Online Master of Public Policy Program Overview
The Master of Public Policy at the CU Denver School of Public Affairs is a rigorous program unique in its focus on the role of public policy in a democratic society. The program is closely connected to the Center for Policy and Democracy, a hub for research, teaching, and community engagement on public policy and democracy. Working across disciplines, states, and countries, faculty and students bring various perspectives to the study and research of how policies and politics impact the most important issues facing democratic societies today.
Program at a Glance
Degree Program:
Master of Public Policy
Offered By:
School of Public Affairs
Tuition:
Cost Per Credit:
$613
Application Deadline:
Credit Hours:
36
Program Details
The Master of Public Policy program provides the tools for policy design, implementation, analysis, and advocacy, while focusing on the intersection and impact of democracy, politics, and power.
What You'll Learn
You will develop quantitative and analytical skills as they relate to policy design and implementation and a strong understanding of the policy process and policy advocacy to equip you to navigate challenges and hurdles when advocating for change.
Online Concentrations
You will learn how K-12 education is governed, financed, and regulated in the United States, and become familiar with the interaction between federal, state, and local policies and with the context in which education policy is formulated and implemented.
You will gain an understanding of how our natural environment is governed and affected by relationships between governments, nonprofits, private sector organizations, and the public, as well as the design and performance of environmental policies that these entities create to address a range of environmental issues and problems.
You will gain training and build additional quantitative and qualitative skills used in traditional public policy analysis.
You will prepare for a career that involves developing and advocating for policy solutions in your areas of interest.
Tuition and Fees
Investing in your future is a big decision. However, becoming a fully online student at CU Denver is a high-quality and affordable option for learners of all types. Visit our tuition and financial aid page for more information. Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.
Residents of Western U.S. States and Territories pay the resident tuition rate through the Western Regional Graduate Program. Students who are fully online and not from participating Western U.S. States and Territories pay the nonresident online tuition rate.
Admissions
Admission into the MPP requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. In addition to completing the admission application, applicants must also provide:
- Transcripts from all higher education institutions attended
- Two letters of recommendation
- A resume
- A personal statement
- Evidence of quantitative competency
- Application fee
View the complete admission requirements and application instructions.
The program’s blend of academic rigor, hybrid modality, practical application, and commitment to fostering a community of change-makers makes it an ideal place for anyone passionate about making a difference. It’s been an inspiring journey, and I’m proud to be part of this forward-thinking and impactful program.
– Nicolás A. | Master of Public Policy Student
Career Outlook
The MPP program prepares you for policy-focused roles across the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Graduates of the program can seamlessly transition into meaningful careers at all government levels, in non-profit organizations focused on policy advocacy, with research think tanks, and more.
Public Policy Courses
Students complete seven required core courses, four elective courses of their choice, and a required capstone course. Students with less than one year of relevant professional experience must also complete a 3-credit internship, bringing the total number of credits to complete the program from 36 to 39.
Core Courses
Examine qualitative and quantitative research methods used to answer questions and inform decisions in public and nonprofit settings. Methods covered include reviewing scholarly literature; formulating research questions; selecting appropriate design, data collection and sampling strategies; and analyzing data.
Evaluate the role of government with respect to provision and financing of public goods. Explore welfare and microeconomics, expenditure theory, resource mobilization with an emphasis on taxation, fiscal federalism, and basic budgeting and analytical tools.
Introduction to theoretical and applied studies of the policy process, which includes how issues are conceptualized and brought forward as problems needing action; policies are designed and selected; and enacted policies are implemented, monitored, evaluated, and revised.
Explore the intricacies of designing public policy in different political and institutional contexts, the ways in which different tools of policy design influence the people and organizations targeted by policies, and criteria and mechanisms for assessing policy designs.
Training in the systematic analysis of policy and program initiatives using an economics orientation and employing a case method. The course covers benefit-cost analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, present values, and the treatment of multiple criteria in public sector program analysis.
Explore issues related to the various ways the public engages in public affairs, including theoretical and practical insights about engaging in the policy process, administration of government programs and service delivery, political mobilization, self-governance, and more. The course addresses engagement at local, subnational, national, and supranational levels. Woven throughout the course are normative challenges associated with political equity and different ways to assess public participation and its impacts.
These seminars feature critical analyses of policy and democracy scholarship, in-depth discussions of student research, exploration of contemporary events, and guest lectures by scholars and practitioners.