Information for Undergraduate Students

Click on any of the following links for information:

At CU Denver, five undergraduate schools and colleges (College of Arts & Media, Business School, College of Engineering and Applied Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and School of Public Affairs) provide a diverse array of baccalaureate majors, minors, certificates and teacher licensure to meet the ever-challenging demands of a global society. Your undergraduate education consists of a core curriculum (general education), a major and elective courses (most areas of study). The campuswide core curriculum develops proficiency in writing and mathematics, cultivates a breadth of knowledge, promotes critical thinking, allows you the flexibility to meet your career goals and helps you develop sensitivity to cultural diversity and international perspectives.

A list of all our undergraduate programs, including minors and online programs, is available in the academics section of the CU Denver website.

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management: Barbara Edwards
Office: 1250 West 14th Street—Annex
Telephone: 303-556-2704
Fax: 303-556-4838
E-mail: admissions@ucdenver.edu
Website: www.ucdenver.edu/admissions

CU Denver seeks to identify applicants who are likely to be successful in a rigorous academic program of study. Admission decisions are based on many factors, the most important being:

• level of previous academic performance
• evidence of academic ability and accomplishment as indicated by scores on national aptitude tests
• evidence of maturity, motivation and potential for academic success

CU Denver may deny admission to new applicants or readmission to former students whose credentials indicate an inability to assume obligations of performance and behavior deemed essential by the university.

After completing the application process, official notification of one’s admission status as an undergraduate, graduate or nondegree student is provided by the Office of Admissions. Letters from various schools and colleges indicating acceptance into a particular program are pending, subject to official notification of admission to the institution by the admissions office.

Students who are admitted pending receipt of additional documents or with unofficial documents will be permitted one term to submit the documents. If temporarily waived official documents are not received by the end of the initial term of attendance, registration for subsequent terms will be denied. If at any time additional credentials are received that affect the student’s qualifications, the university reserves the right to change the admission decision.

Applicants who have not decided upon a major field of study will be considered for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as undetermined majors. Students admitted as undetermined majors should declare a major as quickly as possible and no later than the end of their sophomore year.

All questions about admission to CU Denver and requests for application forms should be directed to 303-556-2704 or admissions@ucdenver.edu. Send correspondence to:

Office of Admissions
University of Colorado Denver
Campus Box 167, P.O. Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217-3364

The university may change document/credential deadlines in accordance with enrollment demands. For the best scholarship and registration time considerations, applicants should apply and be admitted as early as possible. Admission to the university does not assure availability of specific courses. For an applicant to be considered for a specific term, all documents required for admission must be received in the Office of Admissions by the deadline for that term. Applicants who are unable to meet the deadline may elect to be considered for a later term. Transfer students are reminded that they should allow sufficient time to have transcripts sent from institutions they have previously attended.

Advanced planning and early application are necessary for the timely admission of international students. International students are advised that it usually takes 60 days for credentials to reach admissions in the Office of International Affairs from international locations. See the Information for International Students  section for more information.

Application Deadline for Priority Consideration (excluding BA/BS-MD and music applicants)

Fall: July 22
Spring: December 1
Summer: May 3

Early application is strongly encouraged.  Admission to the university does not assure specific course availability.

Students entering the University of Colorado who graduated from high school in 1988 or later are required to meet the following minimum academic preparation standards:

Students with MAPS deficiencies may be admitted to the university provided they meet the other admission standards (e.g., test scores, rank in high school class, GPA) and provided they make up any deficiencies prior to graduation from the university. Students may make up MAPS deficiencies by successful completion of:

1. courses taken at CU
2. courses taken at other institutions of higher education
3. additional high school credits
4. credit-by-examination programs
5. other requirements as approved by each school or college on the Denver Campus

Freshman admission standards define the level of success and achievement necessary to be admitted to CU Denver and include factors that predict academic success such as scores on the ACT or SAT, high school course work and GPA. Both the subjects the student has studied and how the student has performed will be factors that determine admission to the university. 

New freshmen may apply for admission to the Colleges of Arts & Media, Engineering and Applied Science, Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Public Affairs and the Business School.

Applicants must be high school graduates or have been awarded a High School Equivalency Certificate by completing the General Education Development (GED) test. 

Freshman applicants who graduated from high school in spring of 2008 or later must meet the state of Colorado Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR).

For students who graduated in 2008 or 2009, the following minimum high school courses (units) are required:

For students who graduated in 2010 or later, the following minimum high school courses (units) are required:

Admission Consideration

Priority consideration for general admission is given to applicants who have fulfilled all HEAR requirements if applicable, rank in the top 30 percent of their high school graduating class and present a composite score of 21 or higher on the ACT or a combined score of 950 or higher on the SAT. Applicants must have an admission index score of at least 93.

Bachelor of Arts or Science to Medical Doctor (BA/BS-MD) applicants must apply for freshman admission as outlined below AND complete a supplemental application form and submit all required fees, documents and credentials by the published deadline date. Applicants must be classified as Colorado residents for tuition purposes.  Intended for highly qualified students from diverse backgrounds, the BA/BS-MD program offers a limited number of “reserved” positions at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  For additional information, visit http://babsmd.ucdenver.edu.

