Degree: BA
Classroom Type: Online and on campus classes
The Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration prepares you to lead in government agencies, nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations. Explore public service, management of people and resources, program design and evaluation, collaboration and communication across sectors, and ethical decision making.
Fall: July 31; Spring: December 31; Summer: May 31
Interest Categories: Criminology & Law Public Administration & Policy
Campus: CU Denver
Coursework explores the history and values of public service, while building real-world capacity in areas such as managing people and resources, designing and evaluating programs, collaborating with others and across sectors, making ethical decisions and communicating effectively in diverse environments. Courses are offered in person and online, providing students with the flexibility to schedule courses around the reality of family and work demands, while also engaging both local and fully-online students in public service opportunities in their own communities.
Students who choose to focus on nonprofit management also have the option to earn the nationally recognized Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) designation through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. As workforce demand increases in the government and nonprofit sectors, students will be ready to apply critical thinking and analytical skills to make a difference in the world.
General requirements
To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the areas below, in addition to their individual major program requirements.
Review CU Denver's Undergraduate Academic Policies.
Program requirements
Required courses
Students must complete the seven required courses below, for a total of 24 credit hours. All course descriptions can be found in the Undergraduate Academic Catalog.
Elective courses
In addition to the required courses, students must complete 24 credit hours of elective courses, 12 of which must be Public Service (Administration) courses offered by CU CU Denver School of Public Affairs, and 12 of which may be taken from other departments with academic advisor approval. All Public Administration course descriptions can be found in the Undergraduate Academic Catalog.
Public Administration elective courses
Please consult your advisor for any other PUAD course you are considering as an elective.
Other elective courses
All courses taken from another department that you would like to have counted as an elective must be approved by your advisor. Please contact your advisor directly to discuss any class you may be considering for elective credit that is not listed above.
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.
Elective Courses:
In addition to the required courses, students must complete three of the courses below:
Recommended Completion Time:4 Years
Max Transfer Credits:12
Max Credits Per Year:In most cases, students wishing to take more than 18 credit hours per semester (12 in the summer session) must have the overload approved by the dean.
Required Credits for Completion:48
Up to 30 credits of CTE coursework (Police Academy, Emergency Medical Career, and Fire Career) can be transferred as general elective credit.