Graduate Admissions
INTERNATIONAL
Be accomplished. At the University of Colorado Boulder, our students find success through collaboration. Our dynamic and diverse community of scholars and students works together on hands-on, real-world projects that merge experience and academia. As a Tier 1 research university, CU Boulder is one of only 34 public research universities in the prestigious Association of American Universities, which gives our students access to innovative research opportunities. With 3,000 international students and almost 6,000 graduate students from more than 100 countries, we welcome people from all over the world to join our community.
meet Shideh Dashti Assistant professor, geotechnical engineering & geomechanics
Originally from Tehran, Iran, Dashti moved to the U.S. in 1999 to obtain three degrees from Cornell University and UC Berkeley. She joined CU Boulder in 2011, bringing industry and academic research experience to the classroom. One of her main goals is to help prepare students to be globally engaged through research, hands-on projects and collaboration with experts in other countries.
CU Boulder rankings
#1
#1 nation #1 SMARTEST city in the (MarketWatch, 2015)
#1
METRO AREA
FOR FEMALE
entrepreneurship
BEST COMMUNITY FOR well-being (Gallup-Healthways, 2016)
#2
MOST INNOVATIVE
TECH HUB
IN THE U.S. (Forbes, 2015)
NOBEL PRIZE winners MACARTHUR
“genius grant” FELLOWS
19
NASA ASTRONAUTS
are CU Boulder
affiliates
850
5 9
(Fast Company, 2015)
CITY TO START a business (Forbes, 2015)
VISITING
international
scholars
#38
AMONG THE 133 top PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
in the nation
(U.S. News & World Report, 2017)
#38 in the WORLD
(Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2016)
#2 in the world in geosciences (U.S. News & World Report, 2017)
U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 list of the nation’s top graduate programs
#1 #5 #6
#8
#9
#9
in atomic, molecular and optical physics
in ceramics
in environmental law
in quantum physics in environmental engineering
in physical chemistry
#9 #10 #16 #24 #26
in geology
in aerospace engineering
in clinical psychology
in speech-language pathology
in psychology
Majors & programs of study Customize your degree. With more than 3,900 academic courses across 150 fields of study, you can create a unique academic experience. Learn about your options below. Explanation of symbols: B: Bachelor’s degree C: Concurrent degrees Concurrent degrees are five-year combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. M: Master’s degree D: Doctorate degree ^: OPT STEM Extension Eligible Indicates the STEM degrees that are eligible for 36 months of OPT English proficiency scores Scores listed reflect the the minimum internet-based TOEFL and IELTS scores for graduate students. If the scores are not listed for a graduate program the requirements are a minimum internet-based TOEFL of 75 and IELTS of 6.5. Some countries are exempt from these requirements. For the most current information visit bit.ly/cuboulderep
College of Arts and Sciences bit.ly/cuboulderas Anthropology B M D bit.ly/cuboulderanthro (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Applied Mathematics M D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderamath (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Art History B M C bit.ly/cuboulderart (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Art Practices B M bit.ly/cuboulderart (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Arts of the Americas* D (TOEFL: 75; IELTS 6.0) Asian Languages & Civilizations MD bit.ly/cuboulderalc (TOEFL: 83 master’s degree, 105 doctoral degree; IELTS: 7.0 master’s degree, 7.5 doctoral degree)
Asian Studies B bit.ly/cubouldercas Astronomy B ^ bit.ly/cuboulderaps Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences M D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderaps Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences B M D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderatoc Audiology D bit.ly/cuboulderlhs (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Biochemistry B M D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderchembio Chemical Physics D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderco (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Chemistry B M D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderchembio (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Chinese B C bit.ly/cuboulderalc Classics B M C D bit.ly/cuboulderclassics (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Cognitive Science D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderics (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Comparative Ethnic Studies D bit.ly/cuboulderethnic (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Computational Linguistics, Analytics, Search & Informatics M ^ bit.ly/cuboulderclasic (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Computer Science B ^ bit.ly/cubouldercs Creative Writing M bit.ly/cubouldereng (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Dance B M bit.ly/cuboulderdance (TOEFL: 79; IELTS: 6.0) Ecology & Evolutionary Biology BMCD^ bit.ly/cuboulderebio (TOEFL: 79; IELTS: 6.0) Economics B M C D bit.ly/cuboulderecon (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: not accepted)
English B M D bit.ly/cubouldereng (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Environmental Studies B M D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderenvs (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Ethnic Studies B C bit.ly/cuboulderethnic Experience Design M bit.ly/cuboulderexpdesign (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Film Studies B M C bit.ly/cuboulderfilm (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) French B M C D bit.ly/cuboulderfrench (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Geography B M D bit.ly/cubouldergeog (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Geology B M D ^ bit.ly/cubouldergeol (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Geophysics D ^ bit.ly/cubouldergeophys (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) German Studies B M C D bit.ly/cubouldergerman (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) History B M D bit.ly/cuboulderhistory (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Humanities B C bit.ly/cuboulderhum Integrative Physiology B M C D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderip (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) International Affairs B bit.ly/cuboulderiafs Italian B bit.ly/cuboulderitalian Japanese B C bit.ly/cuboulderalc Jewish Studies B bit.ly/cuboulderjs Linguistics B M C D bit.ly/cuboulderling (TOEFL: 90; IELTS: 7.0) Masters of the Environment M ^ bit.ly/cubouldermenv (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0)