Business applicants will receive priority consideration if they graduated in the top 25 percent of their high school class and achieved a composite score of at least 26 on the ACT or 1100 on the SAT. Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for direct admission to the Business School will be automatically considered for admission as prebusiness majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For business admission, applicants must have an admission index score of 103.

Engineering applicants will receive priority consideration if they graduated in the top 25 percent of their high school class and achieved a composite score of at least 26 on the ACT with 28 on the mathematics section, or 1100 total on the SAT with 600 on the mathematics section. Applicants who do not meet the admissions requirements for direct admission to the College of Engineering will be automatically considered for admission as preengineering majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For engineering admission, applicants must have an admission index score of 103.

Music applicants in the College of Arts & Media (except music industry studies) are expected to have had previous experience in an applied music area.  An audition is required, but can be deferred for students in the MIS track. In addition, students may apply only for fall semester and other application requirements as outlined on the music department website should be completed as quickly as possible and no later than the published deadline date. Admission to the music major is selective, and qualified applicants are pooled and reviewed by an admissions committee. Interested students should contact the Department of Music at 303-556-2279 for audition and other application information.

Applicants for all departments who do not satisfy the requirements for priority consideration are reviewed on an individual basis.

How to Apply

1. Students are encouraged to apply online at www.ucdenver.edu/admissions or obtain an application for undergraduate admission from a Colorado high school counselor, from CU Denver Office of Admissions in-person or by calling 303-556-2704, or at www.ucdenver.edu/admissions.
2. The application must be completed and sent to the Office of Admissions with a $50 (subject to change) nonrefundable fee.  For online applications, the fee may be paid with a credit card, check, e-check, or money order; for paper applications; a check or money order is required for fee payment.  For applicants who are granted admission but are unable to enroll for that term, the $50 application fee will remain valid for 12 months, provided the Office of Admissions is informed of the intent to enroll for a later term and the student does not enroll at another college or university.
3. Students are required to have their high school send an official transcript of their high school grades, including class rank if available, to the Office of Admissions. Official transcripts are those sent by the issuing institution directly to: Office of Admissions, University of Colorado Denver, Campus Box 167, P.O. Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364. Hand-carried or faxed copies are not official.
4. Students who did not graduate from high school are required to have a copy of their GED test scores and GED certificate sent directly from the certifying agency to the CU Denver Office of Admissions. Official high school transcripts must also be submitted but are not the basis of an admission decision.
5. Students are required to take either the ACT (essay portion is optional) or the SAT and request that test scores be sent to CU Denver (ACT code 0533, SAT code 4875). High school students may obtain ACT and SAT test dates and locations from their counselors. Students who took one of these tests while in high school may use the test scores reported on their official high school transcripts as an official test score report. Applicants who took one of these tests and did not designate CU Denver as the recipient of the scores must notify the testing agency to send scores to CU Denver. A request for additional score reports may be requested from any of the offices listed below.
   
   American College Testing Program (ACT)
   P.O. Box 168
   Iowa City, Iowa 52243
   319-337-1313
   www.ACT.org school code: 0533
   
   The College Board (SAT)
   P.O. Box 025505
   Miami, FL 33102
   866-756-7346
   www.collegeboard.com school code: 4875
    
6. Students who completed college course work while in high school must submit an official transcript from each college or university attended.
7. International students must submit an international student application for admission, $75.00 application fee, and provide additional documentation (see the Information for International Students  section of this catalog for more information).

Freshman Housing Requirement

First-time freshmen under age 20 not living at home with parents or otherwise receiving a housing exemption are required to live in Campus Village Apartments. See Student Housing  in the Campus Life section of this catalog for additional information.

After Admission - Advising and Enrollment

Several months before the start of each semester, freshmen accepted for admission to the university will receive information about activating their official University of Colorado Denver UCDAccess portal and email accounts, receiving required academic advising, attending freshmen orientation and timelines and procedures for course registration.  For best course availability, students should attend orientation/and or advising sessions to receive required advisor approval and register for courses as early as possible. 

Applicants Not Granted Admission

An applicant who is not granted admission as an entering freshman may wish to consider transferring to the university after successful study elsewhere. To be considered for transfer student admission, such students must complete from one full semester (13 minimum semester hours) to one year (30 minimum semester hours) of college-level course work at another college or university. Students should select courses that will provide sound academic preparation for future transfer.

Freshman students who are not admissible will be encouraged to participate in a partners program that CU Denver has established with Colorado community colleges.

All credentials presented for admission become the property of the University of Colorado and must remain on file.

Students who knowingly falsify transcripts or test scores or who fail to indicate all previously attended institutions will be denied admission to, or will be disenrolled from, the university.

