Certificate Programs

Certificate Programs
Skip to content
Announcement:
CU Denver Celebrates Research Week: April 20 – 24
College of Architecture and Planning
Certificate Programs
Certificate programs are a way in which students in the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) can choose to enhance their education while focusing on an area that deepens their training and professional readiness. While our Design Build Certificate and Classical Studies Certificate are only open to select students enrolled in our Master of Architecture program, our other certificate programs are open to
degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking student
Current Students:
Talk to your academic advisor about how adding a certificate can complement and overlap with your degree program.
Complete the Certificate Program Application for Current Admitted Graduate Students
Professional Development:
Are you interested in advancing in your current job or transiting into a new one? Our certificate programs provide great opportunities to add to your knowledge in your particular area of interest, develop new skills, and expand your network.
Individuals with any prior bachelor’s degree are able to earn a graduate certificate as a non-degree-seeking student. Additionally, credits earned in certificate programs can be applied toward our master’s degree programs.
Non-degree-seeking graduate students must apply to CU Denver and to your certificate program of interest.
Complete the Application as a Non-Degree-Seeking Graduate Student.
NEW: Affordable Housing Graduate Certificate
12- or 13-credit certificate program*
Housing affordability is a significant problem across the U.S. that is driving communities to reconsider policy and regulations, zoning and design guidelines, and the implications of housing affordability for society. CAP, the School of Public Affairs (SPA), and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) are partnering to offer an interdisciplinary Affordable Housing Graduate Certificate that will enable students to grow their expertise and become specialists equipped to address housing challenges.
*For those who have completed a 1-credit finance and development class, the program requires 12-credits. For those who have not completed the finance and development course, the program requires 13-credits.
The Affordable Housing Graduate Certificate at CU Denver is for graduate students, professionals and career-changers who want to develop specialized skills in the design, finance, policy, planning, and development of affordable housing. Whether your career is in government, nonprofit, architecture, real estate, or adjacent sectors, this flexible, multidisciplinary program equips you with the knowledge and experience to address Colorado's pressing housing challenges.
This interdisciplinary certificate is designed for both students currently enrolled in a University of Colorado master’s degree program who wish to add a credential to their degree, and working professionals or others with a bachelor’s degree who do not wish to enroll as master’s degree students, but seek to improve their job skills and earn the recognition of completing a graduate certificate.
Total Credit Hours: 12 or 13 credit hours
The Affordable Housing Graduate Certificate curriculum is designed to balance foundational information about affordable housing with specialized knowledge that aligns with the range of professional disciplines involved in the housing sector. All certificate students
will take a “fundamentals” course and a “development & finance” course. Additionally, all certificate students will complete the certificate with a “culminating experience” -- an independent study or participation
in an interdisciplinary project-based course. In between, certificate students will choose either one or two elective courses that align with their interests.
1. Fundamentals course (one of the following)
Course Number
Course Title
Credit Hours
URPL 6401/ HOUS 6401
Affordable Housing Fundamentals
PSCI 5080
The Housing Crisis: Local Government Responses
2. Housing Development and Finance Course
Students interested in focusing on the development and financing aspects of affordable housing can waive this 1-credit course and instead take the 3-credit Real Estate Development & Finance course listed below as one of their two electives.
Course Number
Course Title
Credit Hours
URPL 6402/ HOUS 6402
Affordable Housing Development Process
3. Elective Courses (two* of the following; other courses allowed with permission)
*Students who elect to take Real Estate Development & Finance (6455) to fulfill the Housing Development and Finance requirement will take one additional elective.
Course Number
Course Title
Credit Hours
URPL 6455/ HOUS 6455
Real Estate Development & Finance (if not selected above)
URPL 6410/ HOUS 6410
Advanced Affordable Housing Finance
ARCH 6490
Affordable Housing Design Studies
HOUS 6410
Methods for Building and Assessing Multi-Sector Housing Partnerships
HOUS 6415
Governance for Affordable Housing
HOUS 6420
Innovations in Housing Finance and Policy
4. Culminating Experience (one of the following)
Course Number
Course Title
Credit Hours
URPL 6405/ ARCH 6205/ HOUS 6405
Affordable Housing Workshop
HOUS 6495
Affordable Housing Independent Study
Earning the Affordable Housing Graduate Certificate requires 12 or 13 credit hours of coursework. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, with a minimum grade of “B-” (2.7) in each course. The certificate program must be completed within seven years.
