A student may be admitted to the Graduate School as either a regular degree student or a provisional degree student.

Regular Degree Â鶹ÒùÔº

Qualified students may be recommended for admission to regular degree status by approved programs of the Graduate School provided they meet the following criteria:

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, or have done work equivalent to that required for such a degree
  • Show promise of ability to pursue advanced study and research, as judged by the student’s scholastic record
  • Have had adequate preparation to enter graduate study in the chosen field
  • Have at least a 2.75 (on 4.0 scale, 2.00=C) undergraduate grade point average (for engineering 3.0)
    • Applicants who cannot meet this undergraduate standard may still secure regular admission if they have completed 9 semester hours of relevant graduate course work with at least a 3.25 average
    • Units who wish to grant regular admission to applicants who do not meet the undergraduate GPA standard (and do not have the graduate course work described above) may request that the Graduate School approve such admission based upon a full review of the applicant’s record
  • Meet additional requirements for admission established by the major unit 

Provisional Degree Â鶹ÒùÔº

Â鶹ÒùÔº who do not meet the requirements for admission as regular degree students may be recommended for provisional degree status by their major department. With the concurrence of the Dean of the Graduate School, these students are admitted for a probationary term of either one or two semesters of full-time study or the equivalent for part-time students. At the end of the specified probationary period, provisional degree students either transition to regular degree status or are dismissed from the graduate program to which they were provisionally admitted. Provisional students are subject to the same standards of performance required of regular degree students, plus any other requirements imposed by program faculty as conditions of admission.

Credit earned by persons in provisional degree status may count toward a degree at CU Boulder. Standard terms of provisional admission shall be as follows: the student must complete 12 hours in two semesters (or equivalent for part-time students) with a 3.00 cumulative GPA. Program faculty may recommend additional, or alternative, conditions as appropriate. 

Admission to Dual Master’s Degree Programs

The Graduate School, in conjunction with the faculty of each department and deans of schools and colleges where appropriate, approves dual master's degree programs, which combine previously approved graduate degree programs in two areas or departments.

Qualified graduate students may be recommended for admission to an approved dual degree program upon meeting the qualifications of each graduate program and any special qualifications as outlined by each program's approved guidelines. Minimum standards and qualifications for admission and continuation may be found in each department's approved program guide. Â鶹ÒùÔº wishing to complete degrees in more than one department that do not have an approved dual degree program must complete all the requirements for both degrees with no shared or overlapping course work (see article II, section 3 regarding transfer credit).

Admission to the Bachelor’s-Accelerated Master’s (BAM) Degree Program

The Graduate School, in conjunction with the deans for the undergraduate units and the Provost, approves BAM degree programs, which combine previously approved undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Highly qualified undergraduate students may be recommended for admission to a BAM degree program at the end of their sophomore or the beginning of their junior year. Such students are admitted at undergraduate status and later advance to graduate status. Standards for admission as well as eligibility to remain in the program are specified in the guidelines for each department’s approved program.

Admission of Non-degree Â鶹ÒùÔº to Regular Degree Status

Â鶹ÒùÔº with non-degree status who wish to apply for regular student status must complete their application for admission before completing 9 semester hours as a non-degree student at CU Boulder.

Readmission of Former and Suspended Â鶹ÒùÔº

Â鶹ÒùÔº who were previously admitted to a graduate degree program but who did not complete that degree and who have not been continuously registered at CU Boulder must meet the following requirements before being readmitted:

  • Clarify their status with the department to determine their eligibility to return and pursue the same degree
  • Submit a readmission application to the department for departmental approval before enrollment levels are met or deadlines passed for the term in which they expect to return to CU Boulder

Former students who wish to change from one major to another must apply to the intended department.

A student admitted to the Graduate School for the master’s program must have departmental approval to be admitted or advanced to the doctoral program.

A regular degree student who is suspended or dismissed for failure to maintain a 3.0 grade point average is eligible to apply for readmission after one year. The student must submit an academic plan for raising the grade point average to 3.0. Approval or rejection of this application rests jointly with the student’s major department and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Changing University of Colorado Campuses

Â鶹ÒùÔº transferring from one campus to another must apply and be accepted to the new campus.

Changing Major Departments

Â鶹ÒùÔº who want to change major departments must apply to and be accepted by the new department.

Last updated July 2023