Applicants are considered as transfer students for admission purposes if they have completed any number of college courses since graduating from high school or earning a GED. Applicants with any number of college courses taken only prior to high school graduation are considered as freshmen for admission purposes and should consult the Admission Requirements for Freshmen section.  College courses taken before high school graduation can be considered for transfer to CU Denver. 

Students with 12 or fewer semester hours of completed college-level course work* at the time of application are considered for admission based on high school GPA, high school courses/units completed, rank in class, ACT or SAT scores and college or university GPA.

Students with 13 to 29 semester hours of completed college-level course work* at the time of application are considered for admission based primarily upon performance in college courses, but high school transcripts are still required. ACT or SAT scores are desirable, but not required. Students who graduated from high school in 2008 are later are subject to HEAR requirements as outlined in the Admission Requirements for Freshmen section.  HEAR unit deficiencies may be made up with certain college courses.

Students with 30 or more semester hours of completed college-level course work* at the time of application are considered for admission based upon college course work alone and are not subject to HEAR requirements. High school records and ACT or SAT scores are not required.

*Includes only semester credit hours completed after graduation from high school or completion of a GED.

Admission Criteria by Academic Program

College of Arts & Media, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and School of Public Affairs (Criminal Justice).  A minimum 2.4 cumulative GPA is required, but anyone with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA may be considered. Music majors are considered for fall semester only, have a required audition (applicants for music industry studies may request a deferment), and additional application requirements which must be completed by the Department of Music deadline. (Visit http://cam.ucdenver.edu/meis.) Admission to the music major is selective and qualified applicants are pooled and reviewed by an admissions committee.

Business School. Students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA on at least 24 semester hours that apply to the business degree program, or a 3.0 in the 24 most recent semester hours that apply to the business degree program. Students with at least a 2.6 cumulative GPA are considered on an individual basis. Students with fewer than 80 college credits who are not offered admission to the Business School will be automatically considered for prebusiness admission in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  Students who have earned a previous undergraduate degree in business may not apply for a second undergraduate degree in business.

College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. A full year of college calculus and calculus-based physics or calculus-based physics I and general college chemistry I must be completed with B or better grades. Grades of B are required in all other math and science courses and the cumulative GPA must be at least 2.75. Students meeting most, but not all of these standards are fully considered. Students with fewer than 80 college credits who are not offered admission to the College of Engineering and Applied Science will be automatically considered for preengineering admission in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

All Students. The cumulative GPA is calculated as or converted to a 4.0 scale and will include all college or university course work attempted at any regionally accredited institution of higher education or comparable foreign institution.

How to Apply

1. Submit the online application for undergraduate admission, available at www.ucdenver.edu/admissions (preferred), or obtain a paper application for admission form from the Office of Admissions at 303-556-2704 or admissions@ucdenver.edu.
2. Complete and return the application along with the required nonrefundable $50 application fee. If applying online, you may pay the application fee with a credit card, e-check, check or money order.  If applying using a paper application, you may pay only with a check or money order sent directly to the Office of Admissions.
3. Request that one official transcript be sent directly from each college or university attended, including foreign institutions, directly to the CU Denver Office of Admissions. Transcripts are considered official only if received in this manner. If not in English, a certified English translation must accompany each official transcript. Official transcripts should be sent to:
   
   Office of Admissions
   University of Colorado Denver
   Campus Box 167
   P.O. Box 173364
   Denver, CO 80217-3364
    
4. If you have completed fewer than 13 college-level semester hours at the time of application, also submit official high school transcripts, GED scores if applicable and ACT or SAT scores. ACT or SAT scores recorded on the high school transcript are considered official.
5. If you have completed between 13 and 29 college-level semester hours at the time of application, also submit official high school transcripts and GED scores if applicable.

If you apply for admission while enrolled in your first semester of college or university courses, a current semester progress report form will be sent to you and required as part of the application process.  A final official college or university transcript is also required and should be sent to the Office of Admissions at the end of the semester or term.

If you are a continuing college or university student at the time you apply for admission, official transcripts showing course work completed to date should be sent as indicated above.  You must also request that a final official transcript be sent to the Office of Admissions when grades are recorded at the end of your final semester or term.

All credentials presented for admission consideration become the property of the University of Colorado and will not be copied for or returned to the student.

The University of Colorado Denver reserves the right to deny admission to transfer students not deemed to have completed college-level course work at the sending institution and/or those who are not eligible to return to their previous college or university campuses.

Students who knowingly falsify transcripts or test scores or who fail to indicate all previously attended institutions will be denied admission to, or will be disenrolled from, the university.

After Admission - Advising and Enrollment

Accepted transfer students who have submitted official transcripts will receive a credit evaluation which will include advising office contact information. Students should schedule an advising appointment or contact their advisor for assistance with applying transfer credits to degree requirements. Advisor approval is required for new students prior to registering for CU Denver courses.  

Several months before classes begin, additional information about activating your official UCDAccess portal and e-mail accounts and course regisration timelines and processes will be provided. For best course availability, students are encouraged to receive advisor approval and register for courses as early as possible. If admitted for fall or spring semester, students will receive an invitation for the new student welcome program from the orientation office. 

