Mar 29, 2024  
2009-2010 Downtown Campus Catalog 
    
2009-2010 Downtown Campus Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

University Honors and Leaders


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Director:  Steven G. Medema
Office: 1047 Ninth Street Park
Telephone: 303-556-5297
Fax: 303-556-6744
E-mail: UHL@ucdenver.edu
Web site: www.cudenver.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 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 UC 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.

UHL Core

The UHL Core is a body of courses the completion of which is required of all UHL students. The UHL core includes:

  • UHL 1100: Introduction to UHL (3 semester hours)
  • UHL 2755: UHL Seminar (two semesters at 1 semester hour each)
  • English 2030-UHL: Core Composition II (3 semester hours)
  • UHL 4991: UHL Senior Research Seminar I (2 semester hours)
  • UHL 4992: UHL Senior Research Seminar II (2 semester hours)

Waiver of English 2030 requirement for UHL Students

All UHL students who have not previously received credit for English 2030 or its equivalent are required to complete a UHL section of English 2030. UHL students who have previously received credit for English 2030 or the equivalent will not receive additional UC Denver credit for English 2030 and so are not required to take the UHL section of this course. Students who believe that they are exempt from the English 2030 requirement should meet with the UHL Advisor to confirm this.

Credit Hour and Distribution Requirements for UHL Certification

UHL students are required to complete 27 student semester hours of UHL courses, including two (2) one-semester-hour UHL seminars, in order to graduate with UHL certification. Students who have previously received credit for English 2030 or the equivalent must complete 24 hours of UHL courses. In addition, students are required to structure their UHL curricula so that they satisfy the UC Denver core curriculum requirements within their UHL programs of study. Students should meet regularly with the UHL advisor in order to ensure that their UHL course work satisfies the necessary requirements for UHL certification and UC Denver graduation.

Academic Honors Track Requirements

The academic honors track offers a unique program for outstanding students entering UC Denver.  The academic honors track provides a rigorous academic experience to complement the student’s major, provides an environment for lifelong learning and promotes self-discovery.  Students will be exposed to complicated problems, competing perspectives and differing approaches to important topics.  Undergraduate research will be emphasized in the academic honors track to prepare students for graduate school or any postbaccalaureate professional program.

The second and third year of the academic honors program will develop students’ core knowledge areas through the integration of humanities, arts, science, behavioral and social science, international perspectives and cultural diversity by way of multidisciplinary courses where students are exposed to complex multidimensional issues. Students continue to build and broaden their communication, analytical and critical thinking skills. Students will learn to apply knowledge to new areas, expand their view of the world and develop sensitivity and appreciation of the arts, diversity and global society.

A typical course of study for an Academic Honors track student is:

Year 1:      

UHL 1100: Introduction to UHL (3 semester hours)

UHL 2755: UHL Seminar (two semesters at 1 semester hour each)

English 2030-UHL: Core Composition II (3 semester hours)

Years 2 and 3:  

Five UHL Academic Honors track electives (15 semester hours)

Year 4:      

UHL 4991: UHL Senior Research Seminar I (2 semester hours)

UHL 4992: UHL Senior Research Seminar II (2 semester hours)

 

NOTE: Academic Honors track students may count one leadership studies track course toward their academic honors graduation requirements. Students who successfully complete the academic honors track will receive a university honors designation on their diploma and on their university transcript. The academic honors track complements, but does not replace, honors programs available in the student’s major.  Students should consult advisors in their major as well as the UHL advisor for advice on honors sections.  Meeting with advisors is encouraged during the first semester at UC Denver.

Leadership Studies Track Requirements

The leadership studies track is designed to develop skills and experiences that will prepare students for the new systems and challenges of leadership in corporate, institutional and public life. Leadership studies tracks work together to enhance their leadership abilities to meet the challenges of a world characterized by the increasing globalization of leadership responsibilities and the rapid change in what leaders need to learn and know. They confront complex issues, individually and in leadership teams, while taking responsibility for becoming lifelong learners.

Students develop their leadership potential through self-guided learning strategies, practical team projects, theory-based seminars, contact with outstanding leaders and individualized mentoring. The leadership studies track is designed to create a collaborative learning environment where students work in action-oriented teams on innovative solutions to practical issues.

A typical course of study for a leadership studies track student is:

Year 1:      

UHL 1100: Introduction to UHL (3 semester hours)

UHL 2755: UHL Seminar (two semesters at 1 semester hour each)

English 2030-UHL: Core Composition II (3 semester hours)

Years 2 and 3:  

Five UHL Leadership Studies track electives (15 semester hours)

Year 4:      

UHL 4991: UHL Senior Research Seminar I (2 semester hours)

UHL 4992: UHL Senior Research Seminar II (2 semester hours)

 

NOTE: Leadership track students may count one academic honors track course toward their leadership studies graduation requirements. Students who successfully complete the leadership studies track will graduate with a minor in leadership studies. 

UHL Graduation Requirements

To graduate with the appropriate UHL designation (university honors or a minor in leadership studies), students are required to satisfy the course and semester hour requirements specified above and must have a GPA of 3.50 or higher in their UHL courses. No grade below B- (2.70) in a UHL course will count toward the UHL graduation requirements.

Admission

Admission to the UHL program is competitive. In addition to meeting published requirements for admission to UC Denver, students must have a high school GPA, class ranking and SAT/ACT scores commensurate with an honors educational experience. For example, we would expect that applicants would rank in the top 10 percent of their high school class and/or have scored in the 90th percentile or above on the SAT/ACT.

Students who wish to be considered for admission to the UHL program must submit the following application materials:

  • A completed UHL application form
  • A written essay
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • High school transcripts and transcripts for all college-level work completed to date
  • SAT and/or ACT scores

We require a personal interview with all students who are selected as finalists for admission.

 

Applicants for admission to the UHL program should show evidence of ability and desire to:

  • Take responsibility for their own learning, for self-discovery and for personal and intellectual growth.
  • Learn about and understand diverse, competing perspectives, viewpoints and values
  • Profit from varied modes of learning
  • Become responsible and contributing members of the UHL program, of the university and of society

Application information can be found on the UHL Web site at: www.cudenver.edu/UHL.

Transfer Student Admissions

The UHL program may admit a limited number of transfer students into the UHL program, contingent on the availability of slots in the UHL cohorts. Students may transfer into the UHL program for the second semester of their freshmen year or the first semester of their sophomore year.

Students wishing to apply for admission to the UHL program after the first semester of the freshman year must follow the standard UHL application procedures. In addition, prospective transfer students should include with their application materials copies of transcripts for all college-level work completed to date.

Applicants for transfer admission into the UHL program will be evaluated by the UHL admissions committee on the same basis as traditional UHL admissions candidates, and transfer admissions are subject to the availability of slots in the UHL cohort.

Transfer students are required to complete 27 semester hours of UHL courses, including the UHL core, in order to graduate with UHL certification. The requirement is 24 semester hours for students who have already received credit for English 2030 or its equivalent.

 

 

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