. Department of Education has approved this certificate for federal financial aid eligibility as part of a full degree program, but not as an independent certificate program. Alternate funding sources (e.g. loans, private funds) may be required to cover the costs associated with this program.