Graduates of the Master of Public Policy Administration, Plan C (M.P.P.A.) program become mid-to-high level public servants in local, state, and federal government positions as well as mid-to-high level leaders in domestic and global public and nonprofit service organizations. Alongside a core curriculum that includes courses like civic engagement, program evaluation, public human resources management, and public budgeting, students specialize in public policy, public management, or international policy and management to further refine their skills and prepare them for the future. Classes are held on weeknights on the Fort Collins campus to enable working professionals to complete the degree in as few as 4 semesters. Service learning, internships, and theory-practice linkages are emphasized throughout the program to prepare students to be highly qualified public servants. The program website can be viewed at this link: mppa.colostate.edu.
Program Level Learning Objectives
- Understand, articulate, and exemplify the ethics, values, responsibilities, obligations, and social roles of a member of the public service profession.
- Identify and apply economic, legal, political, social, and ethical theories and frameworks to the practice of public service leadership, management, and policy.
- Identify and apply organizational theories and frameworks to the practice of public service leadership, management, and policy.
- Respond to and engage collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and communities to address challenges in the public interest.
- Understand the complexities of public policy design, implementation, and assessment.
- Employ appropriate methodologies and techniques to investigate, monitor, and manage human, fiscal, technological, information, physical, and other resource use.
- Conceptualize, analyze, and develop creative and collaborative solutions to challenges in public policy, leadership. and management.
- Assess challenges and explore solutions to advance cross-sectoral and inter-jurisdictional cooperation in public programs and services.
- Develop and demonstrate verbal and written communication skills as a professional and through interpersonal interactions in groups and in society.
- Reflect critically about emerging issues concerning public service management and policy.