Leadership

Dean

Stephanie Santorico, Dean, College of Architecture and Planning (CAP)

Associate Dean

Ann Komara, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

​Contact

CU Denver Building
1250 14th Street, Suite 2000
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-315-1000
Fax: 303-315-1050
Email: CAP@ucdenver.edu
Website: https://architectureandplanning.ucdenver.edu/

Mailing Address
Campus Box 126
P.O. Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217-3364

Overview

The College of Architecture and Planning is the only college in the State of Colorado that offers the following accredited programs: Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Master of Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Science in Historic Preservation, Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Master of Urban Design, and a PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design. Additionally, the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), and Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) are professionally accredited by the following national licensing bodies: National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB), and Planning Accreditation Board (PAB),

Annually, over 750 students are pursuing a degree at CAP. Many students intending to enter the design and planning professions complete the college's undergraduate degree as preparation for our graduate-level professional programs. Students who hold an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field are eligible for admission into our graduate programs.

We offer graduate certificates in Design Build, Historic Preservation, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture, as well as fourteen options for earning dual graduate degrees. Students can also earn a certificate in Geospatial Information Science with an Urban and Regional Planning track. In addition, students can earn a Classical Studies Certificate from the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, by taking focused courses in this area.

With an outstanding faculty committed to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and creative work, the college provides students with opportunities beyond the classroom including study abroad, internships, mentorships, and participation in design and planning competitions

College Facilities

The college is located at 1250 14th Street in downtown Denver, on the northeastern edge of the Auraria Campus, adjacent to Larimer Square. This favorable location provides easy access to extensive campus facilities and the urban dynamism of Denver's lively lower downtown. Many of Denver’s major professional design offices as well as planning firms and agencies are nearby, offering substantive opportunities for contact between students, practitioners and design and planning professionals.

Facilities in the CU Denver Building include studio spaces for students, lecture and seminar rooms, studio review spaces, exhibition spaces, and faculty offices. Students have access to our well-equipped and well-maintained 3,000-square-foot Design Fabrication Lab that houses a full-scale wood shop, 3D print lab, a large spray booth, and four laser cutters. Additional fabrication space is available in an annex adjacent to the building with a 5-AXIS CNC Router, metalworking equipment and a CNC Plasma cutter. The Visual Resource Center (VRC) provides access to a variety of photographic and audiovisual equipment, two portfolio photography studio rooms, and digital image collections.

There are two computer labs focused on computer aided design (CAD), computer 2-D and 3-D imaging and analytic tools for planning. These computer labs include Windows PCs and Macs, small and large format scanners, large format plotters, laser printers and computer data projection devices. All systems are 100base T Ethernet / Internet savvy and accessible in secure rooms. A geographic information systems (GIS) computer laboratory is also available and open to all CU Denver students. Find more details about college facilities on the website

Computing in the College

The College of Architecture and Planning requires all incoming graduate students to acquire and use their own computers and software applications in their studies. In general, students widely use products like Microsoft Office for word processing and spreadsheet applications, campus e-mail, and presentations, and Adobe Suite for some graphic tools. Consult with instructors or view course syllabi regarding specific software application (program) requirements for imaging, CAD, GIS, modeling or rendering before you buy them. For further information, consult the college website.

Professional Development

The College of Architecture and Planning supports students in professional and career-related activities through a wide range of services and workshops. While attending CAP, students have access to an annual career fair, portfolio critiques, professional mentorship, an online job board, and numerous trainings related to effective employment strategies. Being in the heart of Denver, many students work as interns in their field of study. Visit our Career Connections website for more information.

Learning Experiences

Special Activities

The college provides a diverse range of opportunities that enrich and enhance the education of its students. Through activities and functions (including a lecture series, design juries, exhibitions, publications and active student organizations), the college encourages contact among students, faculty, and members of the design professions. The college is a leader in providing international study opportunities. In addition to numerous study abroad courses, there is a summer urban design studio that has been held in Copenhagen, Barcelona, and Mexico City among other places. Other global initiatives encompass opportunities, scholarships, lectures, and exhibitions. The college supports an active and focused internship program for its students, giving them access to elective internship opportunities in the Denver metropolitan area and beyond. There are extensive opportunities for civic engagement, including through paid positions and internships at the college's University Technical Assistance Program (UTAP) and other funded research and service projects.

Scholarships/Financial Aid

Graduate students in the college have access to a number of scholarships and other financial assistance funds. Some are based on need, others on performance and still others are specifically intended to provide enrichment opportunities. Some of these funds are provided by the institution itself, while others are provided by external sources like the American Institute of Architects Architectural Education Foundation, the American Planning Association, the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, and the Landscape Architecture Foundation. For further information on scholarships and graduate tuition awards, visit the college’s website. For information on federal and state financial aid, contact the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Colorado Denver or visit its website.

