Twin Cities campus

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Twin Cities Campus

Election Administration Postbaccalaureate Certificate

HHH Politics and Governance Academic Program
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-3800; fax 612-626-0002)
Email: hhhadmit@umn.edu
Website: http://www.hhh.umn.edu
  • Program Type: Post-baccalaureate credit certificate/licensure/endorsement
  • Requirements for this program are current for Spring 2020
  • Length of program in credits: 12
  • This program does not require summer semesters for timely completion.
  • Degree: Election Administration PBacc Certificate
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of this website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
The election administration post-baccalaureate certificate prepares students across the country for mid-career positions in election administration. Students will acquire and develop the skills and knowledge of election operations and procedures they need to serve as election staff or to further their existing careers in election administration. All courses are offered in an on-line format and include topics such as election law, election design, and voter participation.
Program Delivery
  • completely online (all program coursework can be completed online)
Prerequisites for Admission
Other requirements to be completed before admission:
Admission to the certificate will be allowed in fall and spring semesters. Admission decisions will be made by a subcommittee of the faculty advisory group. The application must include a personal statement, resume or C.V., and transcripts.
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
  • TOEFL
    • Internet Based - Total Score: 100
    • Paper Based - Total Score: 600
  • IELTS
    • Total Score: 7.0
Key to test abbreviations (TOEFL, IELTS).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the General Information section of this website.
Program Requirements
Use of 4xxx courses towards program requirements is not permitted.
A minimum GPA of 2.80 is required for students to remain in good standing.
Core
PA 5971 - Survey of Election Administration (3.0 cr)
PA 5972 - Elections and the Law (2.0 cr)
PA 5973 - Strategic Management of Election Administration (2.0 cr)
PA 5974 {Inactive} (2.0 cr)
Electives
Take 2 or more credit(s) from the following:
· PA 5975 - Election Design (2.0 cr)
· PA 5976 - Voter Participation (1.0 cr)
· PA 5982 - Data Analysis for Election Administration (2.0 cr)
· PA 5983 - Introduction to Election Security (1.0 cr)
· PA 5984 - Elections Security: How to Protect America?s Elections (2.0 cr)
 
More program views..
View college catalog(s):
· Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs

View future requirement(s):
· Fall 2022
· Spring 2021
· Fall 2020
· Summer 2020

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PA 5971 - Survey of Election Administration
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Survey of building blocks of election administration, from voter registration to recounts.
PA 5972 - Elections and the Law
Credits: 2.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: PA 3972/PA 5972
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Theories and basic structure of the American legal system. Experience with basic tools and skills for using the law to understand and analyze issues facing election administrators across the nation. Use of election-related and non-election related materials to prepare election administrators for interacting with counsel, legislators and the courts in carrying out their responsibilities.
PA 5973 - Strategic Management of Election Administration
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Strategic management for election administrators in the political environment. Election official tools and challenges. The role of the lawmaking process in budgeting and organizational planning.
PA 5975 - Election Design
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Election administration design principles, including ballot and polling place design and poll worker training materials. Application of principles of field.
PA 5976 - Voter Participation
Credits: 1.0 [max 1.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Voter participation issues and challenges including historical survey of voter participation in US and methods to increase voter turnout.
PA 5982 - Data Analysis for Election Administration
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Course Equivalencies: PA 3982/PA 5982
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Evidence-based election administration. Collection and analysis of quantitative data to solve problems and identify opportunities for improvement. Emphasis on pre-election forecasting for planning purposes and post-election auditing of election results.
PA 5983 - Introduction to Election Security
Credits: 1.0 [max 1.0]
Course Equivalencies: PA 3983/PA 5983
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course will examine the history of cyberattacks on the United States and the American election system, with special attention to the 2016 election cycle. Students will explore the types of cybersecurity threats that exist and strategies to protect against them; understand the roles different levels of government can play in the process, and hear from key officials about the issues raised by the official response to election security threats at the federal, state and local levels as well as in related private sector communities.
PA 5984 - Elections Security: How to Protect America?s Elections
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
?Elections Security? uses the Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election as a case study to identify the vulnerabilities of US elections (especially state voter registration databases) as well as catalogue new protections. Readings and discussion will focus on best practices and technology options available to the public (social media) and elections professionals (cybersecurity) in guarding against future influence efforts and assuring public confidence in election outcomes. Special focus will be given to describing how local election officials can protect their election technology, most notably those vulnerabilities associated with their voting system and voter registration database. ?Elections Security? will draw heavily on concrete cases and challenges facing election professionals, using government and independent reports and an indepth analysis of new resources created by the US Department of Homeland Security and its collaborations with election professionals.