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2019-2020 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Public Administration MPA
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 Return to: School of Public Affairs
Introduction
The Master of Public Administration degree (MPA) provides graduate professional education 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.
To learn more about our renowned faculty, please visit our website to view our faculty bios.
Program Director: Jane Hansberry, PhD
The School of Public Affairs offers three distinct ways to complete an MPA degree:
- Accelerated MPA
- Executive MPA
- Traditional MPA
Students may also choose to designate a concentration within one of the optional focus areas or complete the MPA without a specified concentration.
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SPA Admission Requirements
- Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of accredited standing, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Two sets of official transcripts are required from all higher education institutions attended.
- Applicants must provide three recommendations from qualified references. Recommendations may be from professors, employers and/or others acquainted with the prospective student’s professional and/or academic work.
- Applicants are required to take the GRE, the GMAT or the LSAT unless they meet the requirements for waiver. Standard graduate admission test scores are normally waived when the candidate already has a graduate degree in another field from an accredited institution. Other applicants may have test scores waived if they have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better and they have significant post-baccalaureate professional employment in management or policymaking positions for a minimum of 7 years or the equivalent.
- A current resume highlighting professional accomplishments and community involvement, a short essay stating educational and career goals, a declaration of program form, and an application fee are also required.
- International applicants may have different admission requirements and should check with the Office of International Affairs. In particular, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. A composite score of 6.5 on the IELTS, or a composite score of 80 on the TOEFL, with accompanying minimum IELTS or TOEFL subscores of 20 or greater, is required.
All application material and test scores should be sent to:
School of Public Affairs
University of Colorado Denver
Campus Box 142, P.O. Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217-3364.
Application Deadlines
| Admit Term |
Preferred Deadline |
Final Deadline |
| Fall |
March 1 |
August 1 |
| Spring |
October 15 |
December 1 |
| Summer |
March 1 |
May 1 |
SPA will review applications as soon as they are complete. Master-level applicants generally receive notification of their admission status three weeks after all materials have been received in the office. The preferred deadlines listed below allow students to receive best consideration for scholarships, financial aid and course selection. Students who do not meet the preferred deadline may still submit application materials until approximately one month before the start of classes and will be considered on a space-available basis.
Provisional Admission
In exceptional cases, a student who does not otherwise meet the minimum requirements for admission may be admitted on provisional status if elements of their application suggest they may be able to succeed in the program. Students admitted on a provisional basis take two core courses in their first semester, and must earn at least a B in each course.
Under provisional admission, students may select two of the following for their first semester:
MCJ students:
MPA students:
Based on their performance in these courses, a formal decision will be made concerning their admission into the program. Provisionally-admitted students may not take any other courses at SPA until they have been formally admitted to the program.
Nondegree Admissions
Students may register as nondegree students while developing their application packet. However, students are discouraged from taking multiple courses as a nondegree student if they hope to pursue a degree. No more than nine semester hours taken in the program as a nondegree student may be applied to the master’s degree programs, with approval of an advisor. Taking courses as a nondegree student does not guarantee later admittance into the MCJ program. Nondegree student application forms are available in the Office of Admissions or online.
Transfer of Credit to SPA
Up to 9.00 credit hours of appropriate graduate work from an accredited college or university may transfer, if such credit was not applied to a completed degree.
Limitation of Course Load
To be considered for full-time status for Financial Aid determination, graduate students must be enrolled in 5 credit hours of graduate coursework per semester. A student who is employed full-time is strongly advised not to carry more than 6 credit hours in graduate coursework per semester. Students who wish to carry a graduate course load above 9 credit hours per semester must consult their Academic Advisor prior to enrollment.
Financial Assistance
For information regarding Financial Aid and Scholarship opportunities, please visit the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships website.
SPA specific financial aid options, please the scholarships page on our website.
MPA Degree Requirements
The minimum requirements for the MPA degree are outlined below. Occasionally, changes are made; students may graduate under the requirements that were in effect when they were admitted.
- Students must successfully complete 36 credit hours of approved coursework.