Current CU Denver graduate students should work with their Academic Advisor to determine how the certificate credits apply toward their master’s degree requirements. Students in the MURP, MPA, and MPP programs can count up to nine credits of the certificate toward their master’s degrees.
The Affordable Housing Certificate is open to all individuals with a completed bachelor’s degree.
Current CU Denver Students:
If you are a currently admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan to complete this certificate alongside your graduate degree program, you will apply via
this application form.
Upon submitting a completed application, current graduate students with a 3.0 GPA or higher are automatically admitted to the Affordable Housing Certificate program.
External Applicants:
If you are not a currently admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan to complete this certificate as a standalone program, you will apply via the
Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Students (Certificate Option) application form.
Under the "Academic Interest" portion of the application, please make sure to select "Certificate."
Materials required for all applicants:
Professional resume
A short statement of interest (250-500 words)
addressing how your background, professional experience, and/or interests relate to affordable housing, and how you expect the Affordable Housing Certificate will support your professional or personal goals.
Undergraduate and graduate school transcripts (if not already admitted to CU Denver)
Scholarships are available to all interested applicants. More info coming soon.
Affordable Housing Graduate Certificate Contacts
The certificate is coordinated by faculty members from the College of Architecture and Planning, the School of Public Affairs, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Carrie Makarewicz
Associate Professor and Chair, College of Architecture and Planning
Jenny Steffel Johnson
, Co-Director, College of Architecture and Planning
Tanya Heikkila
, Co-Director, School of Public Affairs
Robin Kniech
, Director, New Directions in Politics and Public Policy, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
NEW: Climate and Environmental Justice
12-credit certificate program
The Climate and Environmental Justice (CEJ) Certificate provides graduate students throughout the University of Colorado Denver, as well as non-matriculating professionals who already possess a BA or BS degree, with the essential skills to integrate CEJ insights and practices into their professional career plans. This will require understanding 1) climate and environmental impacts and their governance, 2) their social and environmental causes, 3) the dynamics of power and authority that influence how these issues are studied, represented, addressed, and experienced, and 4) practical skills for engaging CEJ topics. Through the certificate program, students will gain an understanding of how climate and the environment intersect with justice at different sites, scales, and sectors, as well as be introduced to the community practices and climate-environmental solutions required to build a just world.
Learning Outcomes
The following learning outcomes will be assessed in both required courses:
Engage and apply intersectional, international, and interdisciplinary perspectives in understanding and discussing climate and environment-society relations.
Demonstrate abilities to explain complexities involved in knowing, narrating, and governing climate and environmental justice across different sites, scales, and sectors.
Develop written communication skills on climate and environmental justice through issue analysis and persuasive writing.
This graduate certificate program in Climate and Environmental Justice (CEJ) administered by the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) and jointly implemented and overseen by faculty in CAP's Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) and the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences (GES) in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS).
The CEJ Certificate will be a transdisciplinary certificate providing academic, technical and professional development for both CU Denver graduate students and individuals and professionals from our community. Built on the themes of environmental equity, human health and climate change adaptation, the CEJ Certificate will provide students a transdisciplinary foundation in CEJ policy and practice. In doing so, it will also formalize and strengthen ongoing collaborations between faculty and departments across CU Denver. Collectively, this training will allow graduate students to better leverage and apply their technical proficiencies in the name of climate and environmental justice in organizations throughout the Intermountain Region, nationally and abroad.
REQUIRED COURSES
The CEJ Certificate requires four graduate-level courses for 12 credit hours. There are two
required courses and two elective courses.
URPL 6235 Environmental Justice
This class explores the foundation of the environmental justice movement, current and emerging issues in CEJ, and the application of environmental justice analysis to environmental policy and planning. It examines
claims made by diverse groups along with the policy and civil society responses that address perceived inequity and injustice. While focused mainly on the United States, international issues and perspectives are also considered.
