Admissions

Admissions and Records
Main Hall, room 108
Admissions: (719) 255-3383 or 1-800-990-UCCS (8227) ext 3383
email: ugapp@uccs.edu
www.uccs.edu/futurestudents/admissions.html
Fax (719) 255-3116

Records and Registration Information: (719) 255-3361
Tuition Classification: (719) 255-3381 or (719) 255-3375
email: registrar@uccs.edu

The Admissions Office provides services in undergraduate recruitment, admissions advising, application processing, and residency tuition classification.

For Admission to the Graduate School see the Graduate School section and the individual colleges/schools sections of this Catalog for more specific admission requirements. For areas of interest visit www.uccs.edu/~gradschl.

The Records Office handles matters pertaining to the demographic and academic student record. It provides information on these processes: address changes, grades, grade changes, drops, adds, withdrawals, changes to pass/fail grading, credit changes, stops, releases, registrations, Privacy Act requests, requests for transcripts, course description requests, and concurrent registrations with other university campuses. Please see the Academic Policies, Registration, and Records  section of this catalog.
 

Admission Standards for Undergraduate Students

The University of Colorado seeks to identify undergraduate applicants having a high probability of successful completion of their academic program. Admission is based on evaluation of many criteria; among the most important are the following:

• General level of academic performance before admission to the university, as indicated by the evaluation of work taken at other educational institutions.
• Evidence of scholarly ability and accomplishment, as indicated by scores on accepted tests of scholastic aptitude and achievement.
• Motivation and potential for academic growth and ability to work in an academic community, as indicated by trends in the student’s record, by letters of recommendation from teachers and others qualified to comment on the student, by accomplishments outside academic work, and by other relevant evidence.
• A student who is granted admission or readmission must reflect, in a moral and ethical sense, a personal background acceptable to the university. The University of Colorado reserves the right to deny admission to applicants whose total credentials reflect an inability to assume the obligations of performance and behavior deemed essential and relevant to any of its lawful missions, processes, and functions as an educational institution.

Admission to UCCS does not guarantee eligibility for future intra-university transfer.

Application

1. Apply online at www.uccs.edu/~apply or obtain an application form from the Office of Admissions and Records in person, by phone, by mail, or online. The mailing address is Admissions, UCCS, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80918. The telephone number is (719) 255-3383 or 1-800-990-UCCS (8227) ext 3383.
2. Follow the instructions for completing the form and ensure that all required documents are delivered by the deadline dates published in the UCCS Registration Handbook or on the Web.

Credentials

To be considered for admission, applicants must submit complete and official credentials as required by the desired program of study. An “official credential” is one received directly from the issuing institution via a third party common carrier. Students may not disregard any part of their previous educational background. Failure to submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended will be cause for canceling the admission process or dismissing the student. All credentials presented for admission to UCCS become the property of the university and may not be returned to the applicant.

Notification

As soon as possible after the Office of Admissions and Records receives all required credentials, students will be notified of their admission status. If qualified, the student will receive notification of eligibility for admission. Admission eligibility to the University of Colorado does not constitute a guarantee of enrollment in any specific course.

        1-800-990-UCCS (8227) ext. 3383 or (719) 255-3383

Freshmen may apply to the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences; the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; the College of Education; the College of Business and Administration; the College of Engineering and Applied Science; and the School of Public Affairs in the fall, spring, or summer terms. The programs at UCCS provide all the coursework required for entrance into the CU Schools of Dentistry, Education, Graduate School, School of Public Affairs, Law, Medicine, and Pharmacy, which require one or more years of college-level work before a student may be considered for admission. Students may complete teacher certification requirements on this campus.

