Location: North Classroom, Room 1030
Phone Number: 303-315-7100
Email: CLAS_advising@ucdenver.edu
Website: https://clas.ucdenver.edu/advising/

CLAS Academic Advising Overview

The CLAS Academic Advising team includes academic advisors and administrative professionals who partner with faculty and program advisors across the College to serve and support all prospective, newly-admitted, and continuing undergraduate students with a declared CLAS major, minor, or certificate program. To learn more about our team, vision, values, goals, and student learning outcomes for academic advising, visit our About Us page.

CLAS Academic Advising Mission

The CLAS Academic Advising team creates and sustains an inclusive, safe, and supportive learning environment where students are empowered to build meaningful relationships and skills that foster lifelong learning and success.

CLAS Academic Advising System

Academic advising in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is a partnership between students, staff, and faculty. CLAS utilizes a shared advising system, which means all undergraduate students in a declared CLAS major have the support of at least two academic advisors they work with throughout their time at CU Denver: a CLAS Academic Advisor and a CLAS Major Advisor. Students with a declared CLAS minor or certificate will also have a minor or certificate advisor for each program. Students with a declared pre-health program course of study also benefit from the additional support and expertise of a Health Professions Advisor.

The following details the important contributions and expectations of CLAS Academic Advisors; CLAS Major, Minor, and Certificate Advisors; and CLAS Students as partners in the shared advising relationship. 

CLAS ACADEMIC ADVISORS

CLAS students with a declared CLAS major can identify their assigned CLAS Academic Advisor by clicking on the student profile icon toward the top, right side corner of their UCD Access homepage. A student’s CLAS Academic Advisor will be listed under the “Advisor” section in their student profile.

CLAS Academic Advisors:

• Advise on and help students track their progress with general graduation, CU Denver Core Curriculum, and CLAS graduation requirements
• Explain and support students with the knowledge they need to navigate CU Denver and CLAS systems, policies, procedures, and deadlines  
• Teach students to use advising and academic planning tools, including the Degree Audit and Planner, to create academic plans, make informed decisions about course registration, and track their degree progress  
• Support students in navigating important university and college processes, including transfer credit evaluation and graduation
• Provide information about and help students connect with campus and community resources 
• Promote students' sense of belonging by sharing information about meaningful engagement and involvement opportunities
• Advocate for and empower students to achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals  

CLAS Major, Minor, and Certificate Advisors

CLAS Major, Minor, and Certificate Advisors are not assigned in UCD Access as they are designated by program. Students can find a list of designated CLAS Major and Minor Advisors on the CLAS Major and Minor Advising page. Information for CLAS Certificate Advisors is available on each program's website. 

CLAS Major, Minor, and Certificate Advisors:

• Advise on and help students track their major, minor, or certificate program requirements
• Evaluate transfer credits and their applicability to major, minor, or certificate program requirements
• Confirm students’ completion of major, minor, or certificate program requirements in preparation for graduation
• Help connect students to program-specific experiences or opportunities, including internships, directed research, independent studies, faculty-led study abroad programs, service learning, or capstone projects
• Engage students to explore career and graduate school opportunities and resources
• Refer students to relevant campus and community resources
• Advocate for and empower students to achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals  

CLAS Students

CLAS students share in the responsibility for their success in CLAS at CU Denver.

CLAS Students:

• Learn and track their progress with general graduation, CU Denver Core Curriculum, CLAS Graduation, and major, minor, or certificate program requirements
• Connect at least once a semester with all academic advisors, including CLAS, Major, Minor, Certificate, and Health Professions Advisors
• Know and follow CU Denver and CLAS policies, procedures, and deadlines
• Use advising and academic planning tools, including the Degree Audit and Planner, to prepare for academic advising, make informed decisions about academic plans and course registration, and track degree progress
• Identify personal, academic, and professional goals with the support of academic advisors and campus partners
• Ask for help and use relevant campus and community resources 

Health Professions Advising

Director/Advisor: Trishia Vasquez
Telephone: 303-315-7541
Main Office Email: ucdhealthcareers@ucdenver.edu
Phone: 303-315-7536

The mission of the Health Professions Programs Office at CU Denver is to educate and challenge students interested in a future in the health professions to be leaders, visionaries, and lifelong learners who will positively impact local, national, and global health on many levels. We believe in building a community in which all people, including those who have historically been marginalized, and those who are still marginalized, can thrive.  We welcome and appreciate human diversity and pursue practices that advance equity, inclusion, and access.

