Public Works Specialist Certificate Program

Information for the upcoming session:  Registration opens August 26, 2024 through September 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM PST, with classes starting the week of September 30, 2024.  Registrations must be received before 5:00 PM on September 30, 2024 (registration received after 5PM PST will not be accepted).  The Instructor name, time and days the classes are being conducted are listed for you below next to each class name. When you register for the class(es) of your choice, it is your responsibility to avoid conflict in the timing. Click here for the class schedule.

_______________________

 

MSA offers online courses to promote affordable education and information. The program has 14 difference courses. 

The successful completion of 6 courses is needed to obtain the Public Works Technician Certificate.

The successful completion of 12 courses is needed to obtain the Public Works Specialist Certificate. 

 

Each student is required to complete and sign a Scholastic Ethics and Syllabus Acknowledgment form.

 

Tuition is $150 for each course, this includes tuition, credit card processing fee and all necessary material. The 12-week program consists of weekly modules (lesson plan) discussed during online meetings with your instructor and classmates. Your assigned MSA instructor will contact you with program information and link to the online meeting.  Tuition must be paid before class is assigned.  If paying by check, make payable to MSA and mail to:  MSA c/o Lory Warren, Education Director, PO Box 35951, Tuscon, AZ 85740.  

 

If you are a new student, it is necessary to take the “Introduction to Public Works” course first. After that you may take any of the courses offered in any order. There are normally three semesters a year and you can take multiple classes if class timings do not conflict.

 

Class size is a minimum of 4 students. After the registration period, students are assigned an instructor who sets the online meeting dates/times. 

 

Below are the courses with a brief description:

 

Introduction to Public Works 

• This class is the prerequisite to all other courses offered. The reasoning behind that is because this class touches on a broad variety of topics relevant to the Public Works industry. From the history of roads to traffic control and stormwater. From supervision to inspections as well as safety, quantity calculations, sweeping, drainage, concrete and asphalt. This course will hopefully spark an interest in a specific area of training that you are looking for. 

Asphalt and Portland Cement 

• This class covers design, construction, placement compaction and identification of defects and corrective measures. We also cover safety as it applies to delivering and placing these materials. 

Concrete Structures & Inspections 

• This is an advanced class covering the construction of concrete structures and the inspection of bridges, culverts from site preparation to steel placement, excavation, falsework, and the technology associated with them. 

Contract Administration

• This course will enable you to identify terms, concepts and principles related to the contract administration process. It will give you skills to identify, prevent and correct contractual problems, issues and risks.

Construction Math and Cost Estimating

• This course will provide you with the skills to put together estimates and calculated quantities.  You will learn how to estimate time, materials, labor, and equipment needed to successfully complete Public  Works Projects.

Inspections 

• A course in Inspections is vital to a future as a Public Works Inspector. We cover the role of the Inspector and the relationship between the Inspector and the Contractor. We get into the specifics of plans, special provisions, standards, and contract specifications. This course also covers the topics of change orders, documentation and recordkeeping, prosecution of the work, and acceptance of contract work. 

Municipal and Urban Trees 

• Specific skills needed to work with trees within the right-of-way. This course covers the anatomy & psychology of trees, as well as cabling, soils management, root structure and its effects on infrastructure. We teach you about irrigation, pruning, and fertalizing. This course will prepare you for the Tree Workers Certification Exam.

NPDES

• Overview of stormwater environmental issues in Public Works. Topics include Clean Water Act, EPA, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, watershed management and effect on water runoff.  Construction Impact, Low Impact Designs, Maintenance Impacts, Enforcement Regulatory Authorities, and related issues.

Occupational Safety & Health for Public Works

• This course covers topics relevant to Public Works, such as excavation, trenches, tunnels, rock drilling, equipment, flammable vapors, and toxic substances. We also go into detail about the relationship between the employer and the employee as it relates to safety on the job. 

Pavement Preservation

• This course is an introdutory overview of the many different types of pavement preservation strategies.  Topics include Pavement Designs, Pavement Management Systems (PMS, Fogs Seals, Crack Seals, Slurry & Micro Seals, Chips Seals, Cape Seals, Bonded Wearing Courses, Interlayers & Crumb Rubber.

Plans Interpretation

• This course will provide you with the information you need to be able to read and interpret plans for roadways, drainage ways, and related structures.

Street Construction & Maintenance

• This course covers asphalt and concrete pavement construction and maintenance as well as budgeting, safety, and codes. 

Supervision

• This course teaches you specific skills in how to lead. It teaches you skills in communications both written and oral, scheduling, training, corrective action, evaluations, and more. 

Traffic Control Standards, Practices & Policies

• This course will give you a great awareness and appreciation for the design and implementation of devices that protect the worker and the traveling public. 

Other courses coming soon:

Environmental Management - Coming Soon

• Water quality, watershed management, waste management, air pollution control, and regulatory compliance are all items covered under this course. 

Green Infrastructure Construction and Stormwater Management - Coming Soon

• Under this topic you will learn alternative methods for Stormwater management. These practices will enable you to maintain healthy waters, provide environmental benefits and support sustainable communities while providing flood mitigation energy use reduction and air quality management. 

Public Administration  - Coming Soon

• In the Public Works Sector, upper management positions require specific knowledge planning, financing and tools to build a model Public Works Organization. This course will also discuss the new advancements being made in technology within our industry. 

Soils Trenching and Grading - Coming Soon

• The course will cover the identification and classification of soils: the soils suitable for pavements, the various soil tests, and the application of these tests in the construction and maintenance of public works projects to achieve the desired outcome.