About the Program
Differentiate yourself academically, find new challenges, and personalize your university experience by joining the Honors Scholars Program
(HSP) at CU Denver. The 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.
Curriculum
To earn honors, students must complete 15 credit hours 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 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 existing 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)
* 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.
Students may replace 3 credit hours of coursework with co-curricular or extra-curricular activities that may include but are not limited to:
- Undergraduate (EUReCA!) research grants or other mentored research conferences, colloquia, or seminar presentations
- Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS)
- Performances
- Exhibitions
- Leadership activities
- Community service and engagement
- Uncredited Study abroad
- Uncredited Internships
What is Honors Contract?
Pre-Approved Courses
CU Denver Honors Contracts for Non-Honors Designated Courses
The primary purpose of the Honors Contract is to give students and instructors the opportunity to interact about challenging academic issues. Students and instructors should feel free to design an agreement in addition to general course expectations that is tailored to the specifics of their interaction, the expected work, and the course. Both instructors and students should be able to benefit from the honors enrichment contract work.
Honors contracts are:
- An opportunity for undergraduate research
- A chance to delve deeper into your area of interest
- A chance to do in-depth learning with a mentor
- An opportunity to prepare for graduate level work
Honors contracts are not:
- Part of the expected workload of the class
- Busy work
Timing: Students should meet with the faculty member during the first two weeks of class to arrange the honors contract. Students are expected to meet individually with the faculty outside of class time to discuss the project(s) at least once prior to submission of the project(s). Additional meetings are recommended as agreed upon. Meetings can be in-person, via zoom, via phone, or via email as agreed upon by the instructor and the student.
Honors Contracts must include additional elements of labor beyond that of the already required coursework. Below are examples of some but not all enrichment opportunities that the student and instructor might agree upon.
- Conduct an individual research project or assist with instructor research
- Create, test, and/or evaluate a program
- Prepare and present a class lecture
- Complete a small group project with other honors students
- Produce a research paper
- Design and test a lab project
To received honors designation, the additional elements of labor should be a minimum of 10 additional hours (in class and/or out of class work) beyond the regular course work and not including the meetings to arrange the honors enrichment contract.
Please note that Honors activities are supplemental to regular course work and honors credit will be independent of the final grade.
The following courses are pre-approved and do not need Honors Contract
| Course Number | Title | Credits |
| BIOL 2030 | Honors Organisms to Ecosystems (Gen Bio) | 3 |
| BIOL 2031 | Honors Organisms to Ecosystems Lab (Gen Bio) | 1 |
| BIOL 2040 | Honors Molecules to Cells | 3 |
| BIOL 2041 | Honors Molecules to Cells Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 2XXX | Majors General Chemistry I lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 2XXX | Majors General Chemistry I laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 2XXX | Majors General Chemistry II lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 2XXX or 2069 | Majors General Chemistry II laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 2XXX | Honors General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2XXX | Honors General Chemistry I Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 2XXX | Honors General Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 2XXX | Honors General Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 3XXX | Majors Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 3XXX | Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM 3XXX | Majors Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 3XXX | Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| COMM 4700 | Thesis and Project Practicum | 3 |
| ECON 4850 | Honors Independent Study: ECON | 1-3 |
| ENGL 4720 | Honors in English | 3 |
| ENGL 4740 | Honors in Writing | 3 |
| GEOG 4950 | Honors Thesis | 3 |
| MARC XXXX | Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) | 1-3 |
| MKTG 4051 | Honors Applied Marketing Management | 3 |
| PHIL 4950 | Honors Thesis | 3-6 |
Final course grades must be B- or higher for the courses to count towards the certificate.
Eligibility
- Current CU Denver student or newly admitted with a GPA of 3.25 or better
- Students must begin the program before completing 105 credit hours
- Students must maintain a 3.25 GPA or higher to maintain eligibility
How to Apply
If you are a current CU Denver student or have accepted admission to CU Denver, email us for a link to the application
Questions?
Contact CUHSP@ucdenver.edu.