Graduate Certificate Program

Certificate in Public and Urban Informatics

The Certificate in Public and Urban Informatics allows students, who have completed an undergraduate degree from a nationally/internationally accredited program, to enhance their data and informatics skills to the application of planning and public policy topics.

A certificate is a grouping of specific courses that indicate that the student has developed cross-disciplinary expertise in a particular subject area.

The application of quantitative data techniques to planning and public policy is dramatically increasing with the increased digitization of information, rapid improvements in computer storage and processing speeds, and the advancement of machine learning, AI, and related statistical techniques.

Professionals who are starting their careers may pursue this certificate to enhance their skills and explore pursuing the Bloustein School’s master’s in public informatics; mid-career professionals may find this certificate of interest in order to upgrade and advance their quantitative and informatics capabilities.

The Bloustein School will award a Certificate in Public and Urban Informatics to students who successfully complete the 12-credit curriculum. Students that complete the certificate would be eligible to apply for the Bloustein School’s 36-credit Master of Public Informatics and, if admitted, use their credits as part of their degree requirements.

Curriculum

In order to be admitted to the certificate program, applicants must have successfully completed Basic Quantitative Methods (34:833:521) or passed the requisite placement exam.

The curriculum consists of 12 credits (four courses):

  • 34:833:525 Applied Multivariate Methods or
    34:970:630 Discrete Choice Methods
  • 34:816:502 Theory and Practice of Public Informatics
  • 34:816:634 Big Data Analytics
  • Urban and Public Informatics Elective such as 34:970:510 Graduate Planning Studio or 34:970:591 Introduction to GIS

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Certificate in Public and Urban Informatics students should be able to

Acquire fundamental quantitative skills in statistics and data analytics as applied to planning and public policy;
Understand the broader context, subject matter, and issues in the field of urban and public informatics, and;
Be able to apply data-driven and domain knowledge to problems in planning and public policy.

Application Requirements

Prospective students apply online and submit all application materials before the Bloustein School will review your credentials for admission.

  • Online application form
  • Application fee (Waived for current graduate students already enrolled in a formal Rutgers degree program.)
  • Baccalaureate degree from a nationally/internationally accredited program – Official undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate transcripts from all institutions
  • Resume/CV
  • One letter of recommendation
  • TOEFL/IELTS required for non-U.S. applicants. Scores will be accepted up to five years from their issuance.
  • Personal statement (approximately 750 words)
    Why do you want to study public informatics and what are your professional goals? Why are you particularly interested in the public informatics program at Rutgers Bloustein School? Describe your professional/user experience and background in the following areas: graphics, statistics and computer science?