- Students must maintain at least a 3.00 (B avg) cumulative GPA in this program.
- Students must earn at least a B- in all core coursework and at least a C in all elective coursework to be accepted for graduate credit towards the degree.
- No more than 6 credit hours of Independent Study may be applied toward the degree.
- Students who have not had at least one year of professional work experience in the public or nonprofit sectors must complete an internship through an additional 3-semester-hour course described in No. 6 below, bringing their total semester-hour requirements to 39.
- This program must be completed within 7 years.
Required Coursework
All MPA students (with the exception of those in the executive MPA option) must complete the following core courses or approved equivalents, for a total of 21 credit hours. Students must receive a grade of at least B- (2.7) in each core course and at least a C in all electives. Students who earn a lower grade in a core class may repeat the class once in an effort to improve the grade.
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, Internship in Public Administration. 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 the 3.00 credit hours for this course. The internship requirement raises the total credit hours needed to earn the MPA degree from 36 to 39.
Capstone
All MPA students, except those pursuing the thesis option, must complete the capstone course during the last semester of their degree program. All core courses must be completed before beginning the capstone.
Thesis Option
In lieu of PUAD 5361 Capstone, students who have an interest in pursuing a specific topic in-depth or who are planning to pursue a career in research or academia may choose instead to complete a Masters Thesis. Students must receive approval from their faculty advisor or the MPA Director prior to pursing this option. The thesis option can be taken for either 3 or 6 credit hours in consultation with the MPA Director.
Elective Courses
All MPA students must complete 12 hours of electives. Elective courses in which a student earns a grade of less than a C (2.0 avg) will not be counted toward a degree.
For a list of pre-approved electives, please consult your Academic Advisor. Additional courses may qualify with advanced approval from the MPA Director.
Online Option
The MPA degree is offered in an online format. Students who are looking for a high-quality education but need an alternative to traditional classroom instruction may elect to complete one or all of their courses online. This option allows students to complete the entire degree at a distance or elect to take some courses in person while using an interactive online format for others.
Accelerated MPA
The Accelerated 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 Denver environment. The students in the cohort enjoy a unique experience as they go through all classes in the MPA together, fostering a community of scholar-practitioners.
The Accelerated MPA enables students to focus their energies in a concentrated program of study and earn a nationally accredited, 36-hour MPA in 12 months. All coursework is completed in-person as a cohort. The online option is not available for the AMPA program.
Students are admitted to the program in cohorts of approximately 20 participants. A new cohort starts each August. The cohort format helps to increase the opportunity to become acquainted with other graduate students and increases the opportunities for interaction between program participants and faculty. It is preferred that applicants have some knowledge of economics, statistics and political science prior to starting the program, although no required.
This program is priced at a flat rate, regardless of in-state or out-of-state student status, providing out-of-state students with substantial savings.
Students interested in pursuing the Accelerated MPA program should designate this as their desired program on their Admissions application.
Executive MPA
The Executive MPA program is designed for senior level professionals in the nonprofit and public sectors. The Executive MPA requires 30 credit hours to complete the degree.
Initial Leadership Experience (3 Hours)
All students will enroll in the Rocky Mountain Leadership Program (RMLP) which is a six-day seminar typically held in Breckenridge. The RMLP brings together public and non-profit professionals from across the country to collaborate on current management issues while honing leadership skills. Federal employees may elect OPM’s federal Management Assessment Seminar at either the Western or Eastern Management Development Centers in lieu of the Rocky Mountain Leadership Program. For more information about the OPM program option please see www.leadership.opm.gov.
Coursework
Required Courses (15 Hours)
All students will complete PUAD 5001 and PUAD 5002 together as an Executive cohort. Both courses are held in a Hybrid format which combines a one-week intensive session on the Denver campus with additional online instruction. Students will also complete two additional core courses (6 total credits) from the regular MPA core. The remainder of the core courses may be taken in the student’s preferred format as either online, weekend intensive, or through the traditional campus-based classroom setting.
