Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA)

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 during evenings and 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.

Admissions and in-person course offerings for the on-campus/residential instruction Master’s in Public Policy and Administration Program (MPPA) will be paused, effective Fall 2025.

On-campus MPPA courses will be offered through the 2024-25 academic year. We will continue to offer the MPPA program courses online thereafter, allowing all students who have begun the program to complete their degrees in a timely manner.

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
Online

Length
Two years (four semesters + internship)

Start Terms
Fall, Spring, and Summer

Credits
39

GRE Required?
No

Priority Application Deadlines*
Fall: February 20
Spring: October 15
Summer: April 1

*Deadlines to be included in first application review and eligible for the Best and Brightest Management Fellowship.

Final Deadlines 

Domestic Students 
Fall: July 15
Spring: December 1
Summer: April 20

International Students 
Fall: July 15
Spring: December 1
Summer: April 20

Degree Awarded
Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA)

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 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

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

The Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) 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. The AMP is available to students majoring in:

  • Political Science
  • Economics
  • International Studies
  • Sociology
  • Agricultural Business
  • Agricultural Education
  • Environmental and Natural Resources

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.

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 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. 

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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.

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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 in-person and online. Residential offerings are being paused after the 2024-2025 school year.

Priority Application Deadlines

Fall: February 20
Spring: October 15
Summer: April 1

Priority Application Deadlines

Domestic Students
Fall: July 15
Spring: December 1
Summer: April 20

International Students
Fall: July 15
Spring: December 1
Summer: April 20

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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:

  1. Transcripts from all previous universities attended
  2. A statement of application outlining the motivation for pursuing the MPPA degree (300-500 words)
  3. A current resume
  4. Two letters of recommendation

Application Process

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