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School of Public Affairs

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    Preparing leaders for government and nonprofits

    Learn more about our programs

    Lead. Solve. Change. 

    Public affairs topics are at the center of almost every national debate. 

    From education policy to affordable housing, criminal justice reform to energy independence, these issues affect our neighborhoods, our cities and our society as a whole. To move forward and find solutions, the country needs leaders and collaborators with in-depth knowledge and a long-term vision.

    Determined to make a difference in your community? 

    As Colorado’s top school for public affairs, public administration and criminal justice, CU Denver School of Public Affairs is a great place to start.

    Logo indicating that the School of Public Affairs is accredited by NASPAA

    U.S. News & World Report 2023 Best Graduate Schools rankings

    #1 Best Public Affairs Program in Colorado (#29 in the nation)
    #1 in Environmental Policy and Management in Colorado (#10 in the nation)
    #1 in Nonprofit Management in Colorado (#16 in the nation)
    #1 in Public Finance and Budgeting in Colorado (#19 in the nation)
    #1 in Public Management and Leadership in Colorado (#21 in the nation)
    #1 in Local Government in Colorado (#25 in the nation)
    #2 Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs in Colorado (#20 in the nation)

    Learn more.

    Master of Public Policy

    New Degree Earned: MPP Campus: CU Denver The Master of Public Policy prepares students to design, advocate for, and evaluate public policy, increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of public policies from inside or outside of government. Students gain understanding of public policy design and analysis techniques, and the role of politics and power in influencing the making and implementation of public policy.

    Graduate Certificate in Managing for Social Equity

    New Degree Earned: Graduate Certificate Campus: CU Denver This certificate provides you with the knowledge and skills to strengthen principles and practices that support equity, diversity, and inclusion within government and nonprofit organizations and in their interactions with the larger society.

    Graduate Certificate in Public Management

    New Degree Earned: Graduate Certificate Campus: CU Denver This certificate will provide you with the historical, political, and legal context of government organizations in the United States. You will learn and apply concepts relevant to managing government organizations, managing human capital, group development and performance, organizational communications, information management, and ethical and evidence-based decision-making.

    Request program information

    • Bachelor's programs
    • Master's programs
    • Doctoral program
    • Certificate programs

    Learn more about our Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration programs.

    Request information

    Learn more about our Master of Criminal Justice, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Public Policy programs.

    Request information

    Learn more about our Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs program.

    Request information

    Learn more about our non-degree, graduate certificate programs.

    Request information

    Application deadlines

    • Fall
    • Spring
    • Summer

    Bachelor's programs: July 31

    Master's programs: August 1*

    Doctoral program: February 1*

    Certificate programs: August 21

    *Applications are accepted for the fall term only for the accelerated Master of Public Administration and PhD in Public Affairs programs.

    View admission requirements and application instructions

    Bachelor's programs: December 31

    Master's programs: December 1*

    Certificate programs: January 22

    *Applications are accepted for the fall term only for the accelerated Master of Public Administration program.

    View admission requirements and application instructions

    Bachelor's programs: May 27

    Master's programs: May 1*

    Certificate programs: June 11

    *Applications are accepted for the fall term only for the accelerated Master of Public Administration program.

    View admission requirements and application instructions

    Our response to COVID-19

    Learn more

    Degree Programs in Criminal Justice

    Closeup of the pediment of a building with the words "Equal Justice Under Law" etched in relief

    Defend the innocent, use big data, solve crimes

    Our criminal justice programs prepare students for a changing workforce and continued learning. Some use their degree as a stepping stone to executive positions in law enforcement, crime analysis and human services, while others want to expand their knowledge of criminal justice before law school.

    Browse our criminal justice programs.

    Degree Programs in Public Affairs

    Flower bed in full bloom in front of the State Capitol Building in Denver

    Put good policy ideas into practice

    Our programs in public affairs, public administration and public service prepare leaders for the government and nonprofit sectors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 25 percent of all jobs are in these sectors, and with 30 percent of government employees eligible to retire in 2016, the demand for public administrators continues to rise.

    Browse our public affairs programs.

    Certificate programs

    Firefighters contending with a wildfire

    Focus on your interests and passion

    Our certificate programs provide a great opportunity to add to your skills and knowledge in your particular area of interest, whether you want to advance in your current job or transition into a new one. Credits earned in certificate programs can be applied toward our master’s degree programs.

    Browse our certificate programs.

    Professional & Leadership Development Programs

    A team-building activity where participants have to support a heavy stick with only one finger each

    Strengthen your skills, grow your network

    The School of Public Affairs is home to nationally renowned programs that provide training to current and future leaders. From public managers to education policy experts, our program participants have developed new skills, expanded their networks and recharged their careers.

    Browse our leadership training programs.


    Featured events

    Attend our events

    We host more than 100 events each year featuring distinguished practitioners, community leaders and politicians. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of our events will be held virtually, unless otherwise indicated.

