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2026-2027 Catalog
Public Administration, MPA
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About the Program
The Master of Public Administration program prepares students to take leadership roles in the public and nonprofit sectors. This multidisciplinary degree program is designed to provide graduate professional education for students interested in public service careers. The UCCS MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), whose standards are the benchmark used by public administration master’s degree programs worldwide.
MPA Mission
The Master of Public Administration program provides high quality graduate education for current and future leaders in public, nonprofit, and private sector organizations, here and abroad, to prepare them for excellence in public service.
To accomplish this mission, we strive to meet the following goals:
- Advance public service through improving the quality leadership of public, nonprofit, national security, and emergency management and criminal justice systems.
- Teach students from diverse backgrounds to work collaboratively to meet societal challenges ethically, with compassion, vision, analytic rigor, and practicality.
- Foster strategic leadership skills: critical thinking and decision-making, effective communication, creative problem-solving, knowledge management, multi-sector understanding, and global citizenship.
- Support and model civil public discourse, citizenship, responsibility, and respect.
- Facilitate a process of lifelong learning that evolves and adapts to the changing nature of the field and continuous development of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.
MPA Core Competencies
Graduates of the MPA program will have the following competencies, as enumerated by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the program’s accrediting body. The ability to:
- Lead and manage in the public interest;
- Participate effectively in and contribute to the policy process;
- Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment;
- Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective; and
- Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.
Policies and Procedures
Refer to the College of Public Service General Information section of this academic catalog for the eligibility criteria, policies, and procedures relevant to this program.
Program Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of graduate coursework with a total grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4-point scale) or better;
- Complete an additional 3 credit hours of internship (if required, for a total of 39 credit hours); and
- Earn grades of B- or better in all courses counted towards the degree.
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Core Courses (18 credit hours)
Students are expected to complete PADM 5001 within their first two semesters of enrollment. PADM 5003 should not be taken in the first semester of study. Elective Courses (12-15 credit hours)
Students must complete 12-15 credit hours of electives (number of hours depends on student’s selection of Capstone or Thesis for their culminating experience). Elective courses include a mixture of specialized courses, workshops, and other formats. Students may choose to focus these elective hours around a particular area based on their interests and career goals. Where appropriate, students may include specialized courses offered by other UCCS departments, with prior written approval of the MPA Program Director and in accordance with the transfer credit guidelines. If desired, students can use their electives to earn one of the following graduate certificates: - Criminal Justice
- Grant Writing, Management, and Program Evaluation
- Nonprofit Management
- National Security Intelligence
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Culminating Experience: Capstone or Thesis
MPA students are required to complete either the Capstone Seminar or Master’s Thesis as their culminating experience. Capstone Seminar (3 credit hours)
In PADM 5361 Capstone Seminar students work with a client in a public or nonprofit agency to identify a problem and then, using the knowledge and skills they have gained in the program, carry out a project and write a paper to address the problem. The Capstone Seminar requires 3 hours of credit and should be taken after all core courses have been completed with a grade of B- or better, and preferably during the final semester in the MPA program. Capstone Seminar is offered ONLY in the fall and spring semesters. To enroll in PADM 5361 Capstone Seminar, please follow the steps below: 1. Attend Capstone Orientation Capstone orientation is held in both the fall and spring semesters and is a required component of the enrollment process. If you are unable to attend, you must contact a Capstone instructor listed on the course schedule to discuss alternative arrangements prior to completing the Capstone Checklist. It is essential that you attend the orientation in the semester prior to the one in which you plan to enroll in the Capstone Seminar. 2. Request Degree Audit After you have attended an orientation, the semester prior to your Capstone semester, you must then request a degree audit from the Graduate Student Services Specialist. You can email cps@uccs.edu to request your audit. Once your audit is complete you can proceed with your capstone checklist. 3. Complete the Capstone Checklist You’ll receive your Capstone Checklist once you attend the mandatory orientation, which will be held the semester prior to enrolling in Capstone. When your checklist is complete, including all reader signatures, please email the checklist to cps@uccs.edu. 4. Receive Permission Number After your checklist is received and your eligibility has been verified, you will be issued a permission number to enroll in the Capstone Seminar. Master’s Thesis (6 credit hours)
In PADM 6950 Master’s Thesis students conduct a comprehensive review of the theoretical and research literature in the subject area of their thesis and collect original data or analyze existing data in new ways. The thesis requires 6 credit hours taken over two semesters. The thesis option is available to MPA students who have achieved an exceptional academic record and who wish to pursue independent research in greater depth than would normally be possible in Capstone Seminar. It is suited for students who intend to pursue a PhD degree or to enter a research or policy environment upon completion of the MPA degree. Minimum eligibility requirements for pursuing a thesis include: - Successful completion of all core courses
- Overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Demonstrated ability to pursue research work, as evidenced by two submitted research papers developed in CPS courses or elsewhere
- Preliminary identification of a thesis topic or area of interest
- Agreement from a CPS faculty member to serve as the thesis committee chair along with two additional faculty members to serve on the thesis committee.
- Minor exceptions to the above criteria may be made in exceptional circumstances.
A student desiring to pursue the thesis option should meet with their faculty advisor to establish eligibility under the above criteria. After establishing eligibility, the student should recruit a faculty member to serve as the thesis committee chair and then, in consultation with the chair, identify two additional faculty members to serve on the committee. Once the thesis committee is formed, the student must complete the thesis application form and submit it to cps@uccs.edu for review and approval. Upon approval, the student will be issued a permission number to register for the course. Internship (additional requirement for pre-service students)
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program includes professional experience among the requirements for degree completion. Pre-service students–those without at least one year of professional experience in a public administration-related field (e.g., government, nonprofit, national security, homeland security, or emergency management)–are also required to complete a 3-credit-hour internship course, bringing the total hours required for the degree to 39. Student employment is not eligible to count as relevant work experience. Students are notified upon admission whether an internship is required for completion of program requirements. Should a student gain at least one year of professional experience during their tenure in the program, they may submit a Graduate Internship Waiver Request Form that will be reviewed by the MPA Program Director. Students must have completed at least 9 credit hours of coursework to enroll in Internship. A minimum of 240 hours of supervised work is required to earn 3 hours of credit. Internship guidelines are set forth in the MPA Student Internship Information Handbook. |
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