As a professionally oriented school, the College of Architecture and Planning provides an atmosphere for study and creative investigation in which the attainment of quality is held in the highest esteem. The College of Architecture and Planning recognizes outstanding student achievement through academic honors such as the Dean's List, Honors at Graduation, Outstanding Graduates, and membership in honor societies.
Graduate Honors
Dean's List
Students with a minimum 3.85 GPA are eligible for the Dean's List in the fall and spring semesters. Those who qualify will receive a letter of notification from the Dean's Office approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of the semester.
Outstanding Graduates
Awarded to the student(s) with the highest GPA in each department.
ASLA Awards
Nationally recognized honors bestowed through a professional jury of members of the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the awards are given to students nominated by the faculty who have a minimum 3.7 GPA and have consistently demonstrated the highest level of academic scholarship, responsiveness and willingness to work with others, self-motivation and responsibility, and strong design abilities evident in their exploration, discovery, synthesis, and representation of landscape architecture design.
Henry Adams Award
Each year The American Institute of Architects awards an engraved medal to the top-ranking graduating student and certificate of merit to the second-ranking graduating student in each architecture program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, including the University of Colorado Denver.
Alpha Rho Chi Medal
Alpha Rho Chi, the National Professional Fraternity for Architecture and the Allied Arts, provides this medal to selected schools of architecture throughout the country to be awarded to the graduating student who has shown an affinity for leadership, performed willing service for the school or department, and gives promise of real professional merit through his or her attitude and personality.
Honor Societies
Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society
Tau Sigma Delta is the only nationally recognized honor society in architecture, landscape architecture and the allied arts. Membership is granted to the top 20% of each graduating class. The University of Colorado Denver chapter is the Beta Lambda Chapter, established in 1988.
Golden Key International Honour Society
Founded in 1977, the purpose of Golden Key is to recognize college students based on academic achievement and to encourage community service. Currently, it is the largest and most active international honour society with a presence in countries like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, Malaysia, and the United States. Members include the top 15 percent of juniors and seniors and graduate students in 350 campuses around the world. Incorporated as a non-profit organization, Golden Key provides opportunities for personal growth and in the development of leadership skills.
The University of Colorado Denver chapter, established in 1985, has been dedicated to serving the community and rewarding academic excellence. Community service projects range from helping local organizations like the Denver Rescue Mission, Max Fund Animal Adoption Center, and Warren Village. Currently, the CU Denver chapter has over 200 members, including both undergraduate and graduate students, who are in the top 15% of their class.