Health Professions Advisors on the Denver Campus assist in planning a course of study designed to improve a student’s chance of success in a health career of their choice by sharing information about career paths in the health professions, work role and environment, related careers and relevant professional development or graduate school programs. We can provide insight into career options, professional opportunities, and extracurricular opportunities to improve your chances of success in the health career of your choice, including, but not limited to: dentistry and dental hygiene, medicine, medical technology, respiratory therapy, nursing, optometry, osteopathy, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, podiatry, and veterinary medicine. A comprehensive list of health career options and additional information to help you mold your academic experience to your specific goals is available on the health professions programs website at https://clas.ucdenver.edu/health-professions-programs/.

Undergraduate Pathway Programs

BA/BS-MD Program

The BA/BS-MD degree program at the University of Colorado Denver and Anschutz Medical Campus aims to promote the diversity of medical professionals practicing medicine in Colorado and to better serve the health care needs of the State of Colorado by assembling up to 10 outstanding students each year from broadly diverse backgrounds. Applicants must be Colorado residents and have an interest in serving the health care needs of Colorado as primary care physicians. This program is a partnership between the University of Colorado Denver College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Being accepted to the program allows students to earn a reserved spot at the University of Colorado School of Medicine provided he or she meets specific academic, non-academic, and professional requirements annually.

Admission of individuals will be conducted through a holistic review in a manner which treats each applicant fairly, on the basis of experience, attributes, and metrics. For more information, visit https://clas.ucdenver.edu/health-professions-programs/babs-md-program-information, or contact Ms. Trishia Vasquez, Program Director, at trishia.vasquez@ucdenver.edu.

BA/BS-DDS Program

The BA/BS-DDS degree program at the University of Colorado Denver and CU School of Dental Medicine at Anschutz Medical Campus aims to promote the diversity of dental professionals practicing dentistry in Colorado and to better serve the health care needs of the State of Colorado by assembling and educating up to five students each year from broadly diverse backgrounds. Applicants must be Colorado residents who are interested in serving the health care needs of Colorado as dentists. Acceptance and participation in this program does not guarantee admission to the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine or any other dental school.

Students who successfully meet all program requirements including a successful interview with the School of Dental Medicine (SDM) Admission Committee, will be eligible for a “reserved” spot in the CU SDM matriculating class.

Admission of individuals will be conducted through a holistic review in a manner which treats each applicant fairly, on the basis of experience, attributes, and metrics.
For more information, visit https://clas.ucdenver.edu/health-professions-programs/babs-dds-program, or contact Ms. Trishia Vasquez, Program Director, at trishia.vasquez@ucdenver.edu.

BA/BS-DPT Program

The BA/BS-DPT early admission program (EAP) is divided into 2 phases:

Phase I is a pre-application process demonstrating student interest in the early admission program. Application to Phase I occurs at the completion of the first semester of baccalaureate course work. Up to 10 qualified students are accepted into Phase I each year.

Phase II is formal admittance into the EAP for students from Phase I who have completed at least 45 semester credits as an undergraduate (typically sophomore level) and demonstrated a high level of success in their initial academic coursework to be considered for this early admission opportunity. Up to 3 qualified students are accepted into Phase II each year.

This program is designed to bring a richness of diversity to the Physical Therapy Program at the Anschutz Medical Campus and the PT profession.  Diversity embraces race, ethnicity, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, disability, life experiences, record of service and employment and other talents and personal attributes that can enhance the scholarly and learning environment.

Students seeking Early Admission may select any major and are encouraged to obtain a broad liberal arts education incorporating a wide range of science courses while participating in the additional educational opportunities available on the CU Denver campus. Students who meet all requirements for Phase II EAP are formally admitted to the PT Program in the final semester of their bachelor's degree curriculum after completing all requirements. For more information, visit https://clas.ucdenver.edu/health-professions-programs/pt-early-admit-program or contact Ms. Trishia Vasquez, Program Director, at trishia.vasquez@ucdenver.edu.

