Auburn Bulletin 2024-2025

Economic Development — Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Economic Development provides a specialization in the theories and practice of economic development, primarily within the U.S and Alabama. It is an interdisciplinary graduate certificate offered by the faculty of participating departments (Public Administration, Community Planning, and Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology) and is administered by the Master of Public Administration program.

Students may pursue the Graduate Certificate in Economic Development as a degree-seeking or non-degree seeking student. To earn the graduate minor, students must complete the program’s basic course, Economic Development and Competition (POLI 7700/7706), three elective courses selected from an approved list, and a one-week non-credit intensive economic development training course sponsored by the Government and Economic Development Institute (GEDI). The Auburn Intensive Economic Development Course is accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Since its inception, this program has produced 1,300 alumni, 70% of whom have had jobs in community economic development. GEDI will be an active partner with the MPA program, linking the program to its extensive network of economic development practitioners throughout Alabama. 

CodeTitleHours
POLI 7700Economic Development and Competition3
Economic Development Seminar by GEDI
Choose any 3 the following courses:9
Intergovernmental Relations and Federalism
Financial Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
Seminar in Administrative Leadership, Responsibility, and Democratic Government
Program Evaluation
POLI 7920MPA Internship3-6
Land and Urban Economics
Community Development
Geographic Information Systems for Planning and Policy
Agricultural Economic Development
Rural Sociology
Sociology of Natural Resources and the Environment
Sociology of Community
Political Economy of Development