The Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy's Online Graduate Certificate in Women's Leadership in a Global Perspective has its academic home in the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies. The program, which is offered entirely online, focuses on the careful study of:
- governmental structures and political processes internationally;
- the effects of public policies on women;
- the formation and implementation of public policies relevant to women; and
- the roles women have played, as well as the need for their greater involvement, in politics and policy formulation and implementation.
The courses in this program are designed to educate current and future women leaders on how best to address women's issues and reduce gender inequalities worldwide. Through educational and experiential opportunities that reflect the endogenous cultures and values of each cohort of women from around the world who participate in the program, our curriculum will enhance the leadership skills and ability to influence public policy of each program participant, thereby preparing her to take on a leadership role within the political structure of her country.
Most recently the field of leadership studies has shifted its focus to women and leadership because, without a clear understanding of the political structures in which women operate, an ability to analyze public policies with an eye toward their effect on women, or knowledge about leadership development strategies, many women are unable to affect the public policies that impact their daily lives.
Learn more about this program:
To receive more information and connect with the program manager, please click on inquire now to the right.
Sample a Course
Click here for more information on the Online Graduate Certificate in Women's Leadership in a Global Perspective.
Registration is administered through University College at UMass Boston. Payment is due upon registration. Please see Fee Schedule below.
| Type of Fee |
Amount |
| Fee per credit |
$460 |
| Late Reg. Fee per semester* |
$25 |
| Returned Check Fee per semester** |
$25 |
| Total per course*** |
$1380 ($460 x 3 credits) |
Click here to browse our course listings.
*applicable when you register after deadline; non-refundable unless course has been cancelled
** applicable when checks returned unpaid
*** Courses can vary from one to six credits; this total represents a standard 3 credit course
The University of Massachusetts is accredited by the
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
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Applicants for the graduate certificate program must:
1. Have earned a bachelor's degree or its equivalent;
2. Submit a completed online application;
3. Submit official transcripts from every institution previously attended;
4. Submit a TOEFL score that meets the requirements of the University for graduate study;
5. Arrange for an interview by phone or online with program staff;
6. Have access to computer technology necessary for online study (see technical requirements)
7. Submit two letters of recommendation and a statement of Interests/Intent to:
Graduate Admissions Office
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393
617.287.6400
For many women in the Global South, developing countries, and transitional democracies, gaining access to full participation in the political system is difficult. Socio-cultural factors and other mitigating circumstances discourage women's participation. As a result, women lack the experience and/or skills necessary for full political participation, including those directly linked to gaining representation as appointed or elected officials, either at the local or national levels. The curriculum in the courses will increase a women's knowledge and skills, enhancing her ability to contribute to a country's public policy.
Our Certificate program keeps the role of gender in politics and policy making central to the program's design, goals, and curriculum and offers six inter-connected courses that provide students with a comprehensive background as women in leadership in public policy.
PAFG 697a: Understanding the Political System Worldwide
PAFG 697b: Women's Leadership in a Global Perspective
PAFG 642*: Public Policy Analysis of Women's Issues: A Global Perspective
PAFG 643*: Gender and Dispute Resolution around the World
PAFG 646*: Women and Public Policy Decision-Making in a Global Perspective
PAFG 647*: Women Gaining Appointed/Elected Public Office: A Global Perspective
Each course emphasizes the skills necessary to be an effective policy maker (including, but not exclusively, to hold public office), teaching students how to leverage their leadership skills to:
1. advocate for women's issues,
2. influence public policies,
3. gain access to public offices, and
4. resolve conflicts at the organizational, tribal, local, and national level.
The curriculum provides students with not only the theoretical knowledge necessary to interrogate and deconstruct the barriers and obstacles that prevent women's full political participation, but also practical skills in research, public policy, and leadership. We train students to evaluate the status of women internationally with a lens that is cognizant of the social, cultural, political, and economic conditions of a country, as well as the influence of race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, able-bodiedness, and other identities on the overall status of the individual. This complex web of intersecting hierarchies of power and oppression depicts the structural, institutional, and individual barriers that women must overcome in order to achieve equality. Our curriculum is not only cognizant of these facts, but equips graduates with the skills and tools necessary to assess the potential for women's increased leadership in their home country, and offers concrete skills in strategizing on how to improve opportunities for women.
* Pending Approval
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