Getting Started

Getting Started as a New Visiting or Non-Degree Student

We welcome visiting students interested in completing CU Boulder coursework through Continuing Education. If you have taken classes as a non-degree student in the past, visit the returning student section to learn how to re-engage. If you are new to CU Boulder and Continuing Education, here are the steps to help you get started:

1. Complete the Continuing Education Application

Students new to CU Boulder must complete the quick, online enrollment application for Continuing Education:

• Spring 2025 Continuing Education Application

NOTE:

• Select “Non-Degree Undergraduate” if you plan to enroll in undergraduate courses – 1000- to 4000-level
• Select “Non-Degree Graduate” if you plan to enroll in graduate courses – 5000- and 6000-level

There is no cost or obligation associated with the application process. An email containing an invitation to enroll will be sent to you upon approval of your application. This email contains your student ID and information on the enrollment process.

Non-Degree Application Requirements

You need a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma to enroll in credit courses. If you are under 23 years of age as of September 15 for fall or January 15 for spring, and not officially admitted or enrolled in a CU Boulder degree program, you must submit unofficial copies of either your high school equivalency scores or your high school transcript for review. High school transcripts must include the degree conferral date and must show that you completed your high school degree with at least a 2.0 GPA. Please upload your unofficial documents with your online application. For questions, please email ceregistration@colorado.edu.

Transcripts are not required for the non-degree application submitted for the summer semester. Students under 23 years old must provide unofficial copies of either your high school equivalency scores or your high school transcript  to continue in the fall/spring semester.

2. Select Your Courses

Begin planning your schedule by consulting CU Boulder’s Class Search.

• Select “Boulder Main Campus” for daytime, on-campus classes (enrollment available through the ACCESS program)
• Select “Boulder Continuing Education” for CE Evening Credit and CE Online Credit classes.

3. Enroll

Your welcome email will give you detailed information on registering for courses. It also includes information on how to activate your CU Boulder accounts, including your required CU Boulder email account, which you will need to use to communicate with faculty and staff at the university. 

Non-Degree Requisite Approval

If the course you wish to enroll into has requisites in the Registration Restriction area of a course on the CU Boulder Class Search and you believe you satisfied that requisite through non-CU coursework, a CE academic advisor must manually review your transcripts from other institutions for enrollment eligibility. Outside coursework is not articulated on your student account, even if you attached transcripts to your non-degree application.

Undergraduate Course Enrollment

• Schedule an appointment with an academic advisor, or you may email ceadvise@colorado.edu for a trascript review. 
• If emailing, please include:
  • Your 9-digit student ID # included in your welcome email. 
  • The course(s) for which you would like to register, including the section number.
  • The courses on your transcript that you believe fulfill the required requisite courses. 
• If prior coursework is approved by an advisor as eligible for a requisite, the advisor will place a class permission for you to self-enroll; or, they will direct you to complete the Course Request Form and attach approval. If you haven't had your transcripts manually reviewed and approved, you will receive a requisite error message when enrolling.

Graduate Course Enrollment

Most graduate-level classes are restricted. You must contact the instructor or the department to get permission to enroll. This can often be done via email. To find instructor email addresses, you may search the online directory.

• After you receive written permission from the instructor, please submit a Course Request Form and attach the approval email to the form using the 'Browse' button. 

There are some exceptions to this process, as some departments prefer to approve their own requisites. A Continuing Education Academic Advisor can provide more information if your course request needs further approval.

Our Enrollment Services team will manually enroll you in the course(s) after requisites are approved, and you will receive a confirmation email once officially enrolled.

Transfer Credits

Credits earned through CU Boulder Continuing Education courses are highly transferable. If you are interested in transferring credits to another institution, please follow the steps below to begin the process:

1. Search CU Boulder’s Class Search to determine if we offer the course(s) you need.
2. Visit the Transferology website for course equivalencies.
3. Contact your home college or university to determine their process for accepting transfer credit; the course description and course syllabus are often needed for evaluation. CU Boulder’s Syllabus Archive could be a useful resource.

Contact Continuing Education’s academic advisors for any questions you have about this process.

Transitioning to a CU Boulder Degree Program

Many students use their time as a non-degree student to boost their GPA and strengthen their college applications. Many of CU Boulder’s schools and colleges have specific course prerequisites that you can complete while enrolled as a non-degree student. Please note, enrolling as a non-degree student does not guarantee admission to a CU Boulder degree program.