Courses are considered for transfer on the basis of having similar content to those offered by CU Denver. State of Colorado guaranteed transfer courses (gtPATHWAYS) are always accepted and apply to requirements. Developmental, remedial, vocational, technical, religious doctrinal, orientation, independent study, special topics and cooperative education courses are not accepted. Only courses in which a grade of C- or better (1.7) was earned are considered for transfer. Courses in which a grade of Pass (P) was earned are considered for transfer only if a grade of Pass at the sending institution is defined as a C- or better. Students wishing to appeal transfer credit decisions should contact their academic department.

After all official transcripts have been received and the student is admitted as a degree-seeking student, the Office of Admissions will prepare a transfer credit report indicating which courses have been accepted in transfer by CU Denver. When this report has been completed, the student is notified and directed to contact his/her academic department to meet with an advisor who will determine how transferred credit applies to specific degree requirements. Transfer credit evaluations are valid only for programs offered entirely at the Denver Campus.

The Office of Admissions considers course work for transfer regardless of the age of the academic credit. State guaranteed general education courses will be accepted in transfer and applied to graduation requirements for a period of at least 10 years after course completion. Individual departments, however, may have specific guidelines and policies about age of credit for courses not listed as “state guaranteed” and make the final decision about application of credit toward a degree program. Students are expected to have current working knowledge of prerequisite courses, regardless of when prerequisite courses were taken.

The Business School generally limits its transfer of business course credits to those that are offered as lower-division courses at CU Denver. Students who have taken upper-division business courses from an American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business accredited business program may request review of these courses for possible transfer by contacting the Business School advising office. All courses taken in the business area of emphasis must be completed at CU Denver.

The College of Engineering and Applied Science, in general, requires that engineering course transfer credit must come from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology accredited engineering program to be acceptable for degree purposes. Engineering technology courses are not considered equivalent to engineering courses.

A maximum of 60 semester hours is acceptable in transfer from community or junior colleges. A maximum of 90 semester hours is acceptable from four-year institutions or a combination of two- and four-year institutions.

Colorado Community College Transfer

Guaranteed Admission

Colorado community college students are guaranteed admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences at CU Boulder and the College of Letters Arts and Sciences at CU Colorado Springs

• have a high school diploma or GED
• have at least 30 semester credits of transferable Colorado community college course work with a 2.7 or higher GPA
• have a cumulative (overall) GPA of at least 2.7 for all college or university course work, with consistent or improving grades
• have completed all Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS)
• complete the admission application and submit all required fees and documents by published deadlines.

Guaranteed Transfer

In compliance with Colorado’s Statewide Transfer Policy, students may transfer credit from a Colorado community college on a course-by-course basis or by completing an associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS) degree. Students who complete an AA/AS degree may be guaranteed full transfer of the associate degree (60 credits maximum).

The guaranteed transfer program applies only to students who began Colorado community college studies in fall 2003 or later and who meet the following requirements:

• complete an AA/AS degree, which includes 31 credits of state-guaranteed general education courses
• earn credit only at Colorado community colleges within the last 10 years
• earn a grade of C- or better in each course

Statewide articulation agreements are in place governing transfer of students from Colorado community colleges into programs in the Business School, the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the elementary education teacher licensure program.

Transfer advising plans for Colorado Community College students are available from the Office of Admissions and at www.ucdenver.edu/admissions. In addition, an admissions representative can assist students with planning a transfer program of study. Representatives regularly visit Colorado community colleges. Call the Office of Admissions at 303-556-2704 or e-mail admissions@ucdenver.edu for additional information.

Advanced Placement Program

The Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) allows students to take advanced work while in high school and then be examined for credit at the college level. Students who take advanced placement courses and subsequently receive scores of 4 or 5 on the CEEB Advanced Placement Examination are generally given college credit for lower-level courses in which they have demonstrated proficiency. Credit is also granted for scores of 3 plus a course grade of A or A- in the corresponding subject. For more information, contact your academic advisor and click on the following chart.  Original, official score reports are required for credit award consideration.

Advanced Placement Program Requirements (AP) chart 

College-Level Examination Program

Incoming students may earn university credit by examination in some subject areas in which they have demonstrated college-level proficiency. Interested students may take approved examinations through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) testing service.

Acceptable CLEP examinations and credit awards are outlined in the following chart.  Original, official CLEP score reports are required for credit award consideration.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) chart 

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB), available at select high schools, is a rigorous, pre-university course of study emphasizing liberal arts from an international perspective.

In accordance with HB 03-1108, the University of Colorado Denver will grant at minimum 24 semester hours of credit for any student who has graduated from high school having successfully completed an International Baccalaureate diploma program with a minimum score of 4 on each exam. Credit may be granted for most individual IB courses where examinations are completed with at least a score of 4 for students who do not complete an IB diploma program. For additional information, students should contact their academic advisors and refer to the following chart. Original, official IB transcripts with exam scores are required for credit award consideration.

