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The Graduate School at the University of Missouri–Columbia (Mizzou)

Community Processes Graduate Certificate

Official Graduate Catalog Entry: To the Index
Contact Information
Offered jointly by the Departments of Agricultural Economics, Rural Sociology and the Truman School of Public Affairs
  • 231 Gentry Hall
  • 573-882-6455

About the Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Community Processes offers graduate students and professionals a unique opportunity to develop expertise in how spatial and relational communities function in today’s society: their processes for forming, for maintaining the community and for achieving community objectives. A vital part of the certificate is acquiring applied skills in community facilitation processes or community analytical processes. Students must begin and complete the certificate in 5 years.

The certificate is offered jointly by the Departments of Agricultural Economics, Rural Sociology and the Truman School of Public Affairs.

The Certificate is for:

  • Graduate students seeking certification in addition to their degree program.
  • Professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree seeking a stand-alone graduate certificate for additional professional certification.

Plan of Study

  • One required course
  • One basic course from a list of three
  • Remaining courses from the list of basic and supporting courses
  • The certificate requires 12 credits, 6 of which may count toward a degree.

Two Tracks

Community facilitation track

Skills for working with groups and communities

Required Course:
  • RU SOC 7325: American Community Studies (campus and on-line)
Basic courses: (choose at least one)
  • RU SOC 7341: Building Communities from the Grass Roots (1-week intensive)
  • PUB AF 8610: Group Dynamics and Conflict Resolution (campus)
  • PUB AF 8630: Organizational Change in a Community and Global Context (campus)
Supporting Courses:
  • RU SOC 7342: Empowering Communities for the Future (1-week intensive)
  • RU SOC 7343: Creating Capacity for Dynamic Communities (1-week intensive)
  • PUB AF 8150: Foundations of New Governance (campus)
  • RU SOC 9480: Community Survey Research (campus)

Analytical processes for communities track

Analytical skills for decision-making, or working with communities or decision-makers

Required Course:
  • RU SOC 7325: American Community Studies (campus and on-line)
Basic courses: (choose at least one)
  • AG EC & PUB AF 8350: Rural Economic Growth and Development (campus)
  • PUB AF 8340 (campus): Regional Development Policy and Practice
Supporting Courses:
  • AG EC 9320: Regional Theory and Methods (campus)
  • AG EC 7310: Local Economic Analysis (on-line only, 1-credit)
  • PUB AF 8150: Foundations of New Governance (campus)
  • PUB AF 8320: Spatial Analysis for Public Affairs (campus)
  • RU SOC 9480: Community Survey Research (campus)

Students taking the Analytical Processes for Communities track must have statistical analysis through multiple regression and basic macro- and micro-economics.

For More Info

For more information, contact Judith I. Stallmann, stallmannj@missouri.edu, (573) 882-6455, 231 Gentry Hall, Columbia MO 65211