ACCESS | Non-Degree Advising

Find information specifically to help non-degree students navigate CU Boulder.

Non-Degree Advising

It is important for non-degree students to keep in mind that you must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in order to continue enrolling in Continuing Education courses. If you have not maintained a GPA of 2.0 after completing one semester, an academic advisor will place a hold on your record. In this case, you will be ineligible to enroll in additional courses until you consult with an academic advisor and have the hold lifted.

Regardless of GPA, all non-degree students who have earned 15+ credit hours are encouraged to meet with a Continuing Education advisor regarding their academic goals.

Schedule an appointment with a CE academic advisor

Future Admission to CU Boulder

Taking CU Boulder classes as a non-degree student is a great way to learn about academic departments on campus, to meet faculty and fellow students, and earn credit. You may be able to take prerequisite or graduate classes prior to admission to a CU Boulder degree program. The credits you earn as a non-degree student may be applicable toward your degree requirements if you are admitted to the program. For more information, ask the departmental advisor or set up an appointment with a Continuing Education academic advisor.

Undergraduate

If you are considering future undergraduate admission to CU Boulder, you should meet with a Continuing Education advisor before enrolling in courses. Depending on your specific circumstances, we may also encourage you to contact the Office of Admissions before enrolling in Continuing Education courses. An admissions counselor can assist you in determining what you will need as a non-degree student to satisfy the admission criteria established by the individual colleges and schools. For more information visit the prospective student website.

The credits and grade point average earned as a non-degree student may apply toward degree requirements once you are admitted as a degree student. However, applicability of these hours toward a degree is established by the schools and colleges. Limits and transfer credit criteria may vary by department.

Graduate

Admission to graduate programs is done through the individual departments. You may want to contact each of the departments in which you are interested to determine what is necessary for admission. For example, some departments may require prerequisites if you have not had the necessary educational background for a program. If you need undergraduate or graduate courses as prerequisites before you can apply to a graduate program, you may take these courses as a non-degree (not formally admitted) student through Continuing Education.

Some graduate departments will require an admissions exam such as the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) before you apply. You may also be able to begin your graduate course work through ACCESS.

The graduate credits you earn as a non-degree student may be applicable toward your degree requirements if you are admitted as a graduate student. However, applicability of these hours is established by the schools and colleges. For graduate courses, a department may accept as many as 9 semester hours taken as a non-degree student toward a master’s and 21 semester hours toward a doctoral degree. Even with this guideline, limits and transfer credit criteria may vary by department, school, or college. Please contact the school or college in which you are interested in matriculating for more information.

Search

ACCESS | Non-Degree Advising

Non-Degree Advising

Future Admission to CU Boulder

Undergraduate

Graduate