GEOG 5335
Climate & Society
This class critically examines and engages with important and ongoing environmental issues, with particular emphasis on those related to climate change, vulnerability, adaptation, and justice. Focusing on issues ranging
from wildfire sea level rise to climate governance and impact reporting, class discussions will attend not only to their societal drivers and impacts but to the dynamics of power and authority that affect how these issues come to be studied, represented,
addressed, and experience. The goal of this course is less to build topical expertise in any single domain than it is to broaden and deepen student’s capacity to engage with, participate in, and critically dissect climate-society relations.
ELECTIVE COURSES
The remaining six credits are selected from a pre-approved interdisciplinary list of existing courses throughout the CU Denver catalog.
Select 2 from the following social and/or technical science courses.
Social Sciences
COMM 5282 Environmental Communication
GEOG 5230 Hazard Mitigation and Vulnerability Assessment
GEOG 5335 Climate Change & Society
GEOG 5420 The Politics of Nature
GEOG 5440 Science, Policy and the Environment
GEOG 5710 Disasters, Climate Change, and Health
PSCI 5365 Global Ecological Crises
PSCI 5914 Community Organizing and Community Development
PUAD 4011 Community Resilience, Climate, and Emergency Response
PUAD 5380 Public Participation,
Political Equity, and Government
PUAD 5460 Political Advocacy
PUAD 5644 Environmental and Hazards Law
URBN 6644 Sustainable Urbanism
URPL 5040 Urban Sustainability
URPL 5070 Planning Practice and Engagement
URPL 6365
Parks and Public Spaces
URPL 6400 Community Development
URPL 6405 Urban Housing
URPL 6645: Disaster and Climate Change Planning
Technical Sciences
EHOH 6635 Climate Change and Health
EHOH 6656 Environmental Data Science for Public Health
EHOH 6618 Environmental Health Policy and Practice
EHOH 6619 Environmental Exposures and Health Effects
EHOH 6627 Water Quality
and Public Health
EHOH 6635 Climate Change and Health
EHOH 6642 Climate and Disaster Mental Health
EHOH 6643 Air Quality and Public Health
EMED 8010 Climate Change and Medicine
ENVS 5720 Climate Change: Causes, Impacts and
Solutions
ENVS 5730 Air Quality Modeling and Analysis
ENVS 6200 Risk Assessment
GEOG 5085 GIS Applications for the Urban Environment
GEOG 5235 GIS Applications in the Health Sciences
GEOG 5757 Urban Climate and Air Quality
Current CU Denver Students
: If you are a currently admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan to complete this certificate alongside your graduate degree program, you will apply via
this application form.
External Applicants
: If you are not a currently admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan to complete this certificate as a standalone program, you will apply via the
Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Students (Certificate Option) application form.
Under
the "Academic Interest" portion of the application, please make sure to select "Certificate."
Climate and Environmental Justice Certificate Contacts
Jeremy Németh
, College of Architecture and Planning
Lisa Kelley
, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Roxy New
, College of Architecture and Planning
Geospatial Information Science Certificate (GIS)
15-credit certificate program
Geospatial Information Science (GIS), known to some as “computer mapping,” is used to store, manage, analyze, synthesize, and display spatial data and information. In the College of Architecture and Planning, we use GIS to analyze and understand
space, to answer the place-based questions posed by our stakeholders and our clients, and to create the planning- and research-oriented maps that are critical to communicating with our stakeholders. Our work with GIS in the college is built on the many
advances in Geospatial Information Science over the last 40 years.
This certificate program is intended for motivated people with a strong interest in the application of GIS to the design and planning professions. It is targeted both at students currently enrolled in a University of Colorado degree program who wish to add a credential to their degree and working professionals who do not wish to enroll as degree students, but who wish to pursue a certificate to improve job skills.
Students who earn this Certificate through the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver will exit the program with the following:
An understanding of GIS theory and concepts
Technical mastery of general GIS methods using ArcGIS as well as familiarity with remote sensing
Familiarity with common public geospatial data sources, as well as metadata standards
Knowledge of data interoperability, including how to move data and maps from one software platform to another; examples of software includes Adobe Creative Suite, 3D Studio Max, SketchUp, RhinoTerrain, ArcMap, and Quantum GIS
Specialized skills in geospatial technologies and methods related to the design and planning professions, including rendering and visualizations, infrastructure and transportation network analysis, cadastral mapping, site selection and analysis, geodesign, and many others.
