Four-Year Graduation Guarantee

For undergraduate students who do not wish to extend their studies beyond eight semesters, the University of Colorado extends a guarantee that required or essential courses, or acceptable alternative courses, will be available to allow each student to complete all course work required for a single Bachelor of Science degree from this college no later than the end of eight consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment. This guarantee is extended to all undergraduate students who matriculate directly into the College of Engineering and Applied Science as new freshmen at any time beginning with the Fall Semester 1995 and who enter without any high school Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS) deficiencies.

To qualify for this guarantee, an undergraduate student must:

  1. Be enrolled as a degree student at CU Boulder for eight consecutive fall and spring semesters.
  2. Follow the appropriate curriculum for the major as described in the major department/program’s nominal 8-semester sequence.
  3. Students need to declare or confirm their graduation major by no later than the 8th week of the second semester of enrollment in order to be eligible for the four-year guarantee.  If a student takes the following prescribed curriculum, referred to as the flexible first year, during his or her first two semesters of enrollment as a new freshman, completing and passing all of the courses at the required level, the student will be assured of the acceptance of this course work toward any undergraduate degree in the college and the acceptance of this course work toward the four-year guarantee: two semesters of calculus (APPM 1350 and APPM 1360), one semester of chemistry with lab (CHEN 1211 and CHEM 1221), one semester of physics (PHYS 1110), one computing science course (CSCI 1300, 1310, or 1320; ECEN 1310 or CHEN 1310), and either an introductory projects-based course or an introduction to engineering course.  Typically, the student additionally completes two approved humanities/social science elective courses in the first year.  Courses other than the aforementioned taken during the first two semesters may apply towards some, but not all, major degree programs in the college.
  4. Strictly adhere to the undergraduate degree requirements and academic policies as provided by the college and the major department/program.
  5. Satisfactorily pass with an acceptable grade to enter into any subsequent required courses in accordance with the following schedule: 32 hours by the end of the first year (12 months), 64 hours by the end of the second year (24 months), 96 hours by the end of the third year (36 months) and 128 hours by the end of the fourth year (48 months). It is recommended that the student enroll in and successfully complete at least 16 credit hours each semester.
  6. Earn a  grade point average (GPA) of at least a 2.250 each semester and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.250.
  7. Meet with a designated academic advisor as recommended by the major department/program, but no less than three times (during the third, sixth and eighth semesters of enrollment).
  8. Register each semester within one day of the day and time assigned by the Office of the Registrar.
  9. Notify the major department/program and the college of his or her intent to graduate by applying online for graduation by the appropriate deadline.

With advance planning, students who elect to take coursework above and beyond minimum major requirements, begin or complete a second major, double degree program, minor or certificate, and/or who participate in any study abroad program may also be able to graduate in four years and should consult with an academic advisor to develop a plan.