The College has been preparing Illinois leaders in government, politics, and public service since UIS’ founding. Faculty members are engaged with their practitioner colleagues in government and support agencies, and they make significant contributions to the design and dissemination of best practices in government and policy. UIS’ location in the state capital and proximity to headquarters of state agencies, associations, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library offers students, staff, and faculty educational and co-curricular opportunities designed to encourage life-long civic engagement and public service. In addition, the College offers public-oriented degrees in key areas of environmental studies, criminology and criminal justice, legal studies, and public health. The College offers the University’s only doctoral program, the Doctor of Public Administration.

Graduate certificates provide students with an opportunity to gain specialized knowledge at the graduate level while requiring less coursework than would be required for a full degree. A graduate certificate can be a good choice for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but who do not seek a full master’s degree; for students who are pursuing a master’s degree and wish to use the graduate certificate coursework as an area of interest; and for students who have completed master’s degrees and who desire additional coursework related to their job responsibilities.