GIS is a rapidly growing field and an increasingly important job skill. GIS skills are showing up as requirements for architects, landscape architects and planners. Our GIS Certificate holders are currently working as: environmental planners, transportation planners, city planners, urban designers, landscape architects and software developers.
A minimum of a 3.0 GPA in all GIS related course work is required to earn the GIS Certificate, and for certificate credit a B- or better is required in all GIS certificate courses.
Total Credit Hours:
15 credit hours
Achieving the GIS certificate in your degree program requires you to work with your Academic Advisor to determine how the following credits will apply within your degree requirements.
Master of Urban and Regional Planning + GIS Advising Sheet
Note: Students pursuing the GIS Certificate in the College of Architecture and Planning are expected to use GIS data and software in their design and planning related classes.
Part 1: Introductory GIS class (3 credits)
URPL 6250 - GIS for Urban Planning
Part 2: Advanced GIS class (3 credits)
URPL 6260 - Advanced Geospatial Methods
Part 3: One of the following (3 credits)
GEOG 5060 - Remote Sensing 1
GEOG 5070 - Remote Sensing 2
Part 4: Specialized advanced class (6credits)
GEOG 5050 - Applied Spatial Statistics
GEOG 5081 - Cartography and Computer Mapping
GEOG 5085 - GIS Applications for the Urban Environment
GEOG 5086 - FOSS4G Systems Integration
GEOG 5090 - Environmental Modeling with GIS
GEOG 5091 - Open Source Software for Geospatial Applications
GEOG 5092 - GIS Programming and Automation
GEOG 5095 - Deploying GIS Functionality on the Web
GEOG 5085 - GIS Applications for the Urban Environment
GEOG 5230 - Hazard Mitigation and Vulnerability
GEOG 5235 - GIS Applications in the Health Sciences
CVEN 5382 - GIS Spatial Database Development
CVEN 5385 - GIS Relational Database Systems
CVEN 5800 - Geomatics for GIS
Any course from the Part 3 list (either track) not already used to fulfill the Part 3 requirement
Up to 3 credits from a studio course where intensive GIS is used. This must be done by submitting a petition to the coordinators describing the GIS activities undertaken.
Up to 3 credits for an internship using GIS in a planning or design context, also by petition. Please see the coordinators before you start the process of looking for an internship.
Other relevant courses by permission.
The certificate program is open to all. Applicants already enrolled in a University of Colorado degree program need only submit an internal application to the CAP GIS certificate program. Applicants who are not currently enrolled in a degree program must apply to CU Denver as non-degree seeking students.
Current CU Denver Students:
If you are a currently
admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan to complete this
certificate along side your graduate degree program, you will apply via
this application form.
External Applicants
If you are not a currently admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan
to complete this certificate as a standalone program, you will apply
via the
Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Students (Certificate Option) application form.
Under the "Academic Interest" portion of the application, please make sure to select "Certificate."
Materials required for all applicants:
A short statement of interest (250-500 words) explaining previous work and/or educational experience with GIS, and how this certificate will assist in current or future career or personal goals
Unofficial transcripts (if not already admitted to CU Denver)
GIS Certificate Contacts
The GIS Certificate is coordinated by faculty members Manish Shirgaokar and Austin Troy. You may contact him with questions about the program.
Manish Shirgaokar
, Co-coordinator
Austin Troy
, Co-coordinator
Design Build
18-credit certificate program
The College of Architecture and Planning offers a graduate certificate in the emerging area of design build as an extension of the Master of Architecture program.
The design build certificate centers on the practical application of architectural theory and promotes a blend of hands-on skills, creative design, and cutting edge materials to construct buildings for communities in need. Participants receive a graduate certificate in design build that requires a total of 18 semester hours, all of which count toward the MArch curriculum requirements.
ColoradoBuildingWorkshop is the design build initiative of the Department of Architecture that serves the broader community by partnering with non-profit organizations on a variety of innovative projects. Learn more about the program and its projects on the
ColoradoBuildingWorkshop
website.
