Dual Master of Public Administration - Master of Public Health

School of Public Affairs

Overview

Degree: MPA/MPH

Classroom Type: Online and on campus classes

The School of Public Affairs and the Colorado School of Public Health jointly sponsor this dual-degree program, which enables you to take the core of both programs, and choose electives that simultaneously count toward both programs and that suit your career and personal goals.

Application​ deadlines


Fall: August 1; Spring: December 1; Summer: May 1

Program Details

Interest Categories: Criminology & Law Health & Wellness Public Administration & Policy Social & Behavioral Sciences

Campus: CU Denver

General requirements

Review CU Denver's Graduate Academic Policies.

Program requirements

  • The dual degree program requires 60 credit hours of graduate coursework
  • A maximum of 6 transfer credit hours may be applied to the degree requirements.
  • Students at the University are expected to maintain progress in their degree program, as defined by being in "good academic standing." Good academic standing requires minimally a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on all University of Colorado course work.

Required courses

Students must complete the 13 required core courses below, for a total of 38 credit hours. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.

  • PUAD 5001: Introduction to Public Administration & Public Service (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5002: Organizational Management & Behavior (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5003: Research & Analytic Methods (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5004: Economics & Public Finance (3 credit hours) -OR- PUAD 5503: Public Budgeting & Finance (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5005: The Policy Process & Democracy (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5006: Public Service Leadership & Ethics (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5008: Evidence-Based Decision-Making (3 credit hours)
  • BIOS 6601: Applied Biostatistics (3 credit hours)
  • EPID 6630: Epidemiology (3 credit hours)
  • EHOH 6614: Environmental & Occupational Health (3 credit hours)
  • CBHS 6610: Social & Behavioral Factors and Health (3 credit hours)
  • HSMP 6601: Health Systems, Management & Policy (3 credit hours)
  • PUBH 6600: Foundations in Public Health (2 credit hours)

In addition, students must take PUBH 6606: Practicum (2 credit hours) plus Capstone Preparation (CBHS 6990, EPID 6990, HSMP 6990, BIOS 6990 or EHOH 6990) (1 credit) within their concentration and PUBH 6991: MPH Capstone Integration (1 credit). Preservice students are also required to take PUAD 6910: Internship.

Other courses

In addition to the required core courses, students must complete 6 credit hours of elective courses from the School of Public Affairs and 12 credit hours of concentration courses from the School of Public Health. Elective courses in the School of Public Affairs must be approved by the program director. View the available Master of Public Health concentrations. Dual-degree students can also create a custom MPH concentration in consultation with their Colorado School of Public Health advisor.

School of Public Affairs course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog. Colorado School of Public Health course descriptions can be found in the Colorado School of Public Health course book.

Recommended Completion Time:3 Years

Max Transfer Credits:6

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:60 Credits

Admission Requirements


View the admissions requirements for the School of Public Affairs.

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