Freshman Admissions Criteria

1. Priority for admission to the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the School of Public Affairs is given to applicants who meet all of the following criteria: (a) rank in the upper 40% of their high school graduating class at the end of the 6th, 7th, or final semester; (b) achieve a combined Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score of 1,080 or above, or a composite American College Test (ACT) score of 24 or above and an English sub-score of 14 or above; (c) have a GPA of 2.8 or above; and (d) complete all high school course units as required by the college to which they have applied. Increased requirements for admission to the colleges of Business and Administration, Engineering and Applied Science, and Nursing and Health Sciences are described in their respective sections of this Catalog. Applicants who do not meet all of these requirements should refer to number 2 below.
2. Applicants for freshman admission whose records vary in any way from the above priority admissions category will be considered on an individual basis by evaluation of their overall academic records including (a) the quality of their high school program of study; (b) the level of their college entrance test scores (SAT or ACT); and (c) any information unique to an individual situation. In addition, all applicants whose records reflect innovative grading systems, unusual curricula, no rank in class, or a high school equivalency through the General Education Development (GED) test, will be considered in this category. Students in this category admitted to the university may not exceed 20% of the total admitted pool.
    

Freshman Admissions Chart 

 Assured Admission Criteria

 (Includes Minimum Academic Preparation Standards - MAPS)

** Students not meeting criteria for assured admission will be considered for admission based on a combination of class rank, test scores, and high school units. An Engineering Preparatory Program is available for students having deficiencies in their math/science backgrounds. Higher standards apply for EAS majors.
*** Acceptance to Nursing is highly competitive. Preference is given to those who meet these criteria; however, not all qualified applicants can be accepted.

CU-Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS)

Freshmen and transfers entering the University of Colorado who have graduated from high school in 1988 or later will be required to meet Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS). The individual college’s requirements are listed in the chart on the accompanying page. Students should be careful to note the different requirements in particular colleges and plan their academic preparation accordingly. Students may be admitted even though they have not met all the MAPS requirements. If that is the case, they are required to make up any deficiencies once enrolled. All MAPS deficiencies must be completed prior to graduation from UCCS. Please see MAPS table above for detailed information.

Higher Education Admissions Requirement

Spring 2008 high school graduates are required to also meet the Phase I Higher Education Admissions Requirements (HEAR) as established by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Spring 2010 high school graduates are required to also meet the Phase II HEAR requirements. Generally, applicants who meet the CU-MAPS requirements will also satisfy the Statewide HEAR requirements for admission. These standards apply to all in-state and out-of-state new freshman applicants.

Options for Those Not Meeting MAPS or HEAR Requirements as Entering Freshmen

What if my high school doesn’t offer all the courses I need to meet the MAPS?

An admission decision involves many factors, including consideration of the extent to which this curriculum has been available. Students with deficiencies may be admitted to the university provided they meet the other admission standards (e.g. test scores, rank in high school class, and grade point average) and provided they make up the MAPS deficiencies prior to graduation from the university.

How will my deficiencies be dealt with while enrolled in the university?

Freshmen or transfer students who are admitted but who are deficient in MAPS will be required to make up the deficiency in accordance with the following policy:

1. Students who are deficient one unit in one or more areas may:
   1. Make up that deficiency by taking a course that is normally counted as degree credit and have that course count as part of their undergraduate total hours, assuming that all prerequisites are fulfilled. (For example, students could enroll in ID 1050, successfully complete the course, eliminate their 1-unit deficiency in mathematics, and earn three credits toward the 120 hours required for graduation.)
   2. Take a proficiency test (if one is available): A score of 280-286 on the foreign language proficiency test eliminates one unit of deficiency and permits students to enroll in the second semester of that language. A score of 336-341 (or above) on the test eliminates all units of MAPS deficiencies for foreign language. (Note: According to MAPS, students must be proficient in foreign language up through the second semester of college level). A score of 19 on the ACT-English or 450 SAT-English eliminates a 1-unit deficiency in English and entitles students to enroll in English 1310. A score of 60 on the Reasoning Skills Exam also eliminates one unit of deficiency in mathematics.
   3. Utilize appropriate Advanced Placement and CLEP scores to eliminate the deficiency.
   4. Eliminate a single-unit deficiency in mathematics by successfully completing MATH 99, Intermediate Algebra. This course is offered through the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences Extended Studies program; while it does eliminate 1 unit of deficiency, it DOES NOT count toward the total number of hours needed to graduate.
   5. Take appropriate courses at community colleges or other colleges to eliminate a unit of deficiency. Students should be aware of courses which will and will not transfer to the University of Colorado.
2. Students who are deficient two or more units may:
   1. Remove any single unit of deficiency by any of the methods in 1, above.
   2. Remove two units by various combinations of the methods in 1, above.