Admission into the Master of Architecture Program does not guarantee admission into the Design Build Certificate, and an additional application is required for the ColoradoBuildingWorkshop. The number of spots available is determined by the community partner and projects to be delivered.
All interested students should plan to enroll in ARCH 6370 Introduction to Design Build in the fall semester that coincides with enrollment in ARCH 5130 Design Studio III. Through the Intro course, students will be able to learn more about design-build generally, as well as the specifics for the featured community build project; students may apply for the remainder of the certificate coursework during the fall semester, and final ColoradoBuildingWorkshop rosters will be announced prior to the start of enrollment for the spring term.
For graduate architecture students entering Studio IV at CU Denver, the Design Build certificate offers a unique opportunity to focus 18 credits of study on design build with an emphasis on integrated project delivery. Students must apply to this program in order to participate.
Students must be accepted to this program in order to participate, applications are accepted during the fall semester. Interested students should enroll in ARCH 6370- Introduction to Design Build in the fall semester before they would take Studio IV. For six studio track students, this would typically be during their second year and for four studio track students, it would be their first fall semester.
Students who are accepted into the Design Build certificate program will work with ColoradoBuildingWorkshop to complete the 18 credit hours required to earn the certificate. Applicants are notified of their acceptance prior to registration for the coming semester and given registration codes to add the required courses.
ARCH 5140 ColoradoBuildingWorkshop studio, ARCH 6471 Managing Quality and Risk and ARCH 6373 Construction in Design Build are only available to students accepted into the certificate program. ARCH 6370 Intro to Design Build and ARCH 6472 Architecture as a Single Source Project delivery are available to any student in the MArch program on a space available basis.
The 18-hour curriculum addresses the basics of Design Build and Integrated Project Deliver methods for M Arch graduate students.
ARCH 6370: Introduction to Design Build (3 credits)
Offered every Fall
Introduces the student to the project delivery methods and the history of these methods both in the United States and the world.
Compares Design-Build and integrated project delivery methods with other traditional delivery methods, including Design-Bid-Build, Construction Manager at Risk, and Owner's Agent as Construction Manager.
Examines the traditional and current roles of Owner, Architect, Consultants, General Contractor and Subcontractors.
Examines previous Architect/Contractor relations and the code of ethics required for emerging trends in Design-Build and Integrated Project Delivery.
Examines successful project management and the qualities of leadership, including confidence, vision, knowledge and empowerment.
ARCH 6471: Managing Quality and Risk (3 credits)
Offered every Spring
Understanding the importance of quality assurance for Design-Build, especially early in the process.
Explores successful approaches to risk management, including contracts, insurance and uncontrollable acts.
Studies the fundamentals of pro forma and other financial analysis formats including design fees, permits, FF&E, financing, land costs, legal costs, etc.
Studies the fundamentals of real estate.
Identifies the various insurance coverages necessary for Design-Build, including professional liability, general liability, builder's risk, defective workmanship, worker's compensation, and performance and bid bonds.
Identifies and compares the various Design-Build contracts available.
Examines various forms of dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation, and the successful track record for Design-Build.
ARCH 6472: Architecture as a Single Source Project Delivery (3 credits)
Offered every Spring
Creates a general understanding of principles of design and problem solving used by architects.
Examines the traditional phases of design and their relationship to each other. Explores the role of the Architect during Construction Administration.
Identifies typical requirements of building codes, zoning ordinances and other regulatory requirements.
Gives the student a general introduction to building systems.
Examines the importance of site design and building context for a project.
Creates a general understanding of the Developer’s and Contractor's roles during design and construction.​
ARCH 5140: Studio IV: Design Build (6 credits)
Offered every Spring
This 'studio' environment brings together students of various backgrounds and professions for a final 'capstone' project, and encourages the ability of individuals and teams to create solutions based on a predefined set of criteria.
The group study emphasizes the importance of teaming.
Students are given a chance to develop a program, project schedule, project estimate and other requirements for the project.
Teams of students are brought together to develop a solution, involving design and construction models.
ARCH 6373: Construction in Design Build (3 credits)
Offered every Maymester
Examines systems that seamlessly integrate construction into the design phase of a project, specifically in conceptual pricing analysis from preliminary pricing packages and the early identification of building systems and components.