Mathematics B M C D ^ bit.ly/cubouldermath (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology B M D ^ bit.ly/cubouldermcdb (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Museum & Field Studies M bit.ly/cubouldermuseum (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: not accepted) Neuroscience B D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderneuro (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Philosophy B M D C bit.ly/cuboulderphil (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Physics B M C D ^ bit.ly/cuboulderphys (TOEFL: 89; IELTS: not accepted) Political Science B M D bit.ly/cuboulderpolisci (TOEFL: 90; IELTS: 7.0) Psychology B M C D bit.ly/cuboulderpsych (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Religious Studies B M C bit.ly/cuboulderrlst (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Russian Studies B M C bit.ly/cuboulderruss (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Sociology B M D bit.ly/cubouldersoc (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Spanish B M D bit.ly/cuboulderspan (TOEFL: 80; IELTS: 6.5) Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences B M D bit.ly/cuboulderslhs (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Statistics & Data Science* B Theatre B M D C bit.ly/cubouldertheatre (TOEFL: 79; IELTS: 6.5) Women’s Studies B bit.ly/cuboulderwgst
College of Engineering and Applied Science
College of Media, Communication and Information
Leeds School of Business
bit.ly/cuboulderengineering
bit.ly/cubouldercmci
Aerospace Engineering Sciences B M C D ^ (TOEFL: 83; IELTS: 6.5) Applied Computer Science* B Applied Mathematics B C ^ (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: not accepted) Architectural Engineering B M C D ^ (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Chemical & Biological Engineering B C ^ Chemical Engineering B M C D ^ (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Civil Engineering B M C D ^ (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Computer Science B M C D ^ (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Electrical & Computer Engineering B C ^ Electrical Engineering B M C D ^ (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Engineering Management M ^ Engineering Physics B C ^(TOEFL: 102; IELTS: 7.5) Engineering Plus B C ^ Environmental Engineering B M C ^ (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Information & Communication Technology for Development M (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Materials Science & Engineering M D ^ (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Mechanical Engineering B M C D ^ (TOEFL: 79 master’s degree, 100 doctoral degree; IELTS: 6.5 master’s degree, 7.5 doctoral degree) Technology, Arts & Media B Technology, Media & Society D (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Telecommunications M C D ^ (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0)
Communication B M D (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.5) Emergent Technologies & Media Art Practices D (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Information Science B M D ^ (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Interdisciplinary Documentary Media Practices M (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Intermedia Art, Writing & Performance D (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Journalism B M (TOEFL: 100 master’s degree, 107 doctoral degree; IELTS: 7.0) Media & Public Engagement M (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Media Production B Media Research & Practice D (TOEFL: 107; IELTS: 7.0) Media Studies B Strategic Communication B Advertising Media Design Public Relations Strategic Communication Design M (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0)
Business Administration B M D (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Accounting C (TOEFL: 90; IELTS: not accepted) Finance Management Marketing Business Administration MBA (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Business Analytics M ^ (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Finance M (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Real Estate M (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Supply Chain Management M (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Taxation M (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0)
College of Music bit.ly/cubouldermusic Arts in Music B Music B M D (TOEFL: 80 master’s degree, 93 doctoral degree; IELTS: not accepted) Brass & Percussion Composition Jazz Studies Keyboard Musicology Strings Voice Woodwinds Music Education B M D (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0) Musical Arts D (TOEFL: 75; IELTS: 6.0)
*Pending approval by the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
bit.ly/cuboulderleeds
School of Education bit.ly/cubouldereduc (TOEFL: 114; IELTS: 8.0) Educ-Curriculum & Instruction MD Educ-Educational Equity & Cultural Diversity M D Educ-Educational Foundations, Policy & Practice M D Educ-Learning Sciences & Human Development M D Educ-Research & Evaluation Methodology D ^ Elementary Education B Leadership & Community Engagement B
School of Law bit.ly/cuboulderlaw (TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7.0) Law D Master of Law M Master of Studies in Law M
Program in Environmental Design bit.ly/cuboulderenvd All students major in environmental design and, through one of the emphases below, work toward a Bachelor of Environmental Design as preparation for entry into graduate and professional degree programs as well as the workplace. Environmental Design B Architecture Design Studies Landscape Architecture Planning/Urban Design
Preprofessional study in health sciences and law Pre-med and pre-law are not majors at CU Boulder. Preprofessional advisors are available to help you explore law, medicine or other health programs and will help you prepare for law school or a healthcare-related professional school. We recommend choosing a major that you are interested in, ideally one that you are passionate about, because, while your major does not affect your chances of admission to a professional program, how well you do and the grades you earn do affect your chances.
