Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA)
Program at a Glance
Delivery
In-person or onlineLocation
Fort Collins or online; internship can be completed locally, domestically, or abroadLength
Two years (four semesters + internship)Start Terms
Fall, Spring, and Summer (online program begins Fall 2021)Credits
39GRE Required?
NoPriority Application Deadlines*
Fall: February 20
Spring: October 15
Summer: April 1Final Deadlines
Fall: July 15
Spring: December 1
Summer: April 20Degree Awarded
Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA)*Deadlines to be included in first application review and eligible for the Best and Brightest Management Fellowship.
Program Overview
The world needs innovative, visionary leaders with a passion for serving the public good
International organizations, government agencies, and nonprofits are actively seeking skilled professionals to lead teams and develop policies that improve people’s lives. The Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) prepares students for public sector or nonprofit leadership through an interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates research-based academic theory with real-world experience.
With professionally focused students in mind, the MPPA program offers classes on weekday evenings or online. Students currently working in the field can maintain their career momentum while engaging with a diverse student cohort and MPPA faculty, leading researchers and educators who bring their firsthand public service experience to each class. Faculty will lead in-depth discussions, facilitate hands-on learning experiences, and connect students with the world class city of Fort Collins, recipient of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Graduates of the MPPA program will be ready to work as executives, managers, analysts, and planners in a wide range of public sector agencies and nonprofit organizations.
Which degree is right for you: an MPPA, MPA, MPP, or MBA?
View our degree comparison guide.
Why CSU?
Colorado State University’s MPPA offers a distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum with a focus on engaged work. Students can apply the knowledge gained in unique courses like Civic Engagement to the outstanding laboratory of Fort Collins local government, or connect their learning with international opportunities like internships abroad or the Peace Corps. With the only international policy and management specialization in Colorado, MPPA graduates will be prepared for public service leadership, locally, nationally, and globally.
Connect with the MPPA
Program at a Glance
Delivery
In-person or onlineLocation
Fort Collins or online; internship can be completed locally, domestically, or abroadLength
Two years (four semesters + internship)Start Terms
Fall, Spring, and Summer (online program begins Fall 2021)Credits
39GRE Required?
NoPriority Application Deadlines*
Fall: February 20
Spring: October 15
Summer: April 1Final Deadlines
Fall: July 15
Spring: December 1
Summer: April 20Degree Awarded
Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA)*Deadlines to be included in first application review and eligible for the Best and Brightest Management Fellowship.
Program Details
The MPPA is a professional degree that provides the academic knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in public service. The 39-credit-hour program consists of
- 21 credit hours of core classes,
- 12-15 credit hours of specialization credits,
- an internship,
- and a capstone project.
Through applied case studies, in-depth discussion, and service-learning, students will hone and apply their skills in research, analysis, and evaluation.
Specializations
Students completing the MPPA degree will select one of three specializations: Public Management, Public Policy, and International Policy and Management. Each specialization provides students with in-depth expertise in a substantive area of public policy and administration.
Public Management
The public management specialization serves as a generalist focus on public sector organizations and management. Students are provided with the managerial and technical competencies to effectively and efficiently deliver and manage public services at the federal, state, or local levels of government.
Public Policy
The public policy specialization provides students with the foundational skills to understand how to appropriately structure policy problems in order to propose policy solutions and evaluate existing policies. Students completing this specialization will be well equipped to serve as a professional policy analyst or policy manager in public and nonprofit organizations across the world.
International Policy and Management
The international policy and management specialization equips students with a broad understanding of policy and management, both within and across countries. Students pursuing this specialization will be prepared to pursue careers in intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and United States foreign policy-making.
Accelerated Master's Program
Students earning a BA in Economics or a B.A. in International Studies at CSU may have the option to complete an MPPA in just one year. The accelerated master's program gives undergraduate students a jumpstart on their graduate coursework, allowing them to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in as little as five years.
Graduate Certificate Program
Earn your graduate certificate in Public Policy Analysis in as little as two semesters. You'll advance your career by building skills like forecasting future impacts of new policy proposals and anticipating complications before they occur. This 12-credit program is offered exclusively online to help you balance your academic studies with professional obligations.
People
MPPA faculty are more than just leading researchers and educators, they are also current public servants who bring real-world experience and expertise to the classroom.
Dr. Robert Duffy is the Chair of the Department of Political Science and Director of the Master of Public Policy and Administration Program. Duffy’s research has focused on a variety of environmental and energy issues, as well as the role of organized interests in federal elections. His most recent book, with the late Gary Bryner, is “Integrating Climate, Energy and Air Pollution Policy,” published by MIT Press.
Dr. Allison White is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Public Policy and Administration program. Her academic work focuses on public policy, elections, and corruption in dictatorships. She has also worked alongside election monitoring organizations abroad. She teaches courses on international policy and management and is enthusiastic about helping students pursue careers in intergovernmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, the U.S. foreign policy apparatus, and foreign governments. Read our Q&A to get to know Dr. White.
Dr. Martín Carcasson is the founder and director of the CSU Center for Public Deliberation (CPD). The CPD serves as an impartial resource for the community dedicated to enhancing local democracy in Northern Colorado through improved public communication, community problem solving, and collaborative decision-making. Read our Q&A to get to know Dr. Carcasson.
