Scholarships

Scholarships that help defray part of the cost of the RAP fee are available for both incoming freshmen and sophomores who stay in the RAP program their second year. Information on application procedures is available in the RAP office from Claire Figel or by emailing bakerrap@colorado.edu

Tutoring

Students who would like to tutor students in various courses are encouraged to contact the RAP office to have their name put on a list of available tutors. Students who need tutors can either contact the RAP office to see if a tutor has volunteered for a given course, or contact this website to find a tutor through the Housing Office.

Internships

Our RAP offers special opportunities for students to explore working in various professional environments (zoos, wildlife rehabilitation centers, museums, etc) for course credit. These opportunities provide students with very realistic experiences of the challenges, joys, and potential downsides of particular professions. The RAP offers a freshman-level course that prepares students to undertake an internship. Second semester freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to sign up for our internship course and to select an internship from a list that has been established by RAP faculty, or to create internships at organizations of their own choosing.

Here is a list of existing internships that are currently available:

  • Denver Zoo
  • Denver Botanic Gardens
  • Butterfly Pavilion
  • Boulder County Parks and Open Space
  • Downtown Aquarium
  • Birds-of-Prey rehabilitation center
  • Bouder Humane Society
  • CU Natural History Musuem
  • Denver Museum of Nature and Science
  • Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Proposals from students to work at other, additional sites are welcome.

Research

The University of Colorado is a first-rate research institution. Students in the RAP are encouraged to participate in research in faculty laboratories and field projects as early as possible in their academic career. Financial support is usually available through not only faculty research grants, but also CU programs such as Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Students are encouraged to undertake research projects so that they can have first-hand experience about how knowledge in any field is advanced. Our RAP hosts a research symposium each fall for the purpose of explaining the benefits of doing research for honors at graduation, or to prepare for graduate school and various careers. At this symposium, lists of various research opportunities are presented. Of course, students are also encouraged to ask professors who do research in their field of interest about working with them on their research.

Teaching Opportunities

One of the important goals of our RAP is to help prepare students interested in teaching science. Many of our courses that are required for science majors are also needed to gain teaching certification. Summer teaching opportunities are available for the RAP students through the Science Discovery Program. Additionally, RAP students interested in teaching science at the primary and secondary level are encouraged to explore the opportunities for getting direct experience in science courses at local schools through CU Teach (or at the School of Education website).