Graduate Certificate in Regulatory Policy and Practice

The graduate certificate in regulatory policy and practice explores the multi-layered ­­world of regulatory policy, practice, and theory. Through comprehensive coursework, students:

• Examine the approaches by which regulatory agencies develop and implement policy, including rulemaking, adjudication, and enforcement.
• Explore the political landscape in which regulations are developed and implemented in different regulatory contexts.
• Study the mechanisms by which advocates and stakeholders sway the regulatory process.
• Develop the analytical tools necessary for identifying and measuring the likely effects of alternative regulatory approaches.
• Investigate the justifications—legal, economic, social, environmental, and other—for regulatory intervention in particular policy contexts.

This certificate is ideally suited for those interested in formulating regulatory policy as policy analysts in the executive and legislative branches at any level of government or influencing regulatory matters in the nonprofit or private sectors. Some students in the program seek to expand their knowledge without wishing to commit to a master’s degree program. Others can use it as a springboard for other degree programs, especially the master of public administration (MPA) and master of public policy (MPP).

Visit the program website for additional information.

Adminssion Requirements

Article	Requirement
Admission Deadlines:	Fall-July 1; Spring-November 1
Standardized Test Scores:	The GRE is not required; however, if you think that submitting scores for the GRE will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them.
	The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the PTE Academic is required of all applicants except those who hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university in the United States or from an institution located in a country in which English is the official language, provided English was the language of instruction.
Minimum scores for the program are:	Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 7.0 with no individual score below 6.0; or
	TOEFL: 600 on paper-based or 100 on Internet-based.
Recommendations Required:	One (1) recommendation
Prior Academic Records:	Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission. If transcripts are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translation should be uploaded into your application.
Statement of Purpose:	A 2-3 page statement of interests and personal goals.
Additional Requirements:	None
International Applicants Only:	Please follow this link - https://columbian.gwu.edu/international-graduate-applicants - to review the International Applicant Information carefully for details on required documents and English language requirements. Please note: international students who require a student visa from GW are not eligible to apply for admission to the program.

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 12 credits, including 9 credits in required courses and one 3-credit elective course.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
PPPA 6056	Regulatory Comment Clinic
PPPA 6075	Law and the Public Administrator
And one course selected from the following:
PPPA 6003	Economics for Public Decision Making
or PPPA 6014	Microeconomics for Public Policy II
or PPPA 6015	Benefit-Cost Analysis
Electives
One course selected from the list below. Other courses can be approved at the discretion of the advisor.
PPPA 6015	Benefit-Cost Analysis (if not taken as a required course)
PPPA 6061	Banking and Financial Institutions Policy
PPPA 6066	U.S. Environmental Policy
PPPA 6069	Science and U.S. Public Policy
PPPA 6072	Legislative Management and Congress