Spencer Brien (he/him) joined the Evergreen State College MPA program in Fall 2022. He has been teaching a variety of courses in public policy, economics, tax policy, and public financial management. Dr. Brien’s research explores public fiscal administration at the federal, state, and local levels. One of his passions in teaching is preparing future leaders in public service to make informed decisions. This goal is being realized as Spencer helps launch the new graduate certificate in Public Financial Management. The following article is a Q&A session with Spencer about the features of this new certificate.
What is this new certificate the MPA program is launching?
I’ve been working at The Evergreen State College to launch a new graduate-level certificate in Public Financial Management (PFM) that is administered in collaboration with Evergreen’s Master of Public Administration program and Evergreen’s center for Professional and Continuing Education (PACE). Students that complete this certificate have demonstrated that they have developed skills for financial leadership in the public and non-profit sectors.
Why would someone be interested in a Public Financial Management Certificate?
Many employees in the public and non-profit sectors find that certain jobs, particularly those in executive leadership, require budgeting or financial management skills. This program is specifically designed to open the door to these positions. This certificate will cover principles in public managerial finance and accounting that help leaders make informed decisions about resources in governmental and non-profit organizations. This certificate is an excellent option for people looking to advance their careers in public service. It won’t turn you into an accountant, but it will enable you to work with the accountants in your organization more effectively and understand the financial statements that they produce.
Who is eligible to enroll in the certificate?
This is a graduate certificate, so it is oriented towards people that have already completed their undergraduate degree. You do not need to be currently enrolled in an Evergreen graduate program to enroll in this certificate program.
Are there prerequisites for the program?
No, there are no required prerequisites. The program is designed for people that have no prior background in budgeting, finance, or accounting.
What if I want to pursue an MPA at Evergreen after I complete the PFM Certificate?
The credits earned as part of the Public Financial Management certificate will count towards an MPA degree if you decide to pursue one in the future. Additionally, the project completed in the Financial Decision Analysis class has been used by many students as the core of their MPA capstone project.
What if I already have my MPA?
This certificate is a great reason to come back to Evergreen for some continuing education! Compared to the cost of other professional education or training programs in public financial management, a 12-credit program at Evergreen is a great deal.
What will the classes be like?
The classes will all be offered in an online format. There will be a mix of enrolled MPA students and certificate students in the classes. This will allow you to network and collaborate with students currently pursing their MPA at Evergreen. The coursework will be a mix of analytical problem sets, policy memos that apply financial concepts to managerial decisions, and case studies that apply financial management to organizations.
How do I learn more about enrolling?
Here is a link to our website with information on how to enroll: https://www.evergreen.edu/academics/professional-continuing-education/public-financial-management-graduate You can also speak to a real person by calling the PACE office at this number: (360) 867-6503 Or reach out through email at: certificates@evergreen.edu
Anything else to share?
I’m going to be teaching two of the certificate courses next year and I’m excited to meet you!