Certificate in Governance and Administration

The Certificate in Governance and Administration consists of four (4) fully online courses that are designed to help learners navigate local government processes, understand municipal authority, improve service delivery efficiency, and effectively serve council needs.  

Courses

Each course in the certificate is six (6) weeks in length and consists of 18 learning hours, including 4.5 hours of live sessions. Learners can expect to spend a minimum of 3 hours per week on their studies.

Click on each course name for more details and specific learning outcomes:

• OLCD-LGOV0014 Local Government
• OLCD-LGOV0015 Municipal Law
• OLCD-LGOV0033 Parliamentary Governance, Management and Procedure
• OLCD-LGOV0035 Municipal Administration Essentials

Please note:  The Certificate requires a passing grade of 70% in each course. See each course for applicable tuition fees and schedule. These courses fill up quickly, and registration in one course does not guarantee your spot in another.  You must register for each course individually to reserve your spot. Courses can be taken in any order.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this certificate will:

• gain an appreciation of the main challenges facing local governments today;
• understand the pressures of growth and change, and the impact of these pressures on traditional municipal systems;
• learn about the sources of Canadian law and explain how they interrelate;
• identify the unique challenges facing municipalities in enforcing their bylaws;
• understand municipal governance structures and procedures;
• recognize the roles and responsibilities of corporate officers, directors, managers, and supervisors within the local government context; and
• identify both opportunities and challenges within the corporate local government environment.

Prerequisites

Language Requirement: University-level English language proficiency required in writing, speaking and reading comprehension. It is recommended that students have an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 overall or a TOEFL-IBT score of 90 overall for this program. Please see the following guidelines from Dalhousie University for more information: English Language Requirements For Undergraduate Admissions - Admissions - Dalhousie University.

Program Delivery

The program is delivered through the flexibility and convenience of Dalhousie's enriched and engaging online learning platform (OpenDal). Courses include group activities, live streaming lectures and project work. Course delivery is designed to provide maximum benefit and flexibility through online study. All course materials are made available through the OpenDal learning platform and are included in the course fees.

Who Should Take This Certificate?

This certificate is for municipal staff interested in advancing their career, and for individuals who would like to transition to a career in local government.

Recognition of Prior Learning

It may be possible to receive advanced standing in this certificate based on your prior learning from work or life experience. We provide two types of recognition of prior learning:

• Prior Certified Learning: Assessment of prior coursework or training through a provider, that is neither a university or college, for the purpose of advanced standing. Examples of certified learning may include military courses, accredited certificates, workplace training programs, etc.
• Prior Experiential Learning: Assessment of previous work and life learning that may be equivalent to learning outcomes of university courses/programs, for the purpose of advanced standing. Relevant prior learning may come from work or volunteer experience, participation on committees or boards, independent study, etc.

To discuss how to use your prior learning to apply for advanced standing, please contact rpl@dal.ca.