How to Apply
Admissions Requirements
Students interested in the University Certificate in Leadership in the Public Sector must have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Students pursuing university certificate programs enroll as non-degree studies (NDS) students for the purpose of university registration. Contact the LPS program to enroll in the LPS certificate.
There is no time limit on completion of the certificate; however, if students wish to take a “break” from the certificate program, they must notify the LPS academic advisor. This will allow us to keep track of the number of enrolled certificate students.
Students who complete the certificate may apply for admittance to the Bachelor of Arts Online Degree Completion Program: Leadership in the Public Sector. If a certificate student completes this B.A. degree, then the certificate will be removed from their transcript, as students may not have a certificate or a minor concentration in the same area as their major degree.
How to Apply to the Undergraduate Certificate in Leadership in the Public Sector
Students apply by submitting their academic record and a letter of interest. Admission to the program is not required to take certificate courses.
Complete the following steps to get started taking courses.
Step 1: Apply for Admission to NC State University as a Non-Degree Studies (NDS) Student
Only students admitted to NC State can take classes at the university. If you are not already matriculated in a degree program at NC State you will need to apply as a non-degree studies (NDS) student. Note, if you receive a message that new NDS applications are not currently being accepted you will have to wait to apply until after the start-of-term lockout is over. You will not be able to take a class until next term.
To have the $40 application fee waived, when prompted for your Enrollment Objectives check “to earn an undergraduate certificate or participate in one of the following programs:” and select “University Undergraduate Certificate in Leadership in the Public Sector” from the drop-down list.
Click here for general information or to check your eligibility for Non-Degree Studies (NDS) status.
Step 2: Pay Tuition
NDS students are required to prepay their tuition before they can register for classes.
- Calculate your tuition and fees. Tuition for online classes (also called distance education, or DE) is calculated by the number of credit hours taken. All courses for this certificate are charged at the Undergraduate – Standard DE Rate. Click here to view current rates for tuition and fees.
- Pay tuition and fees online (ePay), or click here for other payment options.
- Click here for general information and answers to questions about tuition and fees.
Step 3: Register for Your Class
To register for classes you will need an NC State student ID number and/or NC State Unity (computer system) ID and password. These will be e-mailed to you once your NDS application has been processed and accepted.
- NDS students can register for classes only after the open enrollment period begins. Click here for current information about open enrollment.
- Using your NCSU Unity ID and password, log-in to the MyPack portal, and select the class(es) for which you wish to register.
- For assistance with registration and to enroll in the certificate program, e-mail lps@ncsu.edu. Please include in the message the number and name of the course for which you wish to register, and your NC State student ID number, and state your intention of enrollment.
Coursework
Not ready to enroll in the certificate yet? You can still take classes! Classes taken independent of a certificate or degree program may be used to satisfy continuing education requirements or, if approved, be applied toward a certificate or degree program in the future. Learn how to enroll in individual classes as a Non-Degree Studies (NDS) student.