The Graduate School at CU Boulder has established minimum standards for admission. Individual graduate departments may have additional or more restrictive standards by which they evaluate graduate applicants. Qualified students may be recommended for admission provided they meet the following criteria.

Applicants must:

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, or have done work equivalent to that required for such a degree.
  • Show promise of the ability to pursue advanced study and research, as judged by your scholastic record.
  • Applicants to programs in the College of Engineering and Applied Science must have a 3.00 (3.00=B) undergraduate grade point average. Note: if you cannot meet this undergraduate standard, you may still secure regular admission if you have completed 9 semester hours of relevant graduate course work with at least a 3.25 grade point average.

As a student, you will be admitted to a particular specialty area of study. These specialty areas are also known as disciplines, interdisciplinary areas, or subplans of the degree programs. Each specialty may have its own set of additional requirements for admission, especially in defining prerequisite undergraduate coursework as outlined below.

Students will be required to complete the following engineering undergraduate prerequisite courses (or equivalent).
  • Physics I (PHYS 1110) -OR- Physics II (PHYS 1120)
  • Introduction to Linear Algebra & Differential Equations (APPM 2360)
  • Thermodynamics (AREN 2110)

Prior coursework will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Students with a non-engineering BS degree will be required to complete the following engineering undergraduate prerequisite courses (or equivalent). Additional information can be found on the Construction Engineering Management webpage.
  • Fluid Mechanics (CVEN 3313)
  • Geotechnical Engineering I (CVEN 3708)
  • Structural Analysis (CVEN 3525)

Prior coursework will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

For admission to the MS or PhD program in Environmental Engineering, applicants will normally be required to hold a baccalaureate or master’s degree in engineering, natural science, or mathematics from a college or university of recognized standing. Students without a B.S. or M.S. degree in Chemical, Civil, Environmental, Mechanical or a similar engineering field will be considered on an individual basis, but must have completed or successfully complete the following courses. Additional information can be found on the Environmental Engineering webpage.
  • Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations (4 semesters)
  • Probability and Statistics (1 semester)
  • Calculus-based Physics (2 semesters)
  • General Chemistry (2 semesters, CU-Boulder CHEN 1211/CHEM 1221 equivalent)
  • Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering (1 semester, CVEN 3414 equivalent)
  • A college-level basic or Earth Science (e.g., Biology, Geology) (1 semester)
  • Fluid Mechanics (1 semester)
    • One semester of statics is recommended as it is in civil and mechanical engineering as a prerequisite for fluid mechanics for students lacking an undergraduate engineering degree who wish to pursue licensure after obtaining a graduate degree.  However, the requirements for licensure can vary by state.

Students will be required to complete the following engineering undergraduate prerequisite courses (or equivalent). Additional information can be found on the Geotechnical Engineering & Geomechanics webpage.
  • Analytical Mechanics/Statics (CVEN 2121)
  • Calculus I (APPM 1350)
  • Calculus II (APPM 1360)
  • Calculus III (APPM 2350)
  • Geology (CVEN 3698)
  • Geotechnical Engineering I (CVEN 3708)
  • Geotechnical Engineering II (CVEN 3718)
  • Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra (APPM 2360)
  • Mechanics of Materials I (CVEN 3161)

Students will be required to complete the following engineering undergraduate prerequisite courses (or equivalent). Additional information can be found on the Hydrology, Water Resources & Environmental Fluid Mechanics webpage.
  • Calculus I (APPM 1350)
  • Calculus II (APPM 1360)
  • Calculus III (APPM 2350)
  • Fluid Mechanics (CVEN 3313)
  • Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra (APPM 2360)
  • Physics I (PHYS 1110)
  • Physics II (PHYS 1120)
  • Physics III (PHYS 1140)

Students will be required to complete the following engineering undergraduate prerequisite courses (or equivalent). Additional information can be found on the Structural Engineering & Structural Mechanics webpage.
  • Analytical Mechanics 1/Statics (CVEN 2121)
  • Calculus I (APPM 1350)
  • Calculus II (APPM 1360)
  • Introduction to Linear Algebra & Differential Equations (APPM 2360)
  • Mechanics of Material I (CVEN 3161)
  • Physics I (PHYS 1110)
  • Structural Analysis (CVEN 3525)

Students will be required to complete the following engineering undergraduate prerequisite courses (or equivalent).
  • Calculus I (APPM 1350)
  • Calculus II (APPM 1360)
  • Calculus III (APPM 2350)
  • Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering (CVEN 3414)
  • General Chemistry I (CHEN 1201)
  • General Chemistry II (CHEN 1203) and Engineering General Chemistry Lab (CHEM 1221)
  • Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra (APPM 2360)
  • Introduction to Probability and Statistics (CVEN 3227)
  • General Physics I (PHYS 1110) and Experimental Physics Lab 1 (PHYS 1140)
  • General Physics II (PHYS 1120) and
  • A college-level basic or Earth Science (e.g., Biology, Geology) (1 semester)

If you are a current student and wish to change specialty areas, you must receive the written permission of the Graduate Committee.