Examines the various levels of cost estimating (conceptual, performance, and hard bid), organizing methods (systems, costs/square foot, components), and tracking trends during construction.
Explores software available for scheduling, estimating and project management. Examines the traditional construction means and methods used by Contractors.
Examines the role of the project manager and the many skill sets required to lead a team from project concept to completion.
Examines the importance of job site safety and its role on the job site and with Construction trades.
Teams then actually construct their design solution from the Advanced Studio.
Design Build Certificate Contact
Contact Rick Sommerfeld with any questions you may have about the certificate program.
Rick Sommerfeld
ColoradoBuildingWorkshop Program Director
Historic Preservation Certificate
15-credit certificate program
Historic Preservation is significantly more than the restoration of buildings from the past. It is frequently a part of dynamic and inviting public spaces. It is at the forefront of the green building movement and environmental sustainability, and it
can advance social equity while celebrating cultural diversity.
The Historic Preservation Certificate is designed for students and professionals who are pursuing or already hold a Master of Architecture, Master of Urban Planning, Master of
Landscape Architecture, or anyone who wants to explore the diverse issues around Historic Preservation.
The Certificate is a 15 Credit Hour Program which can be completed in conjunction with other CAP programs or as a separate area of study
for students or professionals who are already in the work environment.
Student who successfully complete the Historic Preservation Certificate will be able to:
Be familiar with the philosophical foundations of preservation and possess a fundamental understanding of how to apply philosophical consideration in the preservation of the past.
Assess a building or site for its historical significance and develop a preservation strategy based on the level of significance.
Plan for the proper restoration or preservation of the building or site utilizing proper materials and methods.
Demonstrate awareness of environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic development and how to incorporate these issues into the practice of historic preservation.
Historic Preservation Certificate students will complete five graduate-level courses for a total of 15 hours. The following are all required core classes:
HIST 5232 - Historic Preservation
HIPR 6210 - Historic Buildings in Context
HIPR 6220 - Adaptive Reuse: Business and Practice
Two of the following is required:
HIPR 6090 - Special Topics in Historic Preservation
HIPR 6110 - Regionalism & the Vernacular
HIPR 6230 - Reusing Buildings for a Changing Climate
HIPR 6240 - Cultural Resource Management and Preservation Law
HIPR 6250 - Contextual Design in Historic District
HIPR 6310 - Documentation, Analysis, Representation
HIPR 6410 - Urban Conservation: Context for Reuse
HIPR 6510 - Building Conservation
A minimum of a 3.0 GPA in the above course work is required to earn the Historic Preservation Certificate, and no grade below a B- will count toward the certificate.
Application to the Historic Preservation (HIPR) Certificate is open to all students holding a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) degree from an accredited institution, or are currently pursuing or have completed a master’s degree from an accredited
institution. Upon submitting an application, students currently pursuing a master’s program in the College of Architecture & Planning (CAP) will be admitted on an automatic basis. Submission of one of the following applications is required
for any student interested in pursuing the HIPR Certificate:
Current CU Denver Students:
If you are a currently
admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan to complete this
certificate along side your graduate degree program, you will apply via
this application form.
External Applicants
If you are not a currently admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan
to complete this certificate as a standalone program, you will apply
via the
Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Students (Certificate Option) application form.
Under the "Academic Interest" portion of the application, please make sure to select "Certificate."
Materials Required for Non-Degree Seeking Applicants:
A brief statement of interest (500-word max.)
Professional resume
College transcripts
One letter of recommendation
Historic Preservation Certificate Contact
The Historic Preservation Certificate is coordinated by CAP Academic Advisor, Roxy New. You may contact her with any questions you may have about the certificate program.
Roxy New
Graduate Academic Advisor
Interior Design Certificate
15-credit certificate program
The certificate provides aspiring interior designers with the professional knowledge, competency, and applied skills necessary for the practice of interior design. With a focus on sustainability, environmental stewardship, and health and wellness, this certificate integrates human-centered approaches with critical thinking, creativity, and innovation for interior environments.
For students interested in obtaining National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Certification, please visit the
NCIDQ website
for more information on exam eligibility requirements.