International Baccalaureate (IB) chart 

Military Service and Schooling

To have credit for educational experience evaluated, applicants with military experience should submit the Smart Transcript. Credit will be awarded as recommended by the Commission on the Accreditation of Service Experiences of the American Council on Education, to the extent that the credit is applicable to the degree the student is seeking at CU Denver.

Credit for courses completed through the U.S. Armed Forces Institute will be evaluated on the same basis as transfer credit from collegiate institutions.

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)

Students enrolled in Army, Air Force or Navy ROTC programs should consult with their college or school regarding the application of ROTC course credit toward graduation requirements. For information about ROTC programs, click on the links below.

Aerospace Studies - Air Force ROTC 
Military Science - Army ROTC 
Naval Studies – Naval ROTC (U.S. Navy and Marine Corps) 

Students on the Denver Campus may change colleges or schools within the university provided they are accepted by the college or school to which they wish to transfer. Intra-university transfer forms may be obtained from the student’s school or college or from the Office of the Registrar.  Decisions on intra-university transfers are made by the college or school to which the student wishes to transfer.

Students in continuing and professional studies programs wishing to enroll in regular courses or degree programs on the Denver Campus should apply for admission to CU Denver.  Visit www.ucdenver.edu/admissions or contact the Office of Admissions at 303-556-2704 or admissions@ucdenver.edu for assistance with application processes and options.

CU Denver students who have not registered and attended classes on the Denver Campus for one year or longer and who have not attended another institution since the University of Colorado are considered returning students and must formally apply for readmission. An additional application fee is only required if changing from undergraduate to graduate or nondegree to degree status, or if a degree was earned and the student is applying for a second degree.  Students applying for readmission may complete an online application (preferred) or dowload an application form at www.ucdenver.edu/admissions.  If applying online, students should indicate “pay by check” when prompted for application fee payment.  The fee requirement is removed during application processing.  A paper application may also be requested by calling 303-556-2704 or by e-mail at admissions@ucdenver.edu.

Students who have attended another college or university since last attending the University of Colorado must apply as transfer students and meet the admission criteria and transfer student deadlines for receipt of documents. This requires payment of the $50 (subject to change) nonrefundable application fee and submission of one official transcript from each college or university attended since last enrollment at CU Denver.  Transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to:

Office of Admissions
University of Colorado Denver
Campus Box 167
P. O. Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217-3364

Students who last attended another University of Colorado campus as a degree seeking student must formally apply for admission and meet the admission criteria of CU Denver. An application fee is not required unless going from undergraduate to graduate status, from nondegree to degree status or if a degree was earned. Students may apply online (preferred) or download a paper application at www.ucdenver.edu/admissions.  If applying online, students should indicate “pay by check” when prompted for application fee payment.  The fee requirement is removed during application processing. A paper application may also be requested by calling 303-556-2704 or by e-mail at admissions@ucdenver.edu.  University of Colorado transcripts are not required, but official transcripts from each college or university attended prior to enrollment at the University of Colorado must be submitted.

Students who are at least 20 years of age and wish to take university courses, but do not plan to work toward a University of Colorado degree, may be admitted as nondegree students provided they have at least a 2.0 cumulative collegiate gpa and are eligible to return to all collegiate institutions previously attended.  Questions regarding admission as a nondegree student should be directed to the Office of Admissions. Each school/college limits the number of semester hours taken as a nondegree student that may be transferred to a degree program.

Students considering changing from nondegree to degree status will need to apply as an undergraduate or graduate degree seeking student and meet the admission requirements of the intended program of study.  Students under age 22 will be required to submit high school transcripts and ACT/SAT scores in addition to official college transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credit hours completed. 

Note: International students are not admitted as nondegree students.

Financial Implications for Nondegree students

Students with a baccalaureate degree who are admitted as nondegree students will be classified as nondegree graduate students and assessed graduate tuition regardless of the level of courses taken. If enrolling only in undergraduate courses, an adjustment may be requested through the Office of the Registrar to pay the undergraduate tuition rate. However, the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) is not available to in-state nondegree graduate students. To utilize COF and pay the lowest tuition rate, students must apply as undergraduate degree-seeking students, even if a degree is not desired. Note:  Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in business will not be accepted for second undergraduate degree-seeking status in the Business School.

Nondegree students are not eligible to receive federal or state financial aid, student loans and most CU Denver scholarships.

How to Apply

To apply for admission as a nondegree student, visit www.ucdenver.edu/admissions and submit your application online (preferred) or download a paper application.  You may also obtain a paper application by calling 303-556-2704 or by email at admissions@ucdenver.edu.  Submit the completed application by the deadline for the term desired. A $50 (subject to change) nonrefundable application fee is required. No additional credentials are required. Nondegree students admitted prior to “open registration” for a given semester are advised that registration for courses is done by time assignment, and nondegree students have the latest registration time assignments regardless of the number of credits completed. Admission as a nondegree student does not assure availability of specific courses.