    Join our events mailing list

    SAVE THE DATE: Conference on Policy Process Research 2023

    Jan 11 - Jan 14, 2023 | All Day
    Lawrence Street Center
    1380 Lawrence Street
    Denver, CO
    This three-day conference features one day of workshops focused on specific theories and/or methods and two days of concurrent and plenary panels, roundtables and debates, programs dedicated to mentoring graduate students, keynote, and hot-seat sessions featuring established scholars.
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    See all events


    Featured news

     

    • Maria-Limon-blogpost

      Recollections on Supporting Team Unstoppable

      May 23, 2022 by Maria Limon
      Maria Limon, Rural Technical Assistance Manager and Fostering Youth Leadership Specialist for the Center on Domestic Violence at the CU Denver School of Public Affairs, shares powerful experiences of working with Team Unstoppable, a group of youth leaders at several high schools in Denver for the last year and a half. They are “an unstoppable movement using humanity’s compassion and love to end all forms of violence.”
      Full story
    • TIAA-850w

      CU Denver CityCenter Announces 2022-23 TIAA Chancellor’s Urban Engaged ScholarsOpens in a new window

      May 10, 2022
      One faculty member from each school and college has been selected to receive the TIAA Chancellor’s Urban Engaged Scholars award for the second year. Presented by CityCenter, this award recognizes the outstanding contributions of CU Denver faculty to the Denver-metro region through research and creative activities that drive our community forward.
      Opens in a new window Full story
    • Chloe-Franz-850w

      CU Denver Student Chloe Frazee Finds and Becomes a Lifeline at CU DenverOpens in a new window

      May 5, 2022
      Growing up in Los Angeles with her mother and grandmother who were Mexican immigrants, CU Denver Student Chloe Frazee never imagined she would attend college, let alone graduate. “Mom worked a lot, and my grandma couldn’t speak English,” she says. At 15, Frazee and her older brother moved to Colorado to live with their godparents. “I’d been struggling with school and moved to be closer to family here.”
      Opens in a new window Full story
    • Congrats-850w

      2022 Faculty Award RecipientsOpens in a new window

      Apr 28, 2022
      Each year CU Denver honors one of the university’s greatest assets – our remarkable faculty – with the faculty excellence awards. These accolades recognize superior accomplishments in teaching, leadership and service, research and creative work, librarianship, faculty mentoring, and practices related to instructional, research, and clinical faculty.
      Opens in a new window Full story
    • Number-29-850w

      School of Public Affairs ranks number 29 in country, number 1 in Colorado

      Mar 29, 2022 by Toula Wellbrook
      U.S. News & World Report today released its 2023 Best Graduate Schools Rankings, in which the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs is ranked number 29 in the nation overall for public affairs programs. The school is also ranked in the Top 25 for five sub-specialty rankings.
      Full story
    • Climate-change-850w

      Dealing with Disproportionality in Climate Change PolicymakingOpens in a new window

      Mar 21, 2022
      We often assume the ideal about our governments: they should act proportionately to the problems at hand. Governments should respond to minor issues with minor policy changes and major issues with major policy changes. This assumption of proportionality cumbers the effectiveness of solutions found across literatures, including adaptive management, sustainable development, and direct and deliberative democracy.
      Opens in a new window Full story
    • Ricky Abilez

      Graduate Student Ricky Abilez Wins Prestigious University of Colorado Thomas Jefferson AwardOpens in a new window

      Mar 10, 2022
      Artist, educator, activist, and School of Public Affairs graduate student Ricky Abilez can officially add “University of Colorado Thomas Jefferson Award winner” to their ever-growing list of titles. The system-level award, which honors students, faculty, and staff members who are committed to advancing public service, education, and the arts, serves as a reminder to Abilez that the work they do matters.
      Opens in a new window Full story
    • Brad Reubendale

      Alum Brad Reubendale: Nourishing a Nonprofit DreamOpens in a new window

      Mar 3, 2022
      CU Denver alum Brad Reubendale, executive director of SAME (So All May Eat) Café on East Colfax, knows all too well what it means to lose everything. At 17, he and his family were excommunicated from the Missouri cult he’d been raised in. “The only humans I knew were my brothers and my parents until I got my feet back under me working in youth services for the Salvation Army.”
      Opens in a new window Full story
    • Heikkila-Weible-OpEd

      Opinion: COVID opened the door to new energy thinking. We haven’t stepped through itOpens in a new window

      Mar 1, 2022
      If a pandemic isn’t enough to accelerate the energy transition, then what is? Professors Tanya Heikkila and Chris Weible take on this question, along with PhD in Public Affairs alumnus Dr. Alex Osei-Kojo and Dr. Amy Pickle from Duke University.
      Opens in a new window Full story

    See all news

    School of Public Affairs

    CU Denver
    Lawrence Street Center

    1380 Lawrence Street

    500

    Denver, CO 80204

    303-315-2228

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