Interior Design Certificate students will complete five graduate-level courses for a total of 15 hours. The following are all required core classes:
INTD 5005 Introduction to Interior Design (3 hours)
INTD 5100 Drawing Out the Interiors (3 hours)
INTD 6200 Interior Design Workshop (3 hours)
6 hours of additional INTD coursework (5000 level or above)
*Students must earn at least a B- grade in all required courses for the certificate. Required courses must be repeated if the student earns less than a B- grade. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is required in the courses for the certificate.
Application to the Interior Design Certificate is open to all individuals with a completed bachelor's degree.
Submission of one of the following applications is required for any student interested in pursuing the Interior Design Certificate:
Current CU Denver Students:
If you are a currently
admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan to complete this
certificate along side your graduate degree program, you will apply via
this application form.
External Applicants
If you are not a currently admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan
to complete this certificate as a standalone program, you will apply
via the
Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Students (Certificate Option) application form.
Under the "Academic Interest" portion of the application, please make sure to select "Certificate."
Failure to submit an official application may result in the inability of CAP to officially award the certificate upon program completion.
Materials Required for Non-CAP
Graduate Students and Non-Degree Seeking Students:
A brief statement of intent (500-word max.)
College transcripts (only needed for non-degree-seeking applicants)
A portfolio submission is highly recommended but not required
Upon submitting an application, students currently pursuing a master’s degree in the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) are admitted on an automatic basis.
Interior Design Certificate Contact
Contact CAP Academic Advisor, Roxy New with any questions about the interior design certificate program, eligibility, and curriculum.
Roxy New
Graduate Academic Advisor
Classical Studies Certificate
15-credit certificate program
In collaboration with the Institute for Classical Architecture and Arts (ICAA), the College of Architecture and Planning offers graduate certificate in classical studies.
The Classical Studies Certificate offers a sequence of elective courses founded on the Beaux Arts paradigm. Upon successful completion of this optional sequence, students qualify for a Classical Studies Certificate and may apply for a Certificate of Classical Design from the Institute for Classical Architecture and Arts. Students interested in the classical traditions in architecture, landscape architecture, urbanism, and allied arts graduate with a distinct, highly valued skillset.
Classical Studies will provide students with the intellectual and practical skills necessary to position themselves as discerning practitioners and critical thinkers in a particular sector of architectural practice, as well as within allied fields such as traditional urban design, historic preservation, the building arts, interior, and landscape architecture. The course content will merge theoretical inquiry with skill-based learning to provide a solid foundation for a successful professional career.
Throughout history, and around the world, traditional buildings have been shaped and arranged to create humanistic streets, squares, and piazzas.  In recent years, pedestrian-focused streets and public spaces have been recognized as essential for civic life. Classical Studies complement Modernist Studies providing students with an overall set of design skills. Graduates will be prepared as literate architects to face the diverse design challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
The curriculum addresses the most enduring and beloved cities, parks and buildings that constitute a design tradition rich with cultural memory, incremental adaptation, and radical invention. We treasure these places and they, in turn, define us. Design, building and placemaking traditions throughout the world hold essential lessons for resolving the great challenges we face today, including how to build more sustainable, healthy, economically robust, just, beautiful, and enduring places.
The Classical Studies sequence totals 15 credit hours, 9 required and 6 elective:
Required Coursework (9 credits):
Classical Elements (3 credits)
Classical Design Undergraduate or Graduate Level Studio (6 credits)
Elective Coursework (6 credits):
Sketching as Seeing (3 credits)
The Art of Traditional Design (3 credits)
Architectural Design in the Urban Context of Rome (6 credits)
History of Landscape Architecture (3 credits)
Other related electives as approved
In addition to the curriculum offered by the college, the following coursework offered by the ICAA must also be completed:
ICAA Coursework:
Intensive in Classical Architecture (8-day program)
Workshop in Classical Architecture (2-day program)
Coursework offered by the Institute for Classical Architecture and Art may count towards their Certificate in Classical Architecture but does not count towards completion of the M.Arch or B.Sc.Arch degrees.
Students in the M.Arch program must earn a minimum grade of B- to have required and elective coursework count towards their degree requirements.
Students in the BS Arch program must earn a minimum passing grade to have required and elective coursework to count towards their B.Sc.Arch. degree requirements.
