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The Graduate School of
Political Management

College of Professional Studies

PACs and Political Management

Acquire the fundamentals to effectively run your organization's Political Action Committee (PAC) with this unique graduate certificate.

The challenges of coordinated political action and campaign finance uncertainty make it more important than ever that professionally trained leaders manage PACs. This program is designed to give PAC managers the fundamental skills to manage finances and persuade voters and decision makers.

Timing and Location

The certificate is designed for working professionals and all classes are held Monday-Thursday evenings in our Capitol Hill classrooms or our Foggy Bottom campus.

Requirements

The certificate requires completion of five courses (15 credit hours). It can be completed in as little as two semesters or terms, or at your own pace. All coursework can be applied towards a master’s degree in Legislative Affairs or Political Management.

Courses

Required Courses (1 course, 3 credit hours)

LGAF 6234 PACs and Congress

Elective Courses (4 courses, 12 credit hours)

Choose any combination of the courses below to complete this certificate. 

Political Management Courses (choose any two courses):

PMGT 6410 Grassroots Engagement
PMGT 6414 Lobbying
PMGT 6420 Corporate Public Affairs
PMGT 6450 Rules, Laws, and Strategy
PMGT 6454 Fundraising and Budgeting
PMGT 6472 Maximizing Social Media

Legislative Affairs Courses (choose any two courses):

LGAF 6202 Legislative Politics
LGAF 6222 American Political Parties and Elections
LGAF 6224 Interest-Group Politics
LGAF 6260 Domestic Policy Analysis-Selected Topics

Estimated Tuition and Fees

Graduate tuition and fees at the George Washington University are comparable to the national average for private universities. These costs, set by the GW Board of Trustees, generally increase from year to year and may vary by program and location.

Please use this information as an estimate based on current tuition rates and fee structures. Total tuition and fees will vary according to the courses taken and the timeframe in which you complete your coursework.

2024-2025 Rates in Effect for Summer 2024, Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 Terms

  • Tuition: $28,200 (15 credits @ $1,880 per credit hour)
  • Other costs to consider: Application fee $80; Registration fee $35/semester; Textbooks $600; Matriculation Fee (one time) $200.