Continuation as a nondegree student with no prior undergraduate degree is contingent upon maintaining an overall GPA of 2.0 upon completion of 12 or more semester hours.

Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in any major other than business may apply for admission to any undergraduate program and work toward completion of a second undergraduate degree. Applicants with an undergraduate degree in business may apply for undergraduate programs in the College of Arts & Media, College of Engineering and Applied Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or the School of Public Affairs or for graduate programs in the Business School.  Applicants for a second undergraduate degree must meet CU Denver admissions standards.

How to Apply

1. Apply online or request an application for undergraduate admission from the Office of Admissions at www.ucdenver.edu/admissions.
2. Complete the application and send it to the Office of Admissions with a $50 (subject to change) nonrefundable application fee.
3. Have one official transcript sent to the Office of Admissions from each collegiate institution attended. Official transcripts for enrollment at any campus of the University of Colorado are not required. Official transcripts are those sent by the issuing institution directly to:
   Office of Admissions
   University of Colorado Denver
   Campus Box 167
   P.O. Box 173364
   Denver, CO 80217-3364
   Hand-carried or faxed copies are not official.

Transcripts from the institution where the first undergraduate degree was earned must have final grades posted for the semester that the student graduated and have the official notation of the degree awarded.

All credentials presented for admission become the property of the University of Colorado and must remain on file. Students who do not declare all previously attended institutions are subject to disciplinary action and/or dismissal.

Students who knowingly falsify transcripts or test scores will be denied admission to, or will be disenrolled from, the university.

High school juniors and seniors with demonstrated academic abilities may be admitted to CU Denver with special approval for one term only. This approval may be renewed. Credit for courses taken may subsequently be applied toward a university degree program. For more information and application instructions, contact the Office of Admissions, 303-556-6745 or admissions@ucdenver.edu.

The University of Colorado Denver is proud to have a diverse population of international students coming from more than 100 countries. Instructions for international student admissions are available in the Information for International Students  section of this catalog. International application forms are accessible on the international admissions website at www.internationaladmissions.ucdenver.edu.

A welcome and general information program open to all new students is held at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. The program provides an introduction to the campus, information about student services and student activities available through CU Denver and services provided to all students on the Auraria Campus, including information on getting an ID and parking.

New freshmen will also receive information regarding academic advising and specific orientation sessions for students and parents, which are held at various times during the year. Transfer and graduate students should contact their schools and colleges for additional information on academic advising, as well as special orientation sessions that may be held for a particular program.

Orientation information is sent to admitted students from the orientation office. For more information, call 303-352-3520 or visit North Classroom, 2024.

The University of Colorado Denver has adopted a set of guidelines to define the conditions under which an undergraduate student will be guaranteed to graduate in four years. More information is available through the undergraduate advising offices for each college and the major program offices. The Denver Campus has five undergraduate colleges in which this guarantee applies: College of Arts & Media, Business School, College of Engineering and Applied Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and School of Public Affairs.

CU Denver guarantees that if a student begins studies in a fall semester and lack of scheduling of essential courses is found to have prevented a student from completing all course work necessary for a BA, BFA or BS degree from the university by the end of the student’s eighth consecutive fall and spring semester, the college/school shall provide tuition plus any course fees for all courses required for completion of the degree requirements. This applies only when needed courses are not offered by the college/school and does not apply to scheduling conflicts for individual students. Students must satisfy all the requirements described below to be eligible for this guarantee.

This guarantee applies to all students who enroll beginning in a fall term as first-semester, full-time freshmen without admission deficiencies, who do not need remedial course work and who satisfy all the requirements described below. This guarantee does not include completion of all options within the major, a second major, a double degree, a minor or a certificate program. The four-year graduation guarantee does not apply to programs in which the degree has been discontinued or is in the process of being phased out. In these cases, every effort will be made to allow students to fulfill requirements by taking courses at other universities and colleges to facilitate timely completion of the degree.

Some study abroad programs may not provide a sufficient range of courses to allow students to meet the requirements, thus, students who participate in study abroad programs during the fall or spring semesters may not be eligible for this guarantee. A student may be able to participate in a study abroad program during the summer semester and still meet all the requirements of this guarantee. It is essential that a student work closely with an advisor to determine if the student can participate in a study abroad program and still meet all the requirements of this guarantee.

Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the following requirements to be eligible for this guarantee.