Classical Studies Certificate Contact
The Classical Studies Certificate is coordinated by Director Don Ruggles. You may contact him with any questions you may have about the certificate program.
Don Ruggles
, Director of Classical Studies
Landscape Architecture Certificate
21-credit certificate program
The certificate in Landscape Architecture provides an overview, foundational knowledge, and skills for students and professionals who want to engage landscape practices without a full master's degree. The certificate will provide the foundation to understand
and design landscape as a tool for meaningful cultural, social, and environmental change and to communicate with the people and communities that are inhabiting it. Upon successful completion of the course sequence students will graduate with a highly
valuable skillset and knowledge.
The Certificate in Landscape Architecture will provide students and professionals with the intellectual and practical skills necessary to bring critical landscape practice to a broad range of fields from design fields to geography, engineering, and the
humanities among others. The course content will merge theoretical inquiry with skill-based learning to provide a solid foundation.
Students successfully completing the courses in the required curriculum for the certificate will acquire
basic tools and skills for communication and visualization (Graphic Media and Studio 1)
knowledge and skills in the foundations of landscape architectural design process (Graphic Media and Studio 1)
knowledge and skills in the fundamentals of landscape architecture as a socially and culturally embedded practices (Site, Society and Environment)
applicable knowledge in the historical development, methods and fundamentals of landscape architecture (History of Landscape Architecture)
knowledge and skills in fundamental principles, values and design practices in the theory of landscape and landscape architecture (Theory)
Fall Courses
Code
Title
Hours
LDAR 5501
Design Studio 1
LDAR 5510
Graphic Media in Landscape Architecture
LDAR 6672
OR
LDAR 6670
Ecology for Landscape Design
OR
Plants in Design
LDAR 6641
Computer Applications in Landscape Design
Spring Courses
Code
Title
Hours
LDAR 5502
Design Studio 2
LDAR 5532
Landform Manipulation
Reduced Curriculum Requirements for M.Arch/MUD Students (12 hours - requirements noted below)
Fall Courses
Code
Title
Hours
LDAR 5572
Ecology for Landscape Architects
LDAR 6670
Plants in Design
Spring Courses
Code
Title
Hours
LDAR 5532
Landform Manipulation
Any Semester
Code
Title
Hours
3 hours of LDAR elective
Application to the Certificate in Landscape Architecture is open to all students holding a completed bachelor's degree, or are currently pursuing or have completed a master’s degree. Upon submitting an application, students currently pursuing a
master’s program in the College of Architecture & Planning (CAP) are admitted on an automatic basis.
Current CU Denver Students:
If you are a currently
admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan to complete this
certificate along side your graduate degree program, you will apply via
this application form.
External Applicants
If you are not a currently admitted CU Denver graduate student and plan
to complete this certificate as a standalone program, you will apply
via the
Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Students (Certificate Option) application form.
Under the "Academic Interest" portion of the application, please make sure to select "Certificate."
Materials Required for Non-CAP Graduate Students and Non-Degree Seeking Students:
A brief statement of interest (500-word max.)
Professional resume
College transcripts (only needed for non-degree seeking applicants)
One letter of recommendation
A portfolio submission is highly recommended but not required
CURRENT MLA STUDENTS
Students who are (1) currently active in the CU Denver Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program, and (2) intend to complete the MLA program are ineligible for the Certificate in Landscape Architecture. Current MLA students who wish to transfer from
the master's program to the certificate program should contact their academic advisor to discuss this option further.
Landscape Architecture Certificate Contact
The Landscape Architecture Certificate is coordinated by Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Jody Beck, and the program Academic Advisor Roxy New. You may contact them with any questions you may have about the certificate program.
Jody Beck
, Chair, Landscape Architecture Department
Roxy New
, Graduate Academic Advisor
College of Architecture and Planning
College of Architecture and Planning
CU Denver
CU Denver Building
1250 14th Street
2000
Denver,
CO
80202
303-315-1000
Flickr
Resources
Faculty and Staff Resources
Current Student Resources
Remote Resources
University Services
Office of Equity
Family Educational Rights
Disability Resources & Services
Human Resources
CMS Login
Webmail
UCD Access
Canvas
Opens in a new window
Opens document in a new window