Continuing Education Catalog

The mission of the Division of Continuing Education is to provide quality, innovative, lifelong learning opportunities to a diverse student population by extending the educational resources of the University of Colorado Boulder. Continuing Education collaborates with departments across campus to offer a variety of evening and online courses for university credit, graduate certificates and degree programs, as well as K-12 STEM programming, English language courses for international students and outreach opportunities for faculty. The Division facilitates non-degree enrollment in main campus classes for visiting and high school students and non-credit enrollment for auditors. (Non-degree refers to students who have not been formally admitted to a CU Boulder degree program; non-credit refers to learners who take courses or enroll in programs that do not offer university credit.) Continuing Education is also involved in the administration of CU Boulder's Summer Session and CU Boulder Online. Only university-approved faculty teach in Continuing Education programs.

ACCESS

In conjunction with CU Boulder academic departments, ACCESS (Available Credit Courses for Eligible Special Students) enables non-degree students to enroll in Boulder main campus undergraduate and graduate credit courses after degree-seeking students have registered.

Applied Music Program

The Applied Music Program offers non-music majors the opportunity to earn CU credit for beginning or continuing music lessons in voice and select instruments. Instruction is available in individual or small group sessions depending on the instrument.

CE Evening Credit Program

Offered in conjunction with CU Boulder's academic departments, the CE Evening Credit Program provides credit courses in the evening either on the Boulder campus or in a hybrid remote/online format. These smaller-sized classes are provided through various departments.

CE Online Credit Program

The CE Online Credit Program offers online versions of approved CU Boulder courses from 35 departments on campus. Online courses offer the same breadth, depth and rigor as on-campus, in-person courses while allowing students more flexibility in how they complete their coursework. Faculty and instructional designers use their expertise in learning technologies to build and enhance innovative digital classroom experiences. Courses range from traditional semester-long courses to shorter intensive terms as well as online flexible courses with date-of-enrollment based start dates. 

CU Complete

The goal of CU Complete is to assist former CU Boulder students in the completion of their degrees. Advisors work with each student individually to review degree requirements and offer recommendations, resources and assistance in completing remaining requirements. Scholarships for CU Complete participants are available. 

Extraordinary Program

The Extraordinary Program provides flexibility to support CU Boulder academic units’ strategic objectives and fiscal goals in serving the unique needs of a variety of student populations, including non-degree, undergraduate and graduate students. The Extraordinary Program collaborates with units across campus to annually schedule over 350 courses that cannot be effectively administered through main campus or other Continuing Education programs. In addition to individual credit and noncredit courses, the Extraordinary Program also enrolls students in select graduate degrees and professional certificates from nearly all schools and colleges.

Finish What You Started

The Finish What You Started program, with support from the American Rescue Plan and the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, offers financial assistance and advising and coaching services to undergraduate, in-state students who have taken time off from college coursework, have been economically impacted by the pandemic and have not completed their degrees. Eligible students receive a minimum of $1,500 in scholarships each semester for the duration of the program.

High School ACCESS 

Current high school students interested in the challenge of university coursework may enroll in ACCESS, CE Evening and Online Credit as part of the High School ACCESS Program. In addition to earning college credit, students may also earn credit toward high school graduation requirements.

Individualized Instruction

Individualized Instruction provides an opportunity for students to receive credit for university courses by meeting with faculty members outside the regular classroom setting. This option may be used when the student cannot reasonably be expected to enroll in the main campus course.

International English Center

The International English Center (IEC) offers a range of comprehensive English language and culture programs designed for international pre-collegiate, undergraduate and graduate students, working professionals and special groups. Students build and refine their communication skills through engaging classroom instruction, experiential learning, extended practice and cultural activities. Full and part-time programs are available. Programs include Intensive English, Pathway to CU (for conditionally admitted CU Boulder students), Legal English, ESL Credit for graduate students, EducationUSA virtual Academy for international high school students, global professional English, teacher training and customized options for special groups. The IEC is authorized to issue a form I-20 for qualified students seeking to study full-time on an F-1 visa. For some programs, qualified exchange visitors may request a form DS-2019 from the IEC to apply for a J-1 visa.      