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

The university participates in the high school Advanced Placement program of the College Board. Official scores must be sent to the university directly from the College Board. Students receiving scores of 3, 4, or 5 on Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are generally granted college credit. See the chart below for details.

All colleges accept AP credits but apply them differently depending on the student’s degree program. Please contact an advisor in Academic Advising for test score interpretation.

AP exam equivalency decisions are made based on when the exam was taken, not when the student matriculates to UCCS. However, the equivalencies listed below are only available to students entering UCCS in summer 2016 and later, and the exams must have been taken within the previous ten years. See your academic advisor if you matriculated to UCCS prior to summer 2016 for equivalency information.

AP exams marked with an * are eligible for GT-Pathways inclusion

AP Note: Courses beginning with a departmental prefix but ending in “999TC” carry general departmental credit but do not have an exact equivalency.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit

The university participates in the International Baccalaureate program of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Official scores must be sent to the university directly from IBO. Students receiving scores of 4, or above, on International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations are generally granted college credit. See the chart below for details.

All colleges accept IB credits but apply them differently depending on the student’s degree program. Please contact an advisor in Academic Advising for test score interpretation.

IB exam equivalency decisions are made based on when the exam was taken, not when the student matriculates to UCCS. However, the equivalencies listed below are only available to students entering UCCS in summer 2016 and later, and the exams must have been taken within the previous ten years. See your academic advisor if you matriculated to UCCS prior to summer 2016 for equivalency information.

IB exams marked with an * are eligible for GT-Pathways inclusion

Note 1: Courses beginning with a departmental prefix but ending in “999TC” carry general departmental credit but do not have an exact equivalency.
Note 2: Courses carrying the XFCR course prefix carry credit, but do not have a relative department or exact equivalency.
Note 3: The XXXX prefix for Language equivalencies will be matched with the appropriate language department upon application of credit.
Note 4: The chart above lists the most common IB exams received at UCCS. Other exams also are accepted, but are not in the chart. Contact your academic Advisor for more details.
Note 5: Some equivalencies can change after this catalog is published. Please visit the Credit-By-Exam website for the most up-to-date course equivalencies.

Applicants Without Approved High School Graduation

An applicant who has not graduated from high school must submit satisfactory scores on the General Educational Development Test (GED), a Certificate of Equivalency from any state department of education, a complete transcript of any high school work completed, and SAT or ACT entrance examination scores. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis.

Students Not Granted Admission

An applicant who is not granted admission as an entering freshman may wish to consider a transfer to the university after one or two years of study elsewhere (see transfer requirements section). In the best interest of students pursuing educational goals for which they lack some academic preparation, the university Committee on Admissions often recommends that such applicants complete at least one full year of college level coursework at a regionally accredited college. The personal attention and the appropriate courses there will prepare the student for an eventual successful experience at the University of Colorado.

High School Concurrent Enrollment

High school juniors and seniors with proven academic abilities may be admitted for one term at a time with special approval from the admissions committee. Credit for courses taken may subsequently be applied toward a university degree program. For more information and application instructions, contact the Office of Admissions and Records.

             1-800-990-UCCS (8227) ext 3383
             (719) 255-3383

To be considered for admission, transfer students must be eligible to return to all collegiate institutions attended; they may not disregard any part of a previous collegiate record. Failure to advise the university of all institutions previously attended may be sufficient cause for rejection or dismissal.

