UMass Boston

Gender, Leadership & Public Policy Certificate

Lead change in policy and the communities it serves.

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About the Program

UMass Boston’s Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy (GLPP) graduate certificate program empowers you to pivot your career or amplify your impact as a social justice advocate. Study political theory and current policy issues through an intersectional lens, develop leadership and research skills, and build experience through a flexible graduate-level internship. Designed for working professionals and continuing students, the program is fully online, affordable, and offers optional Zoom sessions, on-campus gatherings, and the opportunity to learn alongside a diverse cohort of students and professors. Whether you’re starting your graduate journey or expanding your expertise, the GLPP equips you to turn your commitment into action and make a meaningful difference in public policy.

Here’s your chance to:

  • Build experience and networks through internships, connecting you to opportunities in policy, politics, and advocacy.
  • Combine theory and practice with an intersectional approach that prepares you to serve entire communities effectively, and use your certificate credits as a stepping stone toward a full Public Administration MPA.
  • Advance your education and career with flexible pathways to UMass Boston graduate programs, access to faculty engaged in research and policy, and professional opportunities through the Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy, the McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies, and Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs.

 

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Career Possibilities

Get the guidance you need to take your career to the next level. Partner with your academic advisor and internship professor to find an internship that challenges you, builds real-world experience, and connects you to meaningful opportunities in policy, advocacy, and public service.

Here’s where this degree can take you:

  • Policy Maker
  • Advocacy Program Director
  • Legislative or Constituent Services Director
  • Communications / Public Relations Lead
  • Government Agency Administrator
  • Program Manager
  • Emergency Planner
  • Legal / Advocacy Specialist
  • Social Services and Community Outreach Professional
  • Non-Profit Executive
  • Organizational Leader
  • Private Sector DEI Director
  • Philanthropic Advisor
Example Employers of Program Graduates
UMass Boston Gender, Leadership & Public Policy Certificate alumni launch careers at nonprofits; community organizations; and local, state, and national government agencies in Massachusetts and across the country, including:
City of Boston logo
Boston Public Health Commission logo
FEMA logo
YW Boston logo
Federal Trade Commission logo
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development logo
U.S. Bureau of Labor logo

Plan Your Education

How to Apply

First Year Student Deadlines: Fall

  • Fall: April 1 (priority) and June 15 (final) (extended to July 15 for Fall 2026 admissions)
  • Spring: November 1 (priority) and December 1 (final)

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Apply as a Graduate Student

Apply as a Transfer Student

Financing Your Education

Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.

Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, visit the Bursar's website to learn more about Regular Session Tuition & Fees for in person courses and Special Price Tuition & Fees for online courses. Please refer to Financial Aid for more information.

Graduate Student Financial Aid

Assistantships

Program Details

Gender, Leadership & Public Policy Certificate Requirements

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of recognized standing or an international equivalent at the time of enrollment
  • A minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or international equivalent) in all undergraduate work
  • Official transcripts for all institutions where you have earned more than 6 credits; if your transcript is in a language other than English, please include an English translation, validated by an official public translator
  • Statement of purpose
    • Please share your motivation for applying to the Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy graduate certificate program, with its focus on intersectional policy analysis, creation, and implementation, and how you hope the GLPP program will help advance your career goals and/or strengthen your ability to advocate for a policy issue you care about. You may also wish to state how your background and/or identity have influenced your decision to apply for this program, but this is not required. (Length should be up to 650 words.)
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
  • Writing sample (optional)
    • If you chose to submit a sample, it should be between two and five pages and can be drawn from your academic or professional work and and/or your advocacy experience.
  • If applicable, request official TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo scores to be sent to the University of Massachusetts Boston

Curriculum

Core Courses (12 Credits)

  • PUBADM 619 - WPPP: Contemporary American Public Policy Issues 3 Credit(s)
  • PUBADM 623 - WPPP: Women in American Politics and Policy Making 3 Credit(s)
  • PUBADM 628 - Research Methods for Policy Analysis 3 Credit(s)
  • PUBADM 629 - Leadership and Organizations: Gender, Power and Authority 3 Credit(s)

Internship Courses (6 Credits)

  • PUBADM 622 - WPPP Fall Internship 3 Credit(s)
  • PUBADM 624 - WPPP: Spring Internship 3 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyze Intersectional Leadership: Examine the impact of gender roles, race/ethnicity, and culture on leadership and authority in public/nonprofit sectors.
  • Policy Formulation and Advocacy: Determine strategies for influencing policy to create more equitable, just, and inclusive societies.
  • Legislative and Budget Knowledge: Apply principles of policy analysis to governmental and non-governmental settings, particularly regarding state and federal budget processes.
  • Research and Data Utilization: Utilize quantitative, qualitative, and community-based research methods to evaluate existing policies and develop new ones.
  • Systems Psychodynamics: Implement feminist and systems-level approaches to lead effectively in diverse organizational settings.
  • Political Engagement: Understand the role of women and marginalized groups in electoral politics, public agencies, and social movements. 

The program prepares students for leadership roles in government, nonprofits, and elected office, with options to advance into UMass Boston's MPA program and other advanced graduate degree programs.

 

Graduation Criteria

Complete 18 credits from six courses including four core courses and two internship courses.

Internship: Complete 10-16 hours per week at their internship site, for a minimum of 160 hours during a minimum 4-month period, over the course of the academic year.

Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy (GLPP) graduate certificate students can also choose to apply for the Public Administration (MPA) - Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy Track, and complete an MPA in just one additional academic year plus one summer.

Statute of limitations: Three years.

Contact

Assistant Program Director Muna Killingback
muna.killingback@umb.edu
(617) 287-6785

Graduate Program Director Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson
LA.NsiahJefferson@umb.edu

GLPP Program
glpp@umb.edu

Accreditation

The Public Administration MPA-GLPP track is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)
UMass Boston GLPP program students and staff smile together standing on a staircase

Mentorship from Leaders Who’ve Been There

The Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at UMass Boston highlights its Distinguished Public Service Fellows program. Launched in 2016, the program builds bridges between generations of women leaders, with a focus on advancing the leadership of women of color. Over 18 months, the fellows give public lectures, mentor graduate students, and contribute to the Women’s Public Leadership Archive, providing GLPP students with unique opportunities to learn from experienced leaders, gain career guidance, and expand their professional networks.

Explore the Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy

Program Faculty

Laurie Nsiah Jefferson

Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson

Director/Lecturer

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Yvonne Anthony

Associate Lecturer

Yvonne Spicer, Associate Lecturer, Public Policy & Public Affairs

Yvonne Spicer

Associate Lecturer

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Academic Community

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Next Steps

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Professional Licensure Disclosure

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SARA Compliance, Disclosure & Dispute Resolution
UMass Boston programs are designed to meet the requirements for licensure or certification in Massachusetts. Please contact your state licensing or certification board to determine whether the program meets the requirements for licensure or certification in other states.

 

 

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