Election Administration Graduate Certificate (Online)

Elections are an essential public service in a representative democracy. Over 8,000 election officials and more than 100,000 poll workers administer elections in the United States (National Conference of State Legislatures). While state and local governments provide training for these election administrators, Georgia College & State University is the only academic institution in the state of Georgia—and one of the few in the United States—to offer academic certificates in election administration.

Through its undergraduate and graduate election administration certificates, the Department of Government and Sociology at Georgia College aims to encourage public service careers in elections and to contribute to the critical need for professional development in the field of election administration. Courses examine the administrative, political, and legal issues that surround election administration and require students to apply their coursework through internships at the undergraduate level and through internships or independent research at the graduate level.

Georgia College’s graduate Election Administration Certificate program will prepare students to facilitate democracy through critical analysis and public service in election administration. Students will learn to lead, manage, and formulate policies within the election administrative environment.

Georgia College’s graduate election administration certificate includes a selection of courses that contribute to the professionalization of current and prospective election administrators. The graduate certificate enhances public service with a selection of courses that analyze the institutional, legal, and political issues surrounding election administration. In addition, the graduate certificate provides a transformative learning experience through internships or scholarly research in election administration.

Certificate Requirements