Transcripts must be sent directly to the University of Colorado from each issuing institution. All documents submitted become the property of the University of Colorado.

General Academic Requirements

Transfer students who graduated from high school in 1988 or later are subject to the same minimum academic preparation standards as those required of all first year students. Students with less than 13 credit hours to transfer will be treated as Freshman Admission. Please see the “CU-Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS)” section above.

Transfer students must meet a minimum GPA requirement, which varies according to the hours of collegiate work completed, the type of institution in which the coursework was taken, and the specific program to which the student applies. Please refer to the Transfer Admission Requirements chart below for details.

(Note that for students transferring with 13-29 credit hours, if the student had high school criteria which meet our freshmen minimum requirements, then he or she is admissible with a 2.0 GPA.)

Work in progress at the time of application cannot be considered in computing the cumulative average. As there are some schools and colleges at UCCS which require a higher grade point average for transfer, students are urged to investigate specific requirements.

Community College Transfer Students

Students who successfully complete a state guaranteed general education course will receive transfer credits applied to graduation requirements in all majors unless a specific statewide Articulation Agreement exists. Currently Colorado has several approved statewide articulation agreements in business, engineering, elementary teacher education, and nursing. Information about the state guaranteed transfer program and articulation agreements is available on the Colorado Department of Higher Education website at http://highered.colorado.gov/dhedefault.html.

UCCS will honor the transfer of an associate of arts (AA) degree and the associate of science (AS) degree earned at a Colorado public institution that offers AA or AS degrees. A student who earns an AA or AS with a grade of “C” or better in all courses will transfer with junior standing into any Letters, Arts and Sciences (LAS) degree program offered by UCCS. The credits earned in the associate degree program will apply at minimum to 35 credits. Because all LAS degrees are designed to be completed in 120 credit hours, a transfer student can complete a four-year degree in the same time as a native student, i.e. 120 hours.

UCCS will evaluate credit for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and alternate sources of credit following its standard policy.

Transfer Guides

Guides to assist students in their transfer from Colorado community colleges are available for student use at www.uccs.edu/transfer.

Transfer of College Level Credit

Transfer credit evaluation is made only after a student is admitted as a degree student. New transfer students will be advised about requirements remaining and completed when they attend one of the mandatory New Student Orientations.

College credit is transferable to UCCS according to the following stipulations:

1. Credit must have been earned at a college or university of recognized standing.
2. Only courses in which a grade of C- or better has been attained will be accepted for transfer at this institution. Grades of pass, satisfactory, honors, etc., are also accepted for transfer. However, a limitation is placed on the number of pass hours accepted toward a degree by each school and college.
3. Credit is not transferable from career, vocational, or technical curricula.
4. Credit will be granted only for course work appropriate to the curricula at UCCS.
5. Remedial or sub-college level courses are not transferable.
6. A maximum of 72 hours may be transferred from a two-year or community college.
7. A maximum of 90 semester hours of transfer credit may be counted toward graduation. Individual schools and colleges determine which courses and hours will apply toward the degree.
8. Individual schools and colleges reserve the right to accept or deny credit earned while the student is under scholastic suspension.
9. A maximum of 60 semester hours of extension credit (including no more than 30 semester hours of correspondence) may be counted toward an undergraduate degree.
10. Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credit is evaluated upon receipt of an official score report from the College Board for AP or from the International Baccalaureate Organization for IB. See AP and IB information above for applicable topics and necessary scores to earn credit. Credit is not granted for an AP or IB score if the student has completed a college course which is equivalent to the course for which he/she would receive AP or IB credit.
11. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DSST credit for approved subject examinations may only be granted if the courses are acceptable to the student’s school or college. All colleges accept CLEP and DSST credits but apply them differently depending on the student’s degree program.  Please contact an advisor in Academic Advising for test score interpretation.  A maximum of 30 semester hours may be counted toward a degree. Credit is not granted for a CLEP or DSST score if the student has completed a college course which is equivalent to the course for which the student would receive CLEP or DSST credit.
12. Credit for military training is evaluated through the Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs. An evaluation of military training credit can be attained via the OVMSA website.
13. Admission to the University of Colorado does not guarantee eligibility for future transfer into other programs, colleges, or schools within the university.