1. Students must begin studies in a fall semester and enroll in CU Denver course work as specified on the student plan of study for eight consecutive fall and spring semesters.
2. Students must complete all required course work by the end of the eighth semester.
3. No fewer than 60 semester hours of applicable course work must be completed successfully by the end of the second year (24 calendar months); 90 semester hours by the end of the third year (36 calendar months); and 120 semester hours by the end of the fourth year (48 calendar months). Students must successfully complete an average of 15 semester hours each semester.
4. Students must meet with their college advisor and their major advisor for academic advising during the first, third, fifth and seventh semesters of study.
5. The major must be declared no later than the end of the first semester of study and students must not change their major or any options within the major.
6. A required plan of study toward the major must be agreed upon and signed by the student and advisor at the end of the first semester. Thereafter students must make satisfactory progress toward completing the major, as defined by each major, and the general education requirements. Courses with certain grades may not meet the satisfactory progress requirement of this guarantee. A statement of what constitutes satisfactory progress and what grades are acceptable is available from the major or departmental office at the time the major is declared.
7. A minimum of 30 semester hours of college general education courses should be completed by the end of the second year, including core curriculum courses that also meet major requirements and foreign language proficiency.
8. All lower-division graduation requirements must be successfully completed by the 90-semester-hour mark.
9. Students must remain in good academic standing according to their school/college academic policies.
10. Grades of C-, C or C+, as defined by the college/school, must be earned in all course work required for the major, and students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all major course work attempted.
11. Students must register each semester within one week of the student’s specified eligibility to register.
12. Students must take courses that are specified in the student plan of study approved by their advisor.
13. Elective courses must be avoided if they conflict with required major or general education courses. Elective courses must not be given a higher priority than required courses.
14. Students must meet all departmental, school or college and university policies regarding graduation requirements.
15. The college/school must be notified in writing of the student’s intent to graduate no later than the beginning of the seventh semester of study. A graduation application must be filed no later than the deadline for the appropriate graduation date. The student must complete a graduation checkout/senior audit with their advisor.
16. The student is responsible for and must keep documentation proving that these requirements were satisfied (e.g., records of advising meetings attended, advising records and instructions, etc.).

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Experiences: John Lanning, john.lanning@ucdenver.edu
Assistant to the AVC for Undergraduate Experiences: Nadine Montoya-Donoho, nadine.montoya@ucdenver.edu
Office: Lawrence Street Center, Suite 300
Telephone: 303-315-2133
Fax: 303-315-5829
Website: www.ucdenver.edu/ue

The Office of Undergraduate Experiences coordinates and implements undergraduate education programs designed to promote access for all undergraduate students to high-quality and innovative CU Denver programs, improve the recruitment and retention of undergraduate students and coordinate programs between academic and student affairs to better serve and engage undergraduate students.

This includes coordination of programs that aim to improve the quality of undergraduate experiences.

• The core curriculum is an academic program of required general education courses that gives CU Denver students a quality educational foundation for a lifetime of success.
  • CU Denver Undergraduate Core and gtPATHWAYS Curriculum  
• The Colorado Commission on Higher Education initiated the gtPATHWAYS program to ensure that students could transfer credit for general education courses to any other higher education institution in the state.
• The University Honors and Leadership program combines leadership and scholar components to prepare students for the new challenges of the 21st century.
• The Experiential Learning Center coordinates internships and supports undergraduate research, interdisciplinary learning, civic engagement, etc. at CU Denver.
• Early Alert assists students early in the semester who are having trouble adjusting personally or academically to their new environment.
• First-year seminars teach academic and study skills and ease the transition both socially and academically for incoming students.

Other responsibilities of this office include ensuring the quality of new undergraduate degree programs, promoting cross-college academic programs, training faculty and working in many other capacities to ensure that students have a positive and productive academic career at CU Denver.

University Honors and Leadership Program (UHL)

Director:  Steven G. Medema
Assistant to the Director:  Phyllis Chaney
Office: 1047 Ninth Street Park
Telephone: 303-556-5297
Fax: 303-556-6744
E-mail: UHL@ucdenver.edu
Website: www.ucdenver.edu/uhl

University Honors and Leadership (UHL) is a program of excellence designed for outstanding students who have demonstrated superior achievement in academic performance and/or outstanding leadership qualities. The program is founded on the premise that the integration of rigorous programs of academic excellence and leadership education provides the ideal environment in which to develop the gifts of the next generation of leaders in academia, business, policymaking and service to communities local, national and global.

The UHL program is unique in integrating academic honors and leadership education within a highly selective learning community of outstanding students and faculty. The UHL program allows students to complement their major field of study with a traditional honors experience in the academic honors track or program of leadership education in the leadership studies track. Students move through the UHL program in cohorts that simultaneously promote community, teamwork and individual initiative. All of the UHL courses are multidisciplinary, reflecting our view that the ability to effectively analyze the challenges faced in all sectors of society can be enhanced by the integration of appropriate pieces drawn from a broad base of perspectives and problem-solving skills. The UHL program complements this with an emphasis on the development of exceptional oral and written communication skills, projects that steep the students in sophisticated research methods and the opportunity to work in teams to solve practical problems in the community.

The Academic Program

UHL is a multidisciplinary cohort program consisting of 27 semester hours of course work to be completed over four years. The UHL courses will substitute for most of the CU Denver general core curriculum requirements.

UHL students are given the opportunity to pursue a traditional honors experience through the academic honors track of the UHL program or to focus on leadership education through the UHL leadership studies track. UHL students have a common first-year experience, taking a core of course work common to both tracks. The second and third years of the UHL program offer programs designed specifically for the academic honors and leadership studies tracks. The UHL students come together for a two-semester capstone research seminar in the fourth year.

