Public Administration, BA
Introduction
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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 choose to earn a concentration in Nonprofit Management.
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
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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.
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Program Requirements
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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.
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A maximum of 12 transfer credits may be applied to the major.
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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.
| 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 | |
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This class also fulfills a Social Science requirement of the CU Denver core curriculum.
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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
| 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 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.