Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration may elect to graduate with a concentration in Emergency Management. The concentration allows students to to learn how emergency management aims to reduce the harmful effects of all hazards, including disasters. Public servants respond to emergencies but also focus on preparedness, mitigation, resilience, and recovery. Students will be prepared to apply this knowledge in careers with government and nonprofit agencies.  

The Emergency Management Concentration requires 15 credit hours of courses, which will count towards the elective requirement for the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration degree.

Required Courses:

Students must complete all of the required courses below. All course descriptions can be found in the Undergraduate Academic Catalog.

• GEOG 2202 – Hazards to Disasters – Perception and Management (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 4230 – Hazard Mitigation and Vulnerability Assessment (pre-requisite: GEOG 2202) (3 credit hours)
• PUAD 4010 – Public Service in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (3 credit hours)

Elective Courses:

In addition to the required courses, students must complete two electives from the list below:

• GEOG 2080* – Introduction to Mapping and Map Analysis (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 4080* – Introduction to GIS (pre-requisite: GEOG 2080) (3 credit hours)
• CRJU 4450 – Homeland Security (3 credit hours)
• Other 3000- and 4000-level elective approved by the concentration director (3 credit hours)

*Recommended elective

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration may elect to graduate with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Management. The concentration allows students to study the laws, regulations, and policy mechanisms that the government and organizations use to manage environmental issues. Environmental policy balances protection, conservation, and sustainability of natural resources with affordable energy and economic growth while understanding how human activities affect the environment. Students will be prepared to apply this specialized knowledge in careers with government and nonprofit agencies.  

The Environmental Policy and Management Concentration requires 15 credit hours of courses, which will count towards the elective requirement for the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration degree.

Required Courses:

Students must complete all of the required courses below. All course descriptions can be found in the Undergraduate Academic Catalog.

• PUAD 3500 – Managing and Leading in Environmental Organizations (3 credit hours)
• ENVS 1044 – Introduction to Environmental Sciences (co-requisite: ENVS 1045 lab) (3 credit hours)
• ENVS 1342 – Environment, Society, and Sustainability (3 credit hours)

Elective Courses:

In addition to the required courses, students must complete two electives from the list below:

• COMM 4282 – Environmental Communication (3 credit hours)
• ENVS 3082 – Energy and the Environment (3 credit hours)
• ENVS 3232 – Weather and Climate (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 2080 – Introduction to Mapping and Map Analysis (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 4080 – Introduction to GIS (pre-requisite: GEOG 2080) (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 4260 – Energy and Natural Resource Planning (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 4265 – Sustainability in Resources Management (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 4305 – Water Quality and Resources (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 4335 – Contemporary Environmental Issues (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 4440 – Science, Policy, and the Environment (3 credit hours)
• PSCI 4354 – Environmental Politics (3 credit hours)

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration may elect to graduate with a concentration in International Development. The concentration allows students to learn about the history of international development paradigms and understand the relationships among development actors and how they address persistent global problems such as poverty, human trafficking, trade, and human rights, as examples. International development explores economic growth, alleviating poverty, and improving living conditions in less developed countries. Students will be prepared to apply this knowledge in careers with government and nonprofit organizations.  

The International Development Concentration requires 15 credit hours of courses related to international development, which will count towards the elective requirement for the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration degree.
 
To declare this concentration please see your advisor.

Required Courses:

Students must complete all of the required courses below. All course descriptions can be found in the Undergraduate Academic Catalog.

• PSCI 3042 - Introduction to International Relations (3 credit hours) – OR – PSCI 3022 - Political Systems of the World (3 credit hours)
• PUAD 3600 - Managing and Leading in International Development (3 credit hours)
• COMM 4270 - Intercultural Communication (3 credit hours) – OR – COMM 4720 - Dynamics of Global Communication (3 credit hours)
• Study abroad course (3 credit hours)

To concurrently fulfill the requirement for the CU Denver Core Curriculum and the International Development concentration, students should select the international perspectives course listed below.

• INTS 2020 - Foundations of International Studies (for International Perspectives core) (3 credit hours)

Elective Courses:

In addition to the required courses, students must complete one elective at the 3000- or 4000- level. Examples of acceptable electives include but are not limited to the courses below:

• ANTH 4460 – Development and Conservation: Theory and Practice (3 credit hours)
• ECON 3415 – Issues in International Trade and Finance (3 credit hours)
• ETST 4146 – Indigenous Politics (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 3411 – Globalization and Regional Development (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 4301 – Population, Culture, and Resources (3 credit hours)
• HIST 4032 – Globalization in World History since 1945 (3 credit hours)
• HIST 4220 – U.S. Foreign Policy since 1912 (3 credit hours)
• INTB 3000 – Global Perspectives (3 credit hours)
• IWKS 3600 – Innovating for the Developing World (3 credit hours)
• PBHL 3070 – Perspectives in Global Health (3 credit hours)
• PBHL 4080 – Global Health Practice (3 credit hours)
• PSCI 4266 – International Law (3 credit hours)
• PSCI 4365 – Global Ecological Crises (3 credit hours)
• SOCY 3720 – Global Perspectives on Social Issues (3 credit hours)
• SOCY 4020 – Race, Culture, and Immigration (3 credit hours)

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration may elect to graduate with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. The concentration prepares students for a wide variety of careers in the exciting world of nonprofit organizations. Students learn about the history and context of nonprofit organizations, while gaining practical skills needed to manage and lead in this sector.  

The Nonprofit Management Concentration requires 15 credit hours of courses related to nonprofit management, which will count towards the elective requirement for the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration degree.

CU Denver School of Public Affairs' affiliation with the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance gives students the opportunity to earn the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential through completion of the Nonprofit Management Concentration coursework and additional required extracurricular activities.

Contact cnp@ucdenver.edu for more information about this credential. To declare this concentration please see your advisor.

Required Courses:

Students must complete all of the required courses below. All course descriptions can be found in the Undergraduate Academic Catalog.

• PUAD 3110 - Seminar in Nonprofit Management (3 credit hours)
• PUAD 4140 - Nonprofit Financial Management (3 credit hours)

Elective Courses:

In addition to the required courses, students must complete three of the courses below:

• PUAD 3005 - Collaboration Across Sectors (3 credit hours)
• PUAD 4020 - Social Entrepreneurship (3 credit hours)
• PUAD 4160 - Nonprofit Boards and Executive Leadership (3 credit hours)
• PUAD 4600 - Special Topics in Public Service: Study Abroad in East Africa (3 credits)
• PUAD 4600 - Special Topics in Public Service: Social Problems and Policies in the Urban Environment (3 credits)