Cu DENVER/ University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (sspps) Pathway PROGRAM

The University of Colorado, through collaborative efforts of the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SSPPS) and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) have launched the CU Denver/ SSPPS Pathway Program to promote the diversity of Pharmacy health care professionals in Colorado and to better serve the health care needs of the State of Colorado. The CU Denver/SSPPS Pathway Program is designed to be a 3+4 program consisting of 3 years of prerequisite coursework at CU Denver and 4 years of coursework within the CU PharmD Program at CU SSPPS. This Program will assemble up to 20 outstanding students each year from broadly diverse backgrounds. Applicants must be in their freshmen year of college at CU Denver (first time enrolled in college) and have an interest in serving the health care needs of Colorado as a Pharmacist.

Being accepted to the program allows students to earn a reserved spot at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences provided they meet specific academic, non-academic, and professional requirements annually.

For more information, visit https://clas.ucdenver.edu/health-professions-programs/cu-denver-university-colorado-skaggs-school-pharmacy-and-pharmaceutical-sciences-pipeline-program or contact Ms. Trishia Vasquez, Program Director, at trishia.vasquez@ucdenver.edu.

Cu DENVER/ CU Nursing Bridge Pathway

The University of Colorado College of Nursing (CU Nursing) is proud to announce the creation of a new partnership program with the University of Colorado Denver for students interested in pursuing a career in Nursing. The CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge Pathway was created to promote the diversity of health care professionals and to better serve the health care needs of the State of Colorado. This program will assemble up to 20 first time enrolled in college (FTIC/new freshmen) students (applicants must be Colorado residents) each year from broadly diverse backgrounds. The CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge Pathway is designed for students enrolled at CU Denver who have an interest in progressing into the CU Nursing Traditional (TRAD) Bachelor of Science (BS) nursing program. This bridge pathway is designed to be a 3+2 program consisting of 3 years of prerequisite coursework at CU Denver (Phase I) + 2 years of nursing coursework at CU Nursing (Phase II) resulting in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

With this partnership, select students at CU Denver will have the opportunity to receive early admission to the CU Nursing Traditional BS program. In the years leading up to enrollment in the TRAD program, students accepted will receive personalized advising as well as exposure to nursing concepts/experiences provided by both CU Denver and CU Nursing. Additionally, students accepted into the CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge program will have an opportunity to earn a health-related certificate to enhance success in the nursing program. Each certificate earned will be visible on the CU Denver transcript upon completion.

For more information, visit https://clas.ucdenver.edu/health-professions-programs/cu-denvercu-nursing-bridge-pathway or contact Ms. Trishia Vasquez, Program Director, at trishia.vasquez@ucdenver.edu.

CU DENVER/ TJU/NJH Bachelor of Science in respiratory Therapy Pathway

CU Denver has entered a partnership with Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) to create a Pathway Program to become a Respiratory Therapist. Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and National Jewish Health in Denver are collaborating to offer this unique program. This opportunity is designed for full-time, first-time in college students (freshmen students), at the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver), who are interested in becoming Respiratory Therapists.

The Program is designed to be a 2+2 program consisting of 2 years of pre-professional coursework at CU Denver (Phase I) + 2 years of Respiratory Therapy coursework at TJU/NJH (Phase II) leading to a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT). Phase 1 of the Program is designed for students who have interest in and/or intent to apply to the TJU/NJH BS RT Program. Acceptance in Phase 1 of the program results in formal assistance to meet the requirements necessary for transfer into BS RT Program. Please note that phase 1 does NOT guarantee admission into the TJU/NJH BS RT Program

For more information, contact Ms. Trishia Vasquez, Program Director, at trishia.vasquez@ucdenver.edu.

CLAS Academic Advising Partners

Students who are exploring or making decisions about their college major (CLAS Undeclared), first-year College of Arts & Media (CAM) students, and undergraduate non-degree students are advised and supported through the Center for Undergraduate Exploration and Advising (CUE&A).