Degree: MPA
Classroom Type: Online and on campus classes
The MPA program is for students interested in public service leadership positions and careers with public and nonprofit agencies and organizations. The program serves students new to public service, as well as those already in the field who are interested in furthering their careers.
Fall: August 1; Spring: December 1; Summer: May 1
Interest Categories: Public Administration & Policy
Campus: CU Denver
Traditional MPA program
The MPA program is offered in a traditional format, where students can choose to take their courses in person, online or both.
Accelerated (One-Year) MPA cohort
The Accelerated (One-Year) MPA (AMPA) is a fast-paced, full-time option that brings academically superior students together with a dedicated research and teaching faculty in the midst of the vibrant downtown CU Denver environment. The accelerated option enables students to focus their energies in a concentrated program of study and earn a nationally accredited, 36-hour MPA in 12 months. (It is preferred that applicants have some knowledge of economics, statistics and political science.)
Students are admitted to the program in cohorts of approximately 20 participants to foster a community of scholar-practitioners. Students in the AMPA program are not able to choose a concentration due to the cohort nature of the program and sequencing of classes. A new cohort starts each August, and the accelerated option is priced at a flat fee - regardless of in-state or out-of-state student status - providing out-of-state students with substantial savings.
Please note that employees of the University of Colorado are not able to apply tuition assistance benefit to the accelerated version of the MPA program.
Executive MPA program
The executive MPA option is targeted to senior-level professionals in the nonprofit and public sectors. The Executive MPA option requires 30 semester hours of credit. Professional experience counts for two courses, leaving 10 courses to complete, as opposed to the 12 courses of the Accelerated or Traditional MPA options. It is possible to complete the executive MPA with a concentration in rare occasions but will require careful planning with an advisor and additional credit hours. Refer to the Graduate Academic Catalog for Executive MPA requirements.
Please note that employees of the University of Colorado are not able to apply tuition assistance benefit to the following executive MPA course: PUAD 5001, PUAD 5002, and PUAD 5010. These courses are classified as "extended studies" and are not eligible for this benefit.
Which MPA is right for you?
Program requirements
Required courses
With the exception of those in the executive MPA program, students must complete the seven required courses below, for a total of 21 credit hours. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.
Elective courses
In addition to the required courses, students must complete 12 credit hours of elective courses. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.
Internship
Students who have limited experience (generally defined as less than one year of experience) in public, nonprofit or relevant private-sector service must enroll in PUAD 6910 - Public Administration Internship. The decision to require PUAD 6910 for a particular student is made by the faculty admissions committee or the student's faculty advisor upon the student's acceptance to the MPA program. A minimum of 300 hours of supervised work and study is required to earn 3 semester hours of credit. This requirement raises the total semester hours needed to earn the MPA degree to 39.
Capstone option
With the exception of those pursuing the thesis option, all MPA students must complete the capstone course during the last semester of their degree program. All core classes must be completed before taking the capstone.
Thesis option
The thesis option is available in lieu of the PUAD 5361 - Capstone Seminar for MPA students who have an interest in pursuing a topic in-depth or who are planning to pursue a career in research or academia. Students must receive approval from their faculty advisor or the MPA director to pursue the thesis option.
A student may choose to complete a concentration in disasters, hazards, and emergency management as part of the MPA or MCJ program. It is possible to complete the executive MPA with a concentration in rare occasions but will require careful planning with an advisor and additional credit hours.
This concentration provides advanced education in the management of emergencies, hazards, disasters, and community resilience. The DHEM program is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to work, or are currently working, in the field of natural and man-made hazards, community resilience, and, emergency management.
Students must complete 12 credit hours to earn the concentration.
Students must complete the following course, for a total of 3 credit hours:
In addition, students must complete at least one course from the list below (all three courses are recommended) for a total of 3 credit hours:
Additionally, students must complete elective courses for a total of 12 credits for the program. View the program completion plan for a list of approved electives. Other electives may be taken with approval from the concentration director. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.