Professional master’s programs We offer a variety of master’s programs that are designed specifically for professionals interested in career advancement and leadership. Many of the programs are available both online and on campus, so students who are unable to study at CU Boulder can still engage in classroom discussion during real-time screening. We offer more than 30 professional master’s programs ranging from technical fields to leadership. colorado.edu/ graduateschool
“The campus is beautiful, the students and faculty are welcoming, and the library has virtually every resource you can imagine.�
meet Luciana Marques PhD student, linguistics
Originally from SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil, Luciana came to CU Boulder to be a part of the strong research program in linguistics. Since joining our university, she has had the opportunity to conduct research for her dissertation, engage in lab-based work through her teaching appointment and teach undergraduate students in writing and rhetoric.
“I love the small-city feel of Boulder and the fact that I can bike anywhere in the city or use the effective public transport system. Boulder’s close proximity to the mountains allows me to take a quick break from studying—to go for a hike and be refreshed.”
meet Muhammad Khan MBA student, business
Originally from Lahore, Pakistan, Muhammad moved to Colorado to pursue an MBA at CU Boulder. Having come from a city known for its cultural taste, Muhammad found Boulder to be a good fit for his lifestyle. With cultural events, employment opportunities and the Rocky Mountains available for hiking and biking, Boulder has given Muhammad the opportunity to advance his career while enjoying his surroundings.
Be connected. Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the city of Boulder is a leading force in research, technology and innovation. CU Boulder lies in the heart of the city and produces some of the best and brightest in these industries. Our talented faculty, students and alumni are leading the way for the next generation by inspiring inventive, humanitarian and social enterprises around Colorado, the U.S. and the world.
Chicago: 2h 20m
San Francisco: 2h 40m
Denver
New York CIty: 3h 50m
Los Angeles: 2h 30m
Mexico City: 3h 40m
London: 8h 55m
Tokyo:
11h 40m
Denver, nicknamed the
Mile High City, truly is one mile high at 5,280 feet above sea level and is one of the most dynamic metropolitan areas in the country.
Boulder has some of
the best weather in the country. Students experience all four seasons. Our winter season is mild, as Boulder averages 300+ days of sunshine each year.
Boulder is a gateway to many of the 25+ ski and snowboard resorts in Colorado, which feature some of the best slopes in the country, plenty of sunshine and historic ski towns.
Boulder is among the most immigrant-friendly cities in the United States. (American Immigrant Center, 2016)
Denver:
Just a free, 30-minute bus ride away.
Denver International Airport:
Rocky Mountain National Park:
Only 45 minutes away from campus.
World-renowned hiking trails only one hour from campus.
3
4 Twitter (Gnip) Boulder:
1
2
Dushanbe Teahouse:
CU Research Park:
Chautauqua Park:
The teahouse was given to Boulder by Dushanbe, our sister city, and is one of 120+ globally inspired restaurants in town.
This area of East Campus is home to centers for space and atmospheric research, biotechnology, sustainability and the environment.
This iconic landmark provides access to Open Space Mountain Park trails.
A friendly office focused on making social data accessible and actionable.
5 Google Boulder: Opened in 2006 and offers employment opportunities across multiple fields.
Be successful. Graduate opportunities Research institutes CU Boulder’s 11 distinguished research institutes, including JILA and the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, employ some of the most productive researchers in the country. With more than 900 researchers, students and supporting staff, the institutes make a major contribution to the university’s research and educational missions, as well as the local and global economies. The institutes employ many graduate students, allowing our students to incorporate hands-on, professional experience in their education. colorado.edu/research/research-institutes
Research centers There are nearly 90 research centers across campus, including the National Snow and Ice Data Center and the Center for Environmental Journalism, that cover a broad range of topics, from multicultural education and astrophysics to glaciology and prevention of violence. Graduate students can become involved with our research centers through grant fellowships, sponsored internships and competitions. colorado.edu/ research/research-centers
Nondegree programs The International English Center (IEC) offers year-round programs for intensive instruction in English as a Second Language, combined with special courses such as English for business and engineering, orientation to U.S. and university customs, and academic preparation. Students are tested on arrival and placed into classes based on their English proficiency, and should expect to spend six months to a year in the IEC before entering academic degree study. iec.colorado.edu
Graduate peer mentoring program Finding community and working in collaboration with peers is a significant part of the graduate student’s experience. CU Boulder’s Graduate School and United Government of Graduate Students have teamed up to establish the peer mentoring program. This program allows graduate students to make connections, learn from their classmates and meet graduate students from different disciplines and programs. bit.ly/peer-mentoring-program
Career services Our goal is for all CU Boulder students to explore their interests and find success in their lives. We offer specific services for our international students to help them navigate the U.S. job market. The International Student and Scholar Services office provides advising on visa-related employment questions. The Cultural Unity and Engagement Center helps students get involved and find a career-building community on campus. colorado.edu/career
Be here.
