Political Campaign Management Professional Certificate

The School of Professional & Continuing Studies is pleased to offer our Political Campaign Management Professional Certificate. Channel your passion for politics at the local, state or national level while building management skills across campaign functions.

From crafting a preliminary campaign plan through executing a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) operation, this intensive certificate program will teach students the essential skills required to manage all aspects of a winning political campaign.

As a nonpartisan program featuring instructors and guest speakers from both sides of the political aisle, the Political Campaign Management Professional Certificate will focus on ethical campaigning and producing professionals who raise the discourse of our politics.

Students will gain the expertise and knowledge fundamental to campaign management, from conducting oppositions research, to building political coalitions, to creating a relevant policy platform that resonates with voters. Certificate holders will leave the program with the skills needed to step into professional campaign staff roles, in any discipline.

Instructional Team

Course instructors include Democratic and Republican political professionals with experience working in campaigns, government, and private consulting on the local, state, and national levels. Instructors hold advanced academic degrees in Political Science, Public Policy, and Elections and Campaign Management.

In addition to instructors, the program features guest lecturers and speakers from across the political spectrum. These speakers will be announced as they are confirmed. A list of speakers who have participated in previous cohorts is included at the bottom of the page.

Course of Study

The Political Campaign Management Professional Certificate consists of six modules, delivered online via Zoom and self-paced remote instruction.

  • Weekly self-paced video lectures
  • Weekly live remote sessions via Zoom: Monday and Thursday evenings, 7-9pm ET

Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Professional Certificate in Political Campaign Management from the University of Richmond, and will earn 90 professional hours (equivalent to 9 CEUs) that can be applied to professional development goals.

Outcomes

Participants will gain expertise and knowledge fundamental to campaign management, including the following:

  • Conducting opposition research
  • Building political coalitions
  • Creating a relevant policy platform that resonates with voters
  • Organizing a Get Out the Vote operation

Certificate earners will leave the program with the skills needed to step into professional campaign staff roles, in any discipline.