Graduate Student Orientation
Welcome to the College of Engineering and Applied Science! As you begin your graduate student journey, we are here to help you find your place as a researcher, student and educator. We will be updating this page regularly as events are added for fall 2025, so be sure to check back often.
Campus Orientations
College Orientations and Requirements
Department and Program Orientations
Campus Orientations
Graduate School Orientation | Monday, Aug. 18
All graduate students are invited to Graduate Student Orientation. This will be during the first half of the day and will be filled with informational sessions and opportunities to connect with faculty, staff and other graduate students on campus.
International Student Orientation | Sunday, Aug. 17
Required for all international students.
All new international students are required to attend the mandatory New International Student Orientation (ISO). ISO will take place at the University Memorial Center (UMC) in the Glenn Miller Ballroom.
Visit the International Student and Scholar Services website for detailed information for recently admitted graduate students, as well as the ISSS orientation schedule. Need advice on specific questions? Remote advising appointments are available.
College Orientations & Requirements
The following sessions are mandatory for students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science:
- Your department’s orientation for your degree program. This may vary from program to program, so be sure to confirm if it’s mandatory to attend if you have a conflict. See list of dates and times below.
- If you have a research assistant or teaching assistant appointment and are a non-native English speaker, you must attend an RA/TA speaking test. See details below.
For International Students
Mandatory RA/TA English Speaking Test
The college requires that international students who will be supported on a RA or TA appointment take a brief English speaking test. This will assess how well you will be able to communicate with students and research colleagues at CU Boulder. More information and a sample speaking test can be found on the International English Center website.
Choose one session:
- Tuesday, Aug. 26 (1-4 p.m.)
- Thursday, Aug. 28 (1:30-4 p.m.)
Once you register, you will receive an email with a confirmed test time and Zoom instructions.
Based on your exam results, you may be required to complete U.S. English pronunciation training. If so, the college and your department will pay the cost for you to take Continuing Education course ESLG 1130: Pronunciation for International Graduate Students. This is a two-credit, 10-week course that meets twice weekly and will be required. This test and course are designed to equip students with the skill sets to best thrive during their graduate tenure—particularly in teaching and research environments that demand clear, effective communication. The college will not pay the tuition for this course if you receive a satisfactory test result but still wish to take the course. No substitute courses will be paid for by the college in lieu of ESLG 1130.
Department and Program Orientations Fall 2025
Aerospace Engineering Sciences
AES New Graduate Student Orientation
Date: Tuesday Aug. 19
Time: 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Room:AERO 120
Lunch to follow on the back patio
ATLAS
- PhD and MS Combined
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Time: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Room: Black Box Theater
Biomedical Engineering
- PhD Students
Date: Thursday, Aug. 14
Time: 9-11 a.m.
Room: DLC 1B70 - Master's Students
Date: Thursday, Aug. 14
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Room: DLC 1B70
Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Graduate Student Orientation
Date: Thursday, Aug. 14
Time: 3-4 p.m.
Room: JSCBB A104 - Welcome BBQ
Date: Thursday, Aug. 14
Time: 4-5:30 p.m.
Room: JSCBB East Terrace
Civil and Architectural Engineering
- MS, PMP and PhD Students
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Room: DLC 1B65 and 1B70
Computer Science
- MS and Professional MS Orientation
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Room: ECES 112
Data Science
- Master's Orientation
Date: Friday, Aug. 15
Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Room: Ramaley Biology C250
Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering
- Master's Students (ME and MS)
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 20
Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Virtual: Please email lori.meehan@colorado.edu for the Zoom link - PhD Students
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: Noon-1:30 p.m.
Room: ECEE Graduate Lounge (ECEE 1B10A)
Engineering Education
- PhD Orientation
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: 9-11 a.m.
Room: ECNT 114
Engineering Management
No in-person orientation. Please see Canvas course provided by the Engineering Management Program.
Environmental Engineering Program
- MS and PhD Orientation
Date: Monday, Aug. 19
Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Room: SEEC S228 Sievers Room
Materials Science and Engineering
- MSE Graduate Orientation
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 20
Time: 11 a.m.-noon
Room: SEEC N224
Lunch with current students to follow
Mechanical Engineering
- PhD Students
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: 8 a.m.-noon
Room: ECCR 151 - Incoming Graduate Student Lunch
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: Noon-1 p.m.
Room: ECCR 265 - Mechanical Engineering TA Orientation
Date: Monday, Aug. 18
Time: 1-5 p.m.
Room: ECCS 201 - MS and BAM Students
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: 1-5 p.m.
Room: ECCR 265
Network Engineering
- Network Engineering Orientation
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Room: ECES 114
Robotics
- ROBO PhD and MS Orientation and Welcome
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: 10:30 a.m.-noon
Room: ECNT 312 - ROBO Community Lunch (with faculty and current students)
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: Noon-1 p.m.
Room: ECNT 312
Required Steps for New Grad Students
Have you completed all of the required steps on the new student checklist?
Professional Development Opportunity!
Join the Center for Teaching and Learning for their annual 3-Day Fall 2025 Intensive Educator's Workshop Series!
- Friday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (in person in the morning and remote in the afternoon)
- Monday, Aug. 18, 1-5 p.m. (remote in the afternoon only)
- Tuesday, Aug. 19, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (in person in the morning and remote in the afternoon)
There are multiple sessions running during each hour. In order to access session information, room numbers and Zoom links, please join the CTL Fall Intensive Canvas Community Page. Coffee, tea and pastries are served during the morning in-person sessions.