We’re With You Each Step of the Way
Earning your degree should be an exciting journey. Whether you want to complete your degree, gain advanced knowledge, make a career change, or you are attending college for the first time – CU Denver is built to accommodate the individual needs of every student from enrollment to graduation and beyond.
Every student who enrolls at CU Denver receives personalized, concierge level services. Our enrollment team, student success coaches and campus resources help online students thrive while they earn their degree and ensure that their academic experience aligns with career goals. Upon graduation, the University of Colorado Denver’s vast alumni community and Career Services teams help graduates prepare for satisfying careers in their chosen field.
Enrollment Team
The CU Denver enrollment team is here to answer your questions, provide guidance, and assist you as you start your journey. Whether you need help getting ready to return to school, have questions about admissions requirements, financial aid, or anything else – the CU Denver team is here to help you get acquainted with your online degree program, connecting you with academic advising, career development centers, veteran and military student services, and anything else you might need from the university in order to excel.
Academic Advisors
As a CU Denver online student, you’ll be paired with an Academic Advisor who will help you chart a course towards the perfect degree for you. They can help you evaluate any prior college-level credits you may have earned and transfer them toward your new degree requirements. They’re also available to help you select majors, minors, and courses and track your academic progress until graduation. Your Academic Advisor can also connect you to opportunities outside the classroom that stimulate intellectual and professional growth.
Student Success Coaches
One of the great things about earning your degree online is the ability to more effectively balance your personal life, work, and your education. The CU Denver Student Success Coaches are here to help you make your time at the University of Colorado Denver as seamless and stress free as possible by helping you stay organized on the educational side of things. They will help you identify academic and professional goals, access any university resources you might need to achieve those goals, and help you focus on life and learning.
CU Denver Student Resources
24/7 Librarian
As an online student, the Auraria Library will be a key resource for you to rely on. You may find that you need a journal article, an eBook, or another resource to support your studies, or you may be conducting research on a particular topic for one of your classes and need to review the available literature. Whatever the case, you will have access to 24/7 librarian support.
Online Writing Center
The Writing Center offers daytime and evening consultation services for students looking to improve their skills and knowledge. Consultations last 50 minutes and require an appointment and can be scheduled through the Writing Center website.
Student Technology Guide
As an online student, you may find that you need occasional assistance with the technology and systems that are available to you. The Student Technology Guide is a great place to start and to familiarize yourself with the support systems and technology resources that are in place for you.
Canvas
All of your courses and their supporting materials will be accessed through Canvas, a Learning Management System (LMS). If you have questions about how Canvas supports online learning, coursework or any of our programs, contact our enrollment team at 303-860-5604.
Disability Resources and Services
The Disability Resources and Services Office is the designated office that maintains disability-related records, determines eligibility for academic accommodations, determines reasonable accommodations and develops plans for the provision of such accommodations for students attending the university. Our staff encourages academically qualified students with disabilities to utilize all the appropriate accommodations.
Veteran Student Services
The University of Colorado Denver is military-friendly and committed to providing service members and their families with a high-quality education that is catered to their distinct needs. The Office of Veteran & Military Student Services (VMSS) represents veterans, active duty, reservists, national guard, and dependent students.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes. All online degree programs offered by CU Denver are accredited by the same body that accredits all institutions in the University of Colorado system: The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HCL).
Since 1913, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HCL) has accredited all institutions in the CU system. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the NCA is one of six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Regional agencies provide accreditation at an institution level.
The University of Colorado Denver does not offer separate in-person and online academic degrees; they are the same, including the coursework and on many occasions the faculty, regardless of which delivery mode you choose for completion.
There will be no difference or indication that your courses are being completed online when it comes to your degree and diploma. It will be the same University of Colorado degree that is earned, whether online or in person.
While earning a degree does not guarantee a job or advancement, the curriculum of all CU Denver programs has been created to reflect the skills and knowledge employers look for in their employees. In addition, CU Denver courses are taught by the same professors who teach in-person classes. This ensures that you are receiving the same education and learning experiences as on-campus students. So, whether you are looking to advance in your current career, switch to a new job, or are simply pursuing a degree out of pride, you will learn valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities, many of which are valued by employers in any number of career fields. In addition, some programs provide the opportunity to complete internships (if you choose) and gain valuable professional work experience.
Online classes offer many benefits, including the flexibility to work around your schedule. If you are motivated, have strong time management skills, and are able to work independently, online learning may be a great option for you.
Online courses at the University of Colorado Denver are taught by the same professors that teach in-person classes. This ensures that you are receiving the same education and learning experiences as on-campus students. The primary difference is with the delivery format. Your online courses will all be taught in Canvas, the Learning Management System (LMS). You will be responsible for logging in, accessing course content, and completing any requirements of the course. All of your coursework will be completed online with support from your professors.
Time management is one of the key skills needed to succeed in the online learning environment. You are responsible for your schedule and for completing assigned readings and work by set deadlines. Students that are able to set aside time on their calendars for their studies tend to be the most successful.
Setting short-term goals that support your overall goal of earning your degree online will help you remain motivated. These short-term goals can be grades that you hope to earn, skills that you hope to obtain, or connections you hope to make. They should be time limited and support your overall mission of earning an online academic degree at CU.
Being able to ask for help is a key component of succeeding online. Since you are not in a physical classroom, it will be up to you to recognize when you need assistance and to reach out to the appropriate contact. Our faculty and staff want to help you meet your academic goals and asking for help ensures regular communication and understanding.
CU Denver's online courses are offered in an asynchronous format, which means you can complete work at your own pace. You are not expected to be in front of your computer at a certain time and date, which is the trademark of a synchronous approach. While there will be deadlines for assignments and projects, there are no set class meeting times.
Each unique faculty member chooses which learning elements to include in their class, so assignments range from traditional exams, to short essays, to group writing projects. You will typically be required to engage with your online classmates in discussion boards and to be an active member of the course.
Freshmen Admission Requirements
Our students are some of the best and brightest - motivated individuals who are driven to pursue their passion. Our middle 50% of admitted freshmen have between a 3.23 and 3.93 GPA and scored between a 1070 and 1260 on the SAT (21-27 ACT).
Transfer Admission Requirements
If you are transferring, you should have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 from a regionally accredited college (or colleges) to be considered for admission. The Business, Engineering and Architecture programs have different transfer admission requirements. If you do not meet the program transfer admission requirements you could still be considered for admission to the "pre-" program.
To learn more about the specific admission requirements for your program of interest, contact our enrollment team at 303-860-5604.
A minimum of 120 credit hours is required to graduate from the University of Colorado Denver with a bachelor’s level degree, which is approximately 40 classes. The number of classes you will be required to take will vary based on your major and whether or not you have transfer credits.
CU Denver will transfer in as much credit as possible; however, not all transferable credits will apply towards your degree. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which accredits this university, requires that at least 30 of the 120 credits earned for a baccalaureate degree be taken in residence at CU. Students are advised that individual schools/colleges may have higher residency requirements.
If you're looking for more insight into how many of your credits will transfer, contact our enrollment team at 303-860-5604.
How many hours a week you'll need to study will vary between courses as well as between weeks within a single course. A good rule of thumb is a minimum of 10 hours per week, per course. However, we recommend that for a three-credit hour course you should spend 15-18 hours per week studying.
Courses are designed at the instructor's discretion. They may include writing papers, quizzes, exams, discussions, group projects, etc. Be sure to review the course syllabus on the first day of class so that you are aware of what is expected and upcoming deadlines.
Yes, there are many opportunities to meet and interact with your classmates in your courses. You can also set up virtual study groups with classmates as well as collaborate with them on group projects.