There are so many ways to explore CU Boulder! Take a virtual tour of our campus, where you can view every part of our beautiful university: classrooms, outdoor spaces, student centers, laboratories and the surrounding Boulder community. All students and families are also welcome to visit campus in person and see for themselves why Boulder is one of the best places to live in the United States. bit.ly/gradtour
Be informed. Estimated annual cost & tuition Tuition and fees $31,355
$
Total: $37,145
Health insurance $3,990 Books and supplies $1,800
*Estimated annual cost based on graduate student status and enrollment in 24 credit hours in the College of Arts and Sciences. Tuition and fees vary by college and school. Course fees may also apply. For the most current costs, visit bursar.colorado.edu.
Financial assistance Fellowships We support our graduate students by offering fellowships to students who show academic promise or success. Fellowship opportunities are available to entering and continuing degree-seeking students. Students are nominated by their academic departments.
Teaching and research assistantships Graduate students can gain experience and earn a salary through teaching and research assistantships. Often, these opportunities provide a tuition waiver and partial insurance benefits.
Training grants Students interested in collaborating with mentors while receiving funding can apply for a training grant. Grants are provided by the departments and allow our graduate students to work closely with mentors and other graduate students on long-term research projects. These grants are most often found in the science, engineering and social science departments. To learn more about assistantships and fellowship opportunities, contact the department to which you are applying. colorado.edu/graduateschool/admissions/international-applications/tuitionmatters
Housing On-campus graduate housing Graduate and family housing is an on-campus housing option for graduate students, families, committed couples, single parents and CU Boulder faculty and staff. The university maintains furnished and unfurnished one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments just a short walk from campus. A limited number of efficiency and studio apartments are available to single graduate students who are 21 or older. housing.colorado.edu/residences/graduate-family
Off-campus graduate housing Numerous off-campus apartments, condominiums and houses in and around the Boulder area are available for our graduate students. Our Off-Campus Student Services office maintains listings of rooms, houses and apartments for rent in the Boulder community. ocss.colorado.edu Ralphie’s List is an online platform that has more than 200 property ads for you to search. Message boards can help you locate other graduate student roommates, carpools and furniture. ralphieslist.colorado.edu Bear Creek Apartments at Williams Village provides fully furnished apartments and community amenities to graduate students. bearcreek.colorado.edu
Application deadlines Application deadlines for the fall semester vary by degree program. Visit www.colorado.edu/graduateschool/admissions/application-deadlines for specific program deadlines.
Admission checklist To complete your application, please submit: o CU Boulder graduate application o $80 nonrefundable application fee o Unofficial university transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended For review and decision purposes, you are required to submit an unofficial copy of your transcript(s).
o Official GRE score, if applicable
Check the department to which you are applying for specific test requirements. colorado.edu/graduateschool/admissions/programs
After you are academically admitted, please submit: o Official TOEFL or IELTS scores o Financial support statement o Scan of passport
o Official GMAT score, if applicable
Check the department to which you are applying for specific test requirements. colorado.edu/graduateschool/admissions/programs
o Personal statement o Letter(s) of recommendation
Most programs require at least three letters of recommendation, but some programs require more. Check the department to which you are applying for details. colorado.edu/graduateschool/admissions/programs
o Supplemental materials
Check the department to which you are applying for details. colorado.edu/graduateschool/admissions/programs
After you confirm your intent to enroll: o Receive I-20 o Apply for visa o Submit official transcripts
Contact us! Graduate students bit.ly/intlgradadm intlgrad@colorado.edu Undergraduate students bit.ly/intlugradadm intladm@colorado.edu
The University of Colorado Boulder Graduate Application for Admission and all related admissions materials are provided to prospective international students free of charge. The University of Colorado Boulder has not authorized any international agent to charge any external or additional fees for the application materials or admission services nor to make any admission commitment or guarantee. All admission decisions are made by internal committees within the University of Colorado Boulder. As a student or prospective student at CU Boulder, you have a right to certain information pertaining to financial aid programs, the Clery Act, crime and safety, graduation rates, athletics and other general information such as the costs associated with attending CU Boulder. To view this information online, go to colorado.edu/about/your-right-know. The University of Colorado is an equal opportunity/nondiscrimination institution. The information in this brochure was accurate at the time of printing (June 2017). All information is subject to change without notice.