Students who successfully complete the academic honors track will receive a university honors designation on their diploma and on their university transcript. Students who successfully complete the leadership studies track will graduate with a minor in leadership studies.

^Top

First-Year Seminars

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Experiences: John Lanning, john.lanning@ucdenver.edu
Assistant to the AVC for Undergraduate Experiences: Nadine Montoya-Donoho, nadine.montoya@ucdenver.edu
Office: Lawrence Street Center, Suite 300
Telephone: 303-315-2133
Fax: 303-315-5829
Website: www.ucdenver.edu/fye

CU Denver offers an optional program of First-Year Seminars (FYS) designed to assist students to successfully make the transition from high school to college, improve student retention and boost new student confidence. The FYS courses integrate rigorous academic content with academic skills such as library usage, campus resources, information literacy, time management, communication skills and career counseling. Class size is capped at 24 students to facilitate interaction between student and instructor and to allow the instructor to serve as a mentor in the student’s first semester of college.

An important objective of the FYS program is to both challenge and support students so each can excel academically and socially at CU Denver. FYS classes engage students in active learning beyond the traditional classroom, laboratory or studio classes. In the FYS courses, students learn about themselves and their abilities. The experiences obtained from the FYS program aim to promote academic exploration and interdisciplinary learning, civic engagement, cultural awareness, leadership, problem solving and other professional skills.

The strong academic component of the CU Denver FYS courses allows the course to count toward graduation requirements in the CU Denver core curriculum , or general education program, required of all undergraduate students. Students are encouraged to use the FYS program to explore areas either within or outside their major. Students should work with their academic advisor during orientation to select an appropriate FYS course.

Why should entering high school students participate in a First-Year Seminar course?

• higher first semester grades
• higher student satisfaction facilitated by small class size and a faculty mentor
• better utilization of campus resources paid for through student fees
• early exploration of career paths and a suitable major
• core curriculum credit

Experiential Learning Center

Director: Tony Smith
Location: Tivoli Student Union, Suite 260
Telephone: 303-556-6656
Website: www.ucdenver.edu/elc

Live your learning at CU Denver!  Experiential Learning is ‘hands-on’ learning and engages students in active learning beyond traditional classroom, laboratory, or studio pedagogy.  Well-planned, supervised and evaluated learning experiences can stimulate academic inquiry while promoting interdisciplinary learning, civic engagement, career development, cultural awareness, leadership, problem solving and other professional and intellectual skills. 

Students have many opportunities to explore academic fields through direct experience including internships, service in the community, undergraduate research and international experiences. Link your studies to the real world and put your knowledge into practice. You will develop new skills, grow personally and professionally and enrich your academic experience.

INTERNSHIPS

Every year, hundreds of CU Denver students engage in academic and not-for-credit internship experiences with corporations, government and nonprofit agencies in the Denver-metro area and around the world.  Students can earn academic credit, pay or both while gaining relevant experience related to their career interests.  The Experiential Learning Center also supports students in not-for-credit internship experiences.  The Experiential Learning Center staff can advise and support students in tailoring their experiences to their educational and career goals. 

SERVICE LEARNING

Students gain a better understanding of community issues, develop practical skills and make a difference in the world around them when they engage in service activities. From the first-year experience course to senior capstone classes, faculty weave service projects into their courses, giving students a wider view of the world. Many volunteer opportunities are also available through the center. Students can also earn AmeriCorps/UCAN Serve education awards for service.  The ELC’s Community Partner Program allows for students, faculty and staff to interact with different community partners in the Experiential Learning Center every day.  These as well as a multitude of other resources are available to support the success of CU Denver students. 

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Whether assisting faculty with research or pursuing their own research under faculty supervision, CU Denver students can experience what it means to be involved in the creation of knowledge. Students may apply for research grants through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and showcase their research projects at the annual Research and Creative Activities Symposium.  Undergraduate Research can assist many students and is especially effective for students planning to continue on to graduate and post-baccalaureate professional education opportunities.  The ELC can assist students in seeking out and succeeding in the Undergraduate Research realm.

Early Alert Program

CU Denver participates in a campuswide Early Alert program to identify undergraduate students needing assistance from academic and student service offices. Providing assistance early in the semester is very important to student success in their baccalaureate program.

The Early Alert program is designed for faculty to identify students in the fifth and sixth weeks of the semester who need assistance because of academic performance, class participation and/or behavior issues. Students who are identified by faculty for an alert are contacted by the advising office in the student’s home college, and it is important for students to respond to Early Alert communication with their advisors. Assistance is then provided to students through academic advising and through referrals to appropriate CU Denver student service offices.

Goals of the early alert program are to:

• increase student academic success
• improve student persistence and graduation rates
• increase communication between students and faculty
• increase communication between students and academic advisors
• increase student utilization of student service offices

Further information about the CU Denver Early Alert program is available from the Office of Undergraduate Experiences, 303-315-2133, www.ucdenver.edu/earlyalert.

 ^Top