Since 1981, the University of Denver has been committed to the development of tomorrow's leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors through an innovative, analytical core curriculum. The rigorous coursework of the Masters of Public Policy degree will prepare students to face tomorrow's public policy challenges with the tools essential for sound judgment, articulation and innovative analysis skills. Students will be prepared to be responsive to the most challenging issues facing our nation.
What is Public Policy?
Public policy is a highly disciplined, evidence-based approach to the analysis and solution of contemporary issues, such as fiscal policy and government spending, entitlement reform, health care, national security, regulation, criminal justice, education, and immigration.
Why Public Policy at the University of Denver?
Faculty Expertise. Faculty members in the MPP program are academics, policy experts, legal scholars, and former and current elected officials. Our instructors represent a wide range of policy expertise, including policy history, economics, health policy, regulatory policy lobbying, education policy, constitutional law, and quantitative analysis.
Small Class Size. The intimate classroom setting allows students to fully utilize the knowledge of their faculty and peers to sharpen their academic learning experience. The personalize attention given to students from the faculty and staff of the MPP program is unparalleled in escalating the students potential for learning and career advancement.
Flexibility. All MPP classes are offered in the evenings or weekends, allowing you to gain real life public policy experience during the day through full-time employment or policy internships. In addition, our flexible dual degree program gives you the opportunity to enhance your future career by combining your MPP with several other relevant graduate degrees, including those from the Sturm College of Law, Daniels College of Business, School of Social Work, and Graduate School of International Studies.
Location. The DU campus is located just minutes from downtown Denver - a regional hub for major corporations, financial institutions, law firms, nonprofit organizations, think tanks, and more government offices than any other U.S. city outside of Washington, D.C.
What can I do with my Public Policy Degree?
Public Policy graduates go to great things! Alumni have gone on to pursue opportunities locally, nationally and internationally. They work for government, non-profit organizations and private business. The following is a small sample of employment positions that IPPS graduates have held in recent years:
Government and Politics:
- Senior Policy Analyst, US Senate Budget Committee
- Budget Analyst, State of Colorado, Office of the Governor, Office of State Planning and Budgeting
- Legislative Assistant, US Senator
- Natural Resource Specialist, Department of Planning and Environmental Protection, Air Quality Division
- Senior Project Advisor, USAID Development Information Systems
- Assistant District Director, US Department of Labor
- Legislative Auditor, State of Colorado, Office of the State Auditor
- Analyst, U.S. GAO, International Affairs and Trade
Non-profit:
- Director of Public Policy, Mental Health Association of Colorado
- Deputy Director, Center for Pharmaceutical Management
- Managing Director, STEPP Foundation
- Policy Analyst, ASI
- Senior Data Analyst, Consortium on Chicago Schools
- Policy Associate, National Conference of State Legislators
- Research Analyst, Bighorn Center for Public Policy
- Director of Public Affairs, The Children?s Hospital
Law (some IPPS graduates later earn their JD degree):
- Magistrate, Denver County Court
- Chief Deputy District Attorney, Denver District Attorney s Office
- Deputy District Attorney, Eighth Judicial District
- Partner, Katan Associates
- Legal Historian, University of Colorado
Business:
- Senior Consultant, Deloitte & Touche
- Manager, Instructor and Simulator Planning, United Airlines Flight Training
- Director, Government Relations, San Diego Regional Economic Development
- International Financial Statistician, Standard and Poors Compustat
- Director, Signalsoft Corp.
- President, Ortho Med Inc.
- Marketing and Project Coordinator, Octel / Starreon Corporation
- Senior Business Analyst, Sloans Lake Managed Care
- Senior Public Policy Analyst, Lilly Pharmaceutical
- Partner and Policy Consultant, The Capstone Group