All Executive students will complete PUAD 5361, Capstone Seminar (3 credits) at the end of their program. The Capstone allows students to synthesize the information learned during the program and put it into practice within their professional setting.
Electives (12 Hours)
In consultation with an advisor, students select four additional elective courses that best meet their professional goals. These may be taken online or in the classroom. Students may complete up to 9.00 credits through the federal OPM Management Development Center provided they are approved for graduate credit by the American Council on Education.
MPA Concentrations
Students may select one of the concentrations below or complete the MPA without a specified concentration. Students completing a concentration take their electives in the area of their concentration, complete the advanced seminar project in the area of their concentration and are advised by faculty from the concentration.
All MPA concentrations require a total of 12 credits hours of concentrated elective coursework and may either be taken as part of the MPA program or as a stand-alone Graduate Certificate .
Disasters, Hazards, and Emergency Management Concentration
The concentration in Disasters, Hazards, and Emergency Management (DHEM) provides advanced education in the management of emergencies, hazards, disasters, and community resilience. DHEM is designed for students who work or will work in the field of natural and man-made hazards, community resilience, and emergency management.
Required Coursework
The DHEM concentration requires a total of 12 credit hours. Of these 12 credits, all students will complete the two required courses below as well as two pre-approved electives. For a list of pre-approved electives, please consult your Academic Advisor.
All students must take PUAD 5720, Public Policies for Hazards and Disasters.
Emergency Management and Homeland Security Concentration
The concentration in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS) provides advanced education in the management of emergencies, hazards, disasters, and homeland security. The EMHS program is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to work, or are currently working, in the field of emergency management and homeland security.
The EMHS program is also offered as a stand-alone Emergency Management and Homeland Security Graduate Certificate program.
Required Coursework
The EMHS concentration requires a total of 12 credit hours. Of these 12 credits, all students must complete at least two of the four required courses below as well as two pre-approved electives. For a list of pre-approved electives, please consult your Academic Advisor.
All students must take PUAD 5650, Public Service in Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
Environmental Policy, Management and Law Concentration
The graduate certificate in Environmental Policy, Management and Law provides an understanding of how our natural environment is governed and affected by relationships between various entities, including legislatures, administrative agencies, courts, government, and more.
Required Coursework
The concentration in Environmental Policy, Management, and Law requires a total of 12 credit hours. Of these 12 credits, all students will complete the two required courses below as well as two pre-approved electives. For a list of pre-approved electives, please consult your Academic Advisor.
Gender-Based Violence Concentration
The concentration in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) focuses on the management and policies surrounding gender-based violence, as well as grass-roots social justice work and best practices in this emerging field. Each fall, 10 to 20 students are accepted into the GBV cohort, allowing the participants to build a strong community of advocates and learners.
This program combines online courses with four intensive campus seminars spaced throughout the two-year program. Nonresident students pursuing the MPA with a concentration in Gender-Based Violence may also qualify for reduced tuition through the Western Regional Graduate Program which covers 14 western states.
Required Coursework
Students take four specified courses:
Local Government Concentration
The Local Government concentration requires a total of 12 credit hours. All students must take PUAD 5503, Public Budgeting and Finance, as well as one additional core course from the list below. Students must also choose two additional electives which have been pre-approved by their advisor.
Nonprofit Organizations Concentration
The concentration in Nonprofit Organizations prepares students to become innovative and critical thinkers in the areas of nonprofit organizational management and public policy, with a unique approach that bridges theoretical knowledge with real-world experience. As students prepare for their careers or advancement in their current positions, they gain insight into the interdependence between the nonprofit, public, and for-profit sectors. Graduates are able to span the boundaries of these three sectors to assess community needs, navigate the realm of public policy, and strategically and effectively manage organizations that ultimately benefit society.
The Nonprofit Organizations program is also offered as a stand-alone Nonprofit Organizations Graduate Certificate program.
Required Coursework
The Nonprofit Organizations concentration requires a total of 12 credit hours. Of these 12 credits, all students will complete the two required courses below as well as two pre-approved electives. For a list of pre-approved electives, please consult your Academic Advisor.
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