Dr. Alexis R. Kennedy is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration at CSU. Her research focuses on public management topics including the interactions between public, private, and nonprofit organizations in the pursuit of public outcomes, community engaged research, and social equity. Her articles have appeared in Administration and Society, Review of Public Personnel Administration, and Journal of International Development. In addition to her academic work, Kennedy has worked as a practitioner in the energy industry in New Jersey and as a public finance consultant for nonprofit and public entities in Colorado. Read our Q&A to get to know Dr. Kennedy.
Dr. Jessie Harney is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Public Policy and Administration program. Her research interests are in justice system reform, with much of her work focusing on: 1) how to improve the mental health of frontline workers in these systems; 2) understanding how the well-being of frontline workers impacts service delivery to system-impacted populations; and 3) understanding how to improve the well-being of system-impacted individuals and families through specific, direct services or policies.
Career Opportunities
The outlook for careers in public policy and administration is strong, with higher than average job growth expected in both the public and nonprofit sectors. According to a 2019 alumni survey from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), 96% of graduates found employment or opportunities in the field within 6 months.
Career Pathways
- City and local government management
- Federal government agency leadership
- Urban planning
- Public policy analysis
- International policy management
- Nonprofit administration
- Community development
- Congressional office support
Job Functions
- Advise elected and appointed leaders
- Evaluate projects and programs
- Assess organizational performance
- Develop policies and procedures
- Project policy outcomes
- Estimate economic impacts
- Oversee organizational change
Potential employers
- Local/State government
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- World Bank
- United Nations
- Nonprofit organizations
Degree Comparison Guide: MPPA | MPA | MPP | MBA
With so many leadership opportunities available in government, nonprofit, and private organizations, it can be a challenge to decide which graduate degree to pursue: a Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA), a Master of Public Administration (MPA), a Master of Public Policy (MPP), or a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
While each of these professional programs strengthen students’ skill sets in interpersonal communication, effective management, and organizational behavior, there are key differences in the focus and outcomes of the degrees.
MPPA
For students seeking leadership roles in public service, administration, and policy; combines aspects of a traditional MPA and MPP
Typical courses
- Theories of the Policy Process
- Public Organizational Theory
- Public Personnel Administration
Career Pathways
- Public agency management
- Domestic or foreign policy analysis
- Policy management
MPA
For students seeking leadership roles in the public and nonprofit sectors
Typical courses
- Public Organization Management
- Program Evaluation
- Public Finance
Career Pathways
- Public agency management
- Nonprofit leadership
- Government affairs
MPP
For students interested in analyzing and evaluating aspects of policy in the public and nonprofit sectors
Typical courses
- Public Policy
- Statistics and Data Analysis
- Public Finance
Career Pathways
- Research and budget analysis
- Policy advising
- Consulting
MBA
For students seeking leadership roles in economics, finance, and management
Typical courses
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Operations Management
Career Pathways
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial advising
- Management consulting
Cost of Attendance
Tuition and fees are calculated based on your academic status, Colorado residency, and program of study. MPPA students from qualifying states may be eligible for reduced tuition through the WICHE Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). Additional scholarship and financial aid opportunities are available. Explore your options below.
Best and Brightest Management Fellowship
The Master of Public Policy and Administration has partnered with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to offer the Best and Brightest Management Fellowship to MPPA students. The Best and Brightest Fellowship Program partners with counties, municipalities and universities across the state to meet the needs of communities, engage future leaders, and connect students to community work that sparks their curiosity and leads them to work in public service. The program connects local governments, students and educators through two-year paid fellowships.
Fellowship program objectives:
- To provide a unique opportunity for students to complete their graduate degree while gaining invaluable real world learning experiences
- To develop potential local government managers, planners, economic and community development directors
- To provide a way for DOLA to support small and/or rural jurisdictions in meeting their administrative staffing needs in the most cost effective way possible
Upon completion of the two-year program, students will have completed all of the requirements for the MPPA while, at the same time, having gained two years of invaluable applied experiences. Students will receive an annual salary and benefits package totaling at minimum $42,000 and may be eligible for tuition reimbursement once they are formally admitted into the program or after successfully completing the Fellowship. For more information about participating in the program, please contact Alexis Kennedy.
Best and Brightest Management Fellow Q&A
Learn more about Emily Myler and how she is applying her MPPA degree while working for the town of Avon.
How to Apply
To be included in the first application review of the term and eligible to apply for the Best and Brightest Management Fellowship, apply by the priority application deadline. Applications received after the priority application deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis and admitted as space is available through the final deadline. The MPPA is currently offered on the Fort Collins campus and will be offered online beginning in Fall 2021.
Priority Application Deadlines
Fall: February 20
Spring: October 15
Summer: April 1
Final Deadlines
Fall: July 15
Spring: December 1
Summer: April 20
Admission Requirements
In general, MPPA applicants should have a cumulative 3.0 GPA and a bachelor’s degree awarded prior to beginning the MPPA program as well as evidence of public service motivation. Students are not required to submit a standardized exam score.
The MPPA program requires the following materials when applying:
- Transcripts from all previous universities attended
- A statement of application outlining the motivation for pursuing the MPPA degree (300-500 words)
- A current resume
- Three letters of recommendation
Application Process