All coursework is evaluated on the semester hour basis, i.e., 1 quarter hour equals 2/3 semester hour.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

All colleges accept CLEP credits but apply them differently depending on the student’s degree program. Please contact an advisor in Academic Advising for score interpretation. 

College Level Exam Program (CLEP) exam equivalency decisions are made based on when the exam was taken, not when the student matriculates to UCCS.

Note: Courses ending in “999TC” indicate that departmental credit is given, but that there is no direct equivalent course at UCCS.

DSST

All colleges at UCCS accept DSST exam credits per the table below. Applicability may vary by college. Please contact an advisor in Academic Advising for score interpretation and degree applicability.

DSST exam equivalency decisions are made based on when the exam was taken, not when the student matriculates to UCCS.

Note: Courses ending in “999TC” indicate that department credit is given, but that there is no direct equivalent course at UCCS. Courses that begin with XFCR are granted general elective credit, but do not confer departmental credit.

Transfer Credit Appeal Procedure

State guaranteed courses under the State Guarantee General Education (gtPATHWAYS) policy will transfer to any four-year institution in Colorado to satisfy general education requirements. Other nonguarantee courses are evaluated individually and within 30 days of date of admission. The procedure for appealing a decision involving the acceptance of coursework from a Colorado community college for credit toward a degree is as follows:

1. Students must file an appeal within 15 days of receiving their transcript evaluation by writing the office responsible for transfer evaluations at UCCS. The student should complete and return a petition form to Academic Advising, Main Hall, 2nd floor. The form will be forwarded to the appropriate authority within the college. The decisions made in the transcript evaluation will be binding if the student fails to file an appeal within this time frame.
2. UCCS will respond within 30 days in writing to the student appeal.
3. If the dispute cannot be resolved between the student and UCCS personnel within 30 days, the student may appeal in writing to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. The student has 15 days from receipt of the written UCCS notification to file an appeal.

Information concerning the appeal process is available at Academic Advising, Main Hall, 2nd floor.

Transfer Admission Requirements

Students who have completed fewer than 13 transferable semester hours in college work must meet freshman admission standards.

^{*** Students not meeting criteria for assured admission will be considered for admission based on a combination of class rank, test scores, and high school units.
**An Engineering Preparatory Program is available for students having deficiencies in their math/science backgrounds. Higher standards apply for EAS majors.
*** Acceptance to Nursing is highly competitive. Preference is given to those who meet these criteria; however, not all qualified applicants can be accepted.}

Student Bill of Rights

Transfer students should be cognizant of the Bill of Rights implemented by the Colorado General Assembly regarding their higher education.

The unclassified student designation has been established to meet the needs of those students who wish to take university courses but who do not presently intend to work toward a degree at the University of Colorado. Permission to register for specific courses is contingent upon the availability of space. Unclassified students may have difficulty obtaining course space due to class enrollment limits and because degree students may have a higher priority in certain departments.

Unclassified students enrolled during the academic year (fall, spring and summer terms) must be 20 years of age or older by September 15 for the fall and summer terms and by February 15 for the spring term, must have a 2.0 GPA in all college work attempted, and must be in good standing at all collegiate institutions attended.

An unclassified student who is not a high school graduate must submit GED scores and a high school equivalency certificate issued by a state department of education at the time of application.

Unclassified students may take courses on a pass/fail basis; however, such credit will be counted as part of the total pass/fail credit allowed by the various schools and colleges should the student change to degree status.

Continuation as an unclassified student (Major Code: NDLD, NDUD, NDHS, NDHP or NDDW) is contingent upon maintaining an overall grade point average of 2.0 upon completion of 12 or more semester hours.

