Honors Scholars Program

Differentiate yourself academically, find new challenges, and personalize your university experience by joining the Honors Scholars Program (HSP) at CU Denver. This 15-credit certificate program offers highly motivated students unique learning experiences designed to spark curiosity, enhance critical thinking, and support academic growth. With flexible and personalized learning options, the program helps you achieve your educational goals by cultivating your talents, fueling your intellectual curiosity, and providing meaningful opportunities to explore your passions--all without adding extra time or tuition to your degree.

Eligibility

The following criteria determine eligibility for HSP:

Current CU Denver student or newly admitted with a GPA of 3.25 or better
Incoming freshman with a 3.25 GPA or better
Students must begin the program before completing 105 credit hours
Students must maintain a 3.25 GPA or higher to maintain eligibility

Benefits

As an Honors Scholar, you have the opportunity to:

Differentiate Yourself Academically: Stand out with the distinguished Honors Scholars Certificate designation.

Discover New Interests: Engage in challenging honors projects and unique learning and growth opportunities.

Personalize Your Experience: Tailor your education to fit your individual interests and goals.

Network With Students and Faculty: Develop relationships with professors through collaborative honors contracts and personalized academic engagement.

Earn Credit for Extra-Curricular Learning: Receive credit for learning and applied experiences beyond the classroom.

Earning Certificate Credit

To earn the HSP Certificate, students must complete 15 credit hours by graduation of honors-level work with CU Denver and maintain a 3.25 or better.

Students may do so in a variety of ways, including by completing:

an honors/majors section of a course, offered by a department, a list is provided on the HSP website
a 5000-level course (by permission of instructor or BA/BS to MA/MS courses)
departmental thesis credit
an honors contract negotiated with faculty to extend assignments in currently-enrolled courses
an independent study (up to 6 credits)
CU Denver study abroad classes taken for credit (up to 6 credits)
internships taken for credit (up to 6 credits)
Extra-curricular credit (3 credits)

* All courses must be taken for a letter grade (no Pass/Fail).
* All courses must be B- or higher for the courses to count towards the certificate.
* UNHL courses can be counted up to 6 credits and can be counted for UHL and HSP.

HSP Frequently Asked Questions

Is HSP free?

Yes - HSP is a free certificate program.

Does HSP require extra courses?

No - HSP does not require extra courses on top of your standard degree coursework requirements.

How many credits does HSP require?

To earn honors, students must complete 15 credit hours of honors-level work with CU Denver and maintain a 3.25 or better.

Is HSP a minor or certificate program?

HSP is a certificate program!

This 15-credit certificate program provides highly motivated students with unique learning experiences aimed to stimulate curiosity and critical thinking with flexible and personalized learning options. This program is meant to help you achieve your educational goals by developing your talents, providing opportunities to explore your passions, and feeding your intellectual curiosity.

How long does it take to complete the HSP certificate?

As long as you would like! The certificate requires 15 credits of coursework, so it typically can take students a range of 4 to 10 semesters to complete the certificate.

CU Denver Honors & Leadership