Additionally, students must complete two elective courses from the list below for a total of 6 credits.
A student may choose to complete a concentration in emergency management and homeland security as part of the MPA or MCJ program. It is possible to complete the executive MPA with a concentration in rare occasions but will require careful planning with an advisor and additional credit hours.
This graduate concentration provides advanced education in the management of emergencies, hazards, disasters, and homeland security. Students completing the concentration will have the knowledge and skills necessary to assess and manage a broad range of hazards and disasters, and to understand the policy environment in which emergency management occurs. A total of 12 credits in needed to complete the concentration.
Students must complete the following course, for a total of 3 credit hours:
In addition, students must complete at least one other course from the list below for a total of 3 credit hours:
A student may choose to complete a concentration in environmental policy and management as part of the MPA. It is possible to complete the executive MPA with a concentration in rare occasions but will require careful planning with an advisor and additional credit hours.
The environmental policy and management concentration provides an understanding of how our natural environment is governed and affected by relationships between various entities, including: legislatures; administrative agencies; courts; federal, state, and local governments; government and the nonprofit and private sectors; and government and the public it has been established to serve.
Students must complete the two required courses listed below for a total of 6 credits.
Additionally, students must complete two elective courses for a total of 6 credits. View the program completion plan for a list of approved electives. Other electives may be taken with approval from the concentration director. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.
A student may choose to complete a concentration in gender-based violence studies as part of the MPA or MCJ program. It is possible to complete the executive MPA with a concentration in rare occasions but will require careful planning with an advisor and additional credit hours.
The concentration in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) focuses on management and policies relevant to gender-based violence, as well as grass-roots social justice work and best practices in this emerging field.
Students must complete the following four courses for a total of 12 credit hours. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.
*Tuition is assessed at $2,800 per course for students who require hotel accommodation. Students who do not require hotel accommodation will be assessed tuition of $1,700 per course.
Please note that employees of the University of Colorado are not able to apply tuition assistance benefit to these four courses. These courses are classified as "extended studies" and are not eligible for this benefit.
A student may choose to complete a concentration in local government as part of the MPA. It is possible to complete the executive MPA with a concentration in rare occasions but will require careful planning with an advisor and additional credit hours.
The local government concentration prepares students to become well-versed in the forces that shape the agendas of local governments and the organizations they interact with in order to gain a richer understanding of governance and policy making. Students must complete 12 credit hours to earn the concentration.
Students must complete the course below as part of the MPA core, for a total 3 credit hours.
Students must complete one of the courses below, for a total of 3 credit hours.
Additionally, students must complete two elective courses for a total of 6 credits. View the program completion plan for a list of approved electives. Other electives may be taken with approval from the concentration director. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.
A student may choose to complete a concentration in managing for social equity as part of the MPA. This concentration provides knowledge and skills for government and nonprofit organizational managers and leaders interested in strengthening principles and practices that support equity, diversity, and inclusion within their organizations and as their organizations interact with the larger society.
Students must complete the following two courses for a total of 6 credit hours:
Other electives may be taken with approval from the concentration director. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.
Students must complete the courses below, for a total of 3 credit hours.
The school's 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, additional required extracurricular activities, and an examination. Contact cnp@ucdenver.edu for more information about this credential.
Students must complete the following course, for a total of 3 credit hours:
Additionally, students must complete three elective courses from the list below for a total of 9 credits.
Other electives may be taken with approval from the concentration director. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.
Recommended Completion Time:2 Years
Max Transfer Credits:9
Max Credits Per Year:27
Required Credits for Completion:36
View the admission and application requirements for the School of Public Affairs.
The Master of Public Administration Program at the School of Public Affairs advances public service in Colorado and beyond through quality education, collaborative research, and strong relationships with the professional community. To advance our "Lead. Solve. Change." philosophy, we:
CU Denver School of Public Affairs' Master of Public Administration program is accredited by NASPAA, the global standard in public service education. As part of our NASPAA accreditation, we make the following information available to prospective and current students and to members of the public: