Public Administration, BA

Introduction

Please click here to see School of Public Affairs information.

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, 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 also choose to earn one or more of the following certificates: a concentration in Nonprofit Management . Leadership, Equity, Advocacy and Policy Certificate, Strategic and Collaborative Management Certificate and/or Public and Nonprofit Management Certificate.

The program provides students with the flexibility to schedule courses around work or other demands while also engaging both local and online students in public service opportunities in their own communities. 

Program Delivery

Students have the flexibility to complete this degree through a combination of online and in-person courses, or entirely online. All required PUAD core courses are available in an online format, with occasional in-person options. CU Denver core courses and general electives are available in both online and in-person course formats.

Declaring This Major

Please contact spa.advising@ucdenver.edu
Click here to go to information about declaring a major.

General Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

CU Denver Graduation Requirements
CU Denver Undergraduate Core Curriculum
School of Public Affairs Graduation Requirements
Click here for information about Academic Policies

Program Requirements

The Public Administration major requires 48 credit hours of coursework, a minimum of which 39 must be PUAD credit hours offered by the School of Public Affairs. Up to 9 credit hours of electives outside of PUAD coursework may be applied to major requirements with advisor approval.
A maximum of 12 transfer credits may be applied to the major.
Students must receive a minimum C- grade in each undergraduate course applied to satisfy major or minor degree requirements and must maintain a 2.0 GPA overall.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
PUAD 1001	Why We Care About Government, Nonprofits, and the Public Good ¹	3
PUAD 2002	Policy and Advocacy	3
PUAD 3001	Project Management and Program Evaluation	3
PUAD 3002	Organizational and Strategic Management	3
PUAD 3600	International and Global Organizations	3
PUAD 4002	Leading and Engaging for the Public Good	3
PUAD 4003	Strategic Communications for Public Engagement	3
PUAD 4011	Community Resilience, Climate, and Emergency Response	3
PUAD 4220	Human Resource and Talent Management	3
PUAD 4939	Public Service Internship ²	3
PUAD 4941	Integrating Professional Public Administration	3
Elective Courses
Students must take a total of 15 credit hours of elective courses. A maximum of 9 credit hours of electives can be taken outside of Public Administration electives if approved.		15
Total Hours		48

¹: This class also fulfills a Social Science requirement of the CU Denver core curriculum.
²: The internship requirement may be waived by the BAPA program director in the case of prior significant professional public service experience, in which case an additional elective is required. See SPA Graduation Requirements for more information.

Public Administration Electives

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
PUAD 3005	Collaboration Across Sectors	3
PUAD 3110	Seminar in Nonprofit Management	3
PUAD 3400	What Communities Tell Us: Stakeholders, Public Opinion, and Community Feedback	3
PUAD 3500	Managing and Leading in Environmental Organizations	3
PUAD 4005	Human Rights and Social Equity	3
PUAD 4006	Organizational Development	3
PUAD 4008	Current Issues in Public Sector Organizations	3
PUAD 4009	Human Service Organizations	3
PUAD 4020	Social Entrepreneurship	3
PUAD 4140	Nonprofit Financial Management	3
PUAD 4160	Nonprofit Boards and Executive Leadership	3
PUAD 4220	Human Resource and Talent Management	3
PUAD 4260	Managing for Social Equity	3
PUAD 4325	Public Private Partnerships	3
PUAD 4440	Negotiation and Conflict Resolution	3
PUAD 4600	Special Topics in Public Service	1-6
PUAD 4620	Crisis and Emergency Communication	3
PUAD 4628	Social Problems and Policies in the Urban Environment	3
PUAD 4630	Economic Development	3
PUAD 4638	Colorado Politics, Policy, and Administration	3
PUAD 4995	Global Study Topics	3
"Special Topics in Public Service" courses explore current and emerging issues relevant to public service; topics vary by semester. "Global Study Topics" are faculty-led study abroad expericences; topics vary by location. New courses are frequently added. Please consult your advisor for any other PUAD course you are considering as an elective in advance of enrolling in the course.

Other Electives

All courses taken from another department that you would like to count as an elective for the Public Administration major must be approved by your advisor in advance. Please contact your advisor directly to discuss any class you may be considering for elective credit that is not listed above.

To review the Degree Map for this program, please visit our website.

University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus

2025-2026 Academic Catalog