Master of Science in Organizational Leadership

Offered in collaboration with the Graduate School, the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership is an interdisciplinary, fully online professional master's degree that prepares early- to mid-career professionals to succeed as tomorrow's dynamic leaders. Through coursework that blends business, communications and social sciences, the program develops the knowledge and skills students need to think critically about organizational challenges and how to address them using best practices. Students learn to align others around a shared vision, build and manage effective teams and apply the leadership skills necessary to excel in an increasingly fast-paced and complex work world. 

Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program

The Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program is a partnership between the College of Arts and Sciences and the Division of Continuing Education. The highly selective cohort program is designed for people who: 

• Already hold a bachelor’s degree and were strong students in college,
• Have a strong history of clinical and non-clinical service to others,
• Plan to take all of the undergraduate-level science prerequisites needed for professional school,
• Are interested in a full-time, comprehensive, one-year post-baccalaureate program with a summer start date, and
• Appreciate a cohort-based learning experience with dedicated mentors and tutors. 

This program is characterized by rigorous academics in an accelerated format; a supportive, cohort-based peer group; exceptional pre-health advising; and dedicated tutors and mentors.

The program also offers an Individually Designed Approach. Enrolling as an individually designed post-baccalaureate student allows students to take courses alongside CU Boulder's undergraduate students as a non-degree student while still accessing CE’s dedicated post-baccalaureate pre-health advising services.

Science Discovery

Science Discovery is a science education outreach organization designed to heighten student interest and increase literacy in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Science Discovery connects K–12 students and teachers to CU science through an array of programs including summer camps, high school classes, internship opportunities, research experiences, out-of-school classes, homeschool programs, in-school programs, teacher professional development workshops and community events. Programs capitalize on CU Boulder's scientific resources, facilities and expertise (including CU graduate and undergraduate students) in order to excite participants about STEM, expose them to a variety of STEM careers and professionals, and inspire a future generation of scientists and engineers. Science Discovery serves students and teachers throughout the State of Colorado and beyond.

Winter Session

Winter Session occurs during the winter break between fall and spring semesters, and allows students to take intensive online courses in a short period of time. Winter Session credits count toward the spring semester.

Summer Session 

Summer Session offers more than 900 courses and enrolls about 8,000 students between the months of May and August. Courses in a variety of formats are available to students who wish to enhance or accelerate their academic progress. Courses are also open to students visiting from other colleges, teachers, high school students or others interested in pursuing their professional development or enrichment.

Visit the Summer Session website to learn more about summer at CU Boulder.

Auditing

Auditing allows interested individuals the opportunity to attend university classes for no academic credit. Auditors must receive permission and obtain a signature from course instructors during the first week of class to be formally added to the roster.

Audited courses will appear on a special non-academic credit transcript; however, no academic credit is awarded. Registered auditors receive class instruction, access to online course materials and library privileges only. Being an auditor at the University of Colorado Boulder does not guarantee eligibility for regular degree or non-degree status.

Note: Admitted degree students, either enrolled or suspended, are not permitted to audit courses. If an admitted degree student is interested in participating in a class without receiving credit, the student must enroll in the course for no credit. Courses taken for no credit are assessed the same tuition rate as courses taken for credit.

Continuing Education Auditors Program

All community members interested in auditing CU Boulder courses can register using the application and instructor permission form on the Auditors program page. Contact ceregistration@colorado.edu or call 303-492-5148 for more information.

Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship

Public and community-engaged scholarship is crucial to the University of Colorado Boulder’s role as a comprehensive public research university and is vital to the Division of Continuing Education’s mission. The Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship (PACES) is the lead CU Boulder unit for building the university’s capacity to undertake public and community-engaged scholarship. It supports research, teaching and creative work that partners faculty, staff and students with community stakeholders so they can collaboratively address critical public and community issues.

The office administers several grantmaking programs for faculty-led engaged scholarship projects, manages the campuswide Community Outreach and Engagement Programs website, assists with program design, helps build partnerships, leads strategic initiatives and provides communications support.