Courses and Workshops
You will be fully immersed in the university and local community through participation in community-building activities, and field trips, supported by a rich curriculum focused on academic, intercultural, and language skills. Guest talks by university faculty, staff, local community members, and graduate students will further enrich your experience, allowing you to connect with the Boulder and campus communities and learn about U.S. values and practices.
In the Fulbright Pre-Academic Program at CU Boulder, you will:
- Gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in your graduate studies at U.S. institutions of higher education
- Learn about the customs, procedures, and expectations of U.S. academia
- Expand your knowledge and understanding of U.S. culture and community life
- Polish your language and communication skills for academic, professional, and social contexts
- Engage with CU Boulder professors, area professionals, and the local community
Weekly Schedule
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 8:30-10:40 am | Academic Reading & Writing for Graduate Success | Academic R&W | Academic R&W | Academic R&W | Academic R&W |
| 10:40 am-12:30 pm | Effective Listening & Communication for Graduate Studies | University Preparation for Graduate Success | Effective L&C | University Prep | Effective L&C |
| 12:30-1:45 pm | Lunch | ||||
| 2:00-3:15 pm | Workshops | U.S. Social & Cultural Orientation | Workshops | U.S. Social & Cultural Orientation | Workshops |
| 3:30-5:00 pm | Activities | Activities | Activities | Activities | Activities |
Scholars become more proficient and confident readers and writers in English by analyzing, discussing, and summarizing a variety of academic texts, including articles related to their fields of study, using attribution language and following the conventions of source annotation for print and electronic media. Exploring written texts, scholars further develop their academic vocabulary and polish their skills in predicting, skimming, scanning, reading for details, and inferencing. Scholars learn to approach graduate-level written work of different genres (literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, case study analyses). They also learn about academic integrity and how to avoid plagiarism through practice in paraphrasing, quoting, and applying proper citation formats. Visits to the university library focus on research skills, including using databases and vetting online sources. Throughout the course, scholars engage in Canvas discussions and leverage other online collaborative tools, such as Google Slides, Jamboard, and Padlet, to share insights and peer feedback. Grammar instruction is customized to address Scholars’ language needs.
Scholars refine their listening and speaking skills through communicative activities in academic, professional, and everyday contexts. Through lectures, debates, and other authentic input, they improve listening comprehension and expand their understanding of issues of educational and cultural appropriateness. Scholars polish their public speaking and research skills in discussions and individual or group presentations based on their topics of interest, receiving qualitative feedback on pronunciation, non-verbal communication, and other aspects of engaging an audience. Group presentations may utilize digital tools such as Google Slides or Padlet to foster collaboration and technology proficiency. The course also addresses using conventions of academic discourse, working productively as a group, leading a discussion, and fielding questions during presentations. Grammar instruction is customized to address Scholars’ communication needs.
This course prepares scholars to thrive in graduate school. Scholars learn about the history, diversity, and hierarchical structure of U.S. higher education. They explore classroom culture and contemporary cultural issues that are key to navigating academic life and gain an understanding of their relationships with academic advisors, administrators, professors, and peers. Scholars learn about professor expectations, how to work productively with peers on group projects, email etiquette, and the Honor Code. Scholars will also learn time management strategies to help them maximize their U.S. university experience. Scholars will have the opportunity to see classroom culture in action through observations of courses in their field.
This course covers topics that are essential to studying in the U.S. Wellness - physical and mental health - and stress management are addressed as key to remaining productive academically. American culture and intercultural communication are explored as a complement to other courses but in the context of everyday interactions. Scholars learn about their rights as non-U.S. citizens when interacting with law enforcement, as well as U.S. laws and university regulations and policies that may have an impact on their lives. Scholars explore the topic of digital responsibility and online personal safety (email fraud, inappropriate interactions). Dating, sex, and consent are addressed, as well as drugs and alcohol. Finally, scholars expand their understanding of culture shock and learn strategies to manage it.
Workshops and Guest Lectures
- Digital Tools for Campus Success
- Avoiding Plagiarism
- Library Research Skills
- The University Honor Code
- An Overview of Higher Education in the U.S.
- Health, Wellness, and Stress Management
- Intercultural Communication
- Time Management
- Know Your Rights – U.S. laws as they apply to international students
- The U.S. National Park Service and the Culture of Nature Stewardship
- Uncovering the Hidden Curriculum
- Dating, Sex, and Consent
- Online Personal Safety
- The Apartment Search
- Confident Conversations: Developing Social Skills for Academic and Professional Success
Activities and Things to Do
The Fulbright Pre-Academic Program includes many activities to give you a taste of U.S. culture:
- Hike at nearby Chautauqua Park
- Visit to History Colorado Center
- Fulbright Chapter Mixer
- Visit to Rocky Mountain National Park
- Colorado Rockies game (optional)
- Colorado Shakespeare Festival (“Merry Wives of Windsor”)
- Host Family Dinner
- Visit to Boulder Farmers Market
- Graduate Student Panel
- Visits to National Laboratories (NCAR,NOAA, LASP)
Here are some other things to do and explore on your own in the area:
• Hiking in Boulder Area (Links to an external site.)
• General Information about Boulder (Links to an external site.)
• Restaurants & Things to Do (Links to an external site.)
• Pearl Street and Downtown Boulder (Links to an external site.)
• NCAR (Links to an external site.)
• Boulder Public Library (Links to an external site.)
• Downtown Boulder Farmers Market (Links to an external site.)
• Dushanbe Tea House (Links to an external site.)
• City of Denver (Links to an external site.)
• Denver Arts & Culture (Links to an external site.)
• Denver Music Scene (Links to an external site.)
• 5280: Denver's Mile High Magazine (Links to an external site.)