Unclassified students may not register concurrently on more than one campus of the university.

A student who already holds a baccalaureate degree who wishes to take graduate level courses but does not wish to earn an advanced degree from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs should apply directly to the Office of Admissions and Records as an unclassified student.

Teacher Certification Renewal Courses

Certified teachers with baccalaureates who seek only a renewal of the certificate currently held and who do not require institutional endorsement or recommendation may qualify for the university-wide unclassified student classification as outlined above.

Persons with baccalaureates who seek initial teacher certification must apply for and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program separately and meet the requirements of the College of Education. For information on the deadlines for admission to the program, unclassified students should consult the College of Education.

Applying Unclassified Student Credits toward Degree

Unclassified students may apply for admission to an undergraduate degree program by submitting an undergraduate admissions application, complete academic credentials, and the application fee. Accepted degree applicants may transfer a maximum of 12 semester hours taken as an unclassified student at this university to an undergraduate degree program with the approval of the appropriate academic dean’s office.

Unclassified students desiring to pursue a graduate degree at the university are encouraged to submit the complete graduate application and supporting credentials as soon as possible. Students may be allowed to transfer up to 12 semester hours of credit taken as an unclassified student at this university to apply toward a master’s degree provided the transfer is recommended and approved by the program department of interest that the student is applying to. The use of more than 12 credits must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

The Graduate School of Business and Administration does not allow students to register for graduate level business classes until they are officially admitted to the MBA program. Students are advised to contact the specific college/school in which they wish to enroll as a graduate student, for further details on the transfer of unclassified student credentials. See also transfer of unclassified student credit hours in the individual college/school sections of this Catalog.

For continuation as an unclassified student see “Eligibility to Return” in Academic Policies, Registration, and Records .

Undergraduate and Unclassified Student Admission Information

Applications and required credentials should be filed no later than July 1 for fall, November 1 for spring, and May 1 for summer.
Call 1-800-990-UCCS (8227) or (719) 255-3383. 

^{1 Applicants not meeting these criteria are considered on an individual basis. Requirements for individual schools and colleges may vary or exceed the stated minimum.
2 Transcripts must be sent directly to the University of Colorado from each issuing institution. All documents submitted become the property of the University.
3 Any applicant who did not graduate from a high school must submit GED scores and a State Equivalency Certificate in addition to other required credentials.
4 Additional credentials may be required in individual cases.}

International Admission General Requirements

International applications with supporting documentation are forwarded to the appropriate admission committee for review and subsequent admission determination. Admission decisions are based upon consideration of successful completion of applicable coursework, grades within such coursework, and a competitive overall grade point average. At a minimum, freshman applicants must submit a high school transcript that includes at least the final three years of coursework taken. Additionally, any applicant who has attended any post-secondary college or university must forward those official transcripts for consideration as well. All transcripts should come with certified English translation. Admission decisions are determined by the admission committee for the college housing the intended major selected on the student’s application.

Course-by-course foreign transcript evaluations by AACRAO or any NACES members are required for all applicants with foreign transcripts who wish to receive transfer credits at UCCS.

All degree-seeking students for whom English is not their first language will be required to show proof of English proficiency. Proficiency can be demonstrated through TOEFL, ACT/Compass Exam, or IELTS.

Graduate program admission decisions are administered through the specific colleges/schools of interest after all the required documents have been received by the Office of Admissions and Records.  Minimum graduate student admission requirements are established by the Graduate School and the respective graduate departments. For complete information on the program, contact the departmental program or see the Graduate School  section of this Catalog, or visit the Graduate School webpage. Students may also contact the Graduate School for general questions. Program information can be obtained directly from the departments.

Graduate School                              
Main Hall, room 303                                                    
(719) 255-3417     
                                 
Office of Admissions and Records
Main Hall,  room 108
gradapp@uccs.edu