The Graduate Certificate in Grant Writing, Management, and Program Evaluation engages students in systematic research and study designed to improve the quality of grant writing and program evaluation within local governments, nonprofits, educational settings, and criminal justice and public service agencies. 

The course content emphasizes competence in the language of grants, proposal development, funding sources, and processes, designing and writing creative proposal letters, creating budgets, developing effective evaluation tools, and understanding fiscal management functions and regulations.

The certificate is designed for people interested in professional careers, or careers that include, grant writing, grant management, and/or program evaluation.

Admission to this certificate program requires a bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better.

Current UCCS Students

Current UCCS students wishing to pursue a Graduate Certificate in Grant Writing, Management, and Program Evaluation must submit a Certificate Declaration to cps@uccs.edu. Students in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Criminal Justice programs may count graduate certificate coursework completed with a grade of B- or better toward their degree’s elective requirement, allowing certificate completion along with the MPA or MCJ program. Consult with SPA’s graduate student services specialist or relevant program director to verify courses fit into your degree plan.

New Students

New students interested in pursuing a graduate certificate only must complete the online graduate application, select their intended certificate and pay the $60 application fee. An unofficial transcript showing the undergraduate degree conferred should be sent to UCCS Admissions, 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, or electronically to ugapp@uccs.edu. Official transcripts will be collected by the graduate college prior to the end of the first semester.

Certificate Completion Application

A Certificate Completion Application is required to be submitted upon completion of the required certificate courses and grades have been posted for the final course.  This form is located in the myUCCS student portal.  It is the responsibility of the student to notify the College of Public Service when they complete their graduate certificate.

Graduate Certificate Students

Graduate certificate students may also become interested in enrolling in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) program. Up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level College of Public Service coursework completed with a grade of B or better as an unclassified (non-degree) student may be applied to the MPA or MCJ upon admission, subject to degree plan requirements and program director approval. 

Additional resources for Admissions:

• Tuition Rate
• Cost of Tuition Estimator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships

The certificate consists of four courses totaling 12 credit hours of graduate coursework. A grade of B- or better is required in each course counting toward the certificate. Certificate students must maintain a 3.00 GPA once admitted to the certificate program. Please be advised that courses are typically offered alternately online and on campus, not concurrently. It is possible that pursuing a certificate fully online or fully on campus could take up to two years, depending on course availability.

• CRJU 6105 / PAD 5350 - Program Evaluation
• CRJU 6115 / PAD 6115 - Grant Writing
• CRJU 6125 / PAD 6125 - Grant Management

Plus one elective from the list below:

• CRJU 5004 - Statistics
• CRJU 5009 - Crime and Violence Prevention and Intervention
• CRJU 6135 / PAD 6135 - Advanced Program Evaluation
• PADM 5110 - Strategic Nonprofit Management
• PADM 5140 - Nonprofit Financial Management
• PADM 5150 - Philanthropy, Fundraising, and Earned Revenue Strategies

Please visit the UCCS Academic Catalog for course descriptions and detailed program requirements.