Degree: BA
Classroom Type: Fully Online 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
Our graduates have a passion for helping people and making the world a better place. The Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration (BAPA), offered by the School of Public Affairs, prepares the next generation of civic-minded leaders to take active roles in organizations that promote the common good, such as local, state, and federal government agencies and nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations. We build on this passion, in concert with your work and life experiences, to encourage and develop learning opportunities where we examine how systems, institutions, communities, and organizations influence social or policy change. Public Administration degrees allow students to engage with communities in building their future. Specifically, we prioritize commitments to public and social issues, develop the capacity for organizations to help individuals reach their goals, and allow you to hone your own skills for leadership, management, collaboration, budgeting, and evaluation. Coursework explores the history and values of public service, while building real-world skills in areas such as managing people and resources, designing and evaluating programs, conducting human resources functions, collaborating with others and across sectors, making ethical decisions and communicating effectively in diverse environments. Students interested in careers in nonprofit organizations may choose to earn a concentration in Nonprofit Management.
All courses are available online, and many are also offered in person on campus. The program provides 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. The BAPA program has been ranked #9 overall by SR Education Group’s 2018 Best and Most Affordable Online Colleges, based upon a mix of #3 for quality and #22 for affordability.
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 required courses below, for a total of 39 credit hours. See which courses are being offered next semester. All course descriptions can be found in the Undergraduate Academic Catalog.
In addition to the required courses, students must complete 9 credit hours of elective courses, which may be taken from other departments with academic advisor approval. All 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.
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.