College of Architecture and Planning Courses

To see complete lists of courses in our college, please see the below links:

Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, Urban Design, Historic Preservation, and Interior Design

College of Architecture and Planning Admissions Information

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Application Deadlines

For Fall Semester:

• Master of Architecture Program (MArch): International Applicant Priority Deadline-December 15*/Domestic Applicant Priority Deadline-January 15*
• Master of Landscape Architecture Program (MLA): International Applicant Priority Deadline-January 1*/Domestic Applicant Priority Deadline-February 1*
• Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program (MURP): International Applicant Priority Deadline-December 15*/Domestic Applicant Priority Deadline-January 15*
• Master of Science in Historic Preservation Program (MSHP): International Applicant Priority Deadline: December 15*/Domestic Applicant Priority Deadline-January 15*
• Master of Urban Design Program (MUD): International Applicant Priority Deadline: December 15*/Domestic Applicant Priority Deadline-February 15*
• PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design (PhD): International Deadline-December 15/Domestic Applicant Deadline-January 15

*Late Applications will be reviewed on a space available basis. Late applicants will not be eligible for scholarship consideration

For the most up-to-date information on program application deadlines, please visit our departmental websites. Decision notification dates vary by program.

For Spring Semester:

• Please visit our departmental websites for spring admission deadlines and information. Not every department offers spring admission each year.

General Requirements

The college periodically updates admissions deadlines and application procedures. Please visit the college website to view current deadlines, application procedures and required materials.

Applicants to the College of Architecture and Planning graduate programs are required to submit the following credentials:

• University of Colorado Denver online application.
• Official transcripts from each U.S domestic institution the applicant has attended excluding study abroad institutions where the courses are included on the home institution transcripts.
• A statement of purpose that addresses career objectives and reasons for pursuing the intended program of study.
• A portfolio of creative work - required for Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design. Suggested for Historic Preservation for students with prior design experience.
• A sample of writing or a work project - required for Urban and Regional Planning.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required, but recommended if your GPA is below 3.0.
• You must hold at least a bachelor’s degree for admission to all professional master’s programs. For admission to the Master of Urban Design program, a prior professional degree in architecture, planning, or landscape architecture is required in addition to a bachelor’s degree.
• Application fee. Nonrefundable: $50, U.S. residents; $75, International applicants (waived if international transcript evaluation is required).
• English language proficiency scores are required for international applicants when English is not their first language. Please see the International Admissions website for current minimum

College of Architecture and Planning Departments and Programs

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College of Architecture and Planning Policies 

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Academic Standing

Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in the graduate programs to remain in good standing and to graduate. If a student’s GPA falls below a 3.0, then he or she will be placed on academic probation beginning the following semester. If the GPA remains below a 3.0 after the probationary semester, then he or she may be dismissed from the college.

Grade Policy

In addition to maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or above, each program requires specific minimum grades which a student must earn in order to count a class towards their degree. Students should meet with their academic advisor or reference the student handbook to learn more about the minimum passing grades.

Grade Appeals

The College of Architecture and Planning recognizes the right of the student to appeal a grade received in a course taken in the college. The college also recognizes the responsibility on the part of the college to respond to student grade appeals, and to do so in a judicious and timely manner

Any student wishing to appeal a course grade must first contact the course instructor to discuss issues pertaining to the student’s performance, evaluation criteria, final grade, reason(s) for the appeal, and adjustment sought. If the course instructor determines that a change of grade is not warranted and the disagreement remains unresolved, the student may then initiate the formal appeal process.

Please visit the College of Architecture and Planning Student Policies, Handbooks, and Forms page for additional information.

Attendance and Timeliness of Work

The College of Architecture and Planning recognizes the right of the student to appeal a grade received in a course taken in the college. The college also recognizes the responsibility on the part of the college to respond to student grade appeals, and to do so in a judicious and timely manner

Students’ assignments are to be completed in a timely manner. Any assignment turned in late may have its grade reduced by an amount set at the discretion of the instructor. An assignment may be turned in late without penalty for verified medical reasons, religious obligations or for extreme personal emergencies. Students must have their instructor’s written permission to turn an assignment in late. Students with excused late work may turn in the assignment by the end of finals week without penalty. Otherwise, the grade “I” will be assigned at the discretion of the faculty.

Course Sequencing and Advancement

Programs in the college are structured so that certain courses must be taken concurrently, others sequentially. Students will not be allowed to enroll in a course if its co-requisites or prerequisites have not been satisfied.

Originality of Work

Students must submit their own work. Where other sources are used in a student submission, they are to be clearly identified and referenced. The university considers plagiarism and similar acts of falsification to be a serious matter that may result in suspension or expulsion. Information on codes of conduct and grievance procedures are available from the university’s Office of Community Standards and Wellness.

Retention of Student Work

The College of Architecture and Planning may, with a student’s written permission, retain student work submitted in fulfillment of class requirements for a period of time. This retained work is normally used to provide accrediting agencies with tangible evidence of performance, to serve as additional visual aid material in presentations to other students and to contribute to possible educational exhibits requested by the university community and the general public.