3.00 Undergraduate GPA: Applicants who cannot meet this undergraduate standard may still secure regular admission if they have completed 9 semester hours of relevant graduate course work with at least a 3.25 average.
Three Letters of Recommendation: At least two academic references are preferred. If you have not recently been in an academic setting, you may use professional references from managers, clients, etc.
Curriculum Vitae or Resume
Personal Statement: We require a personal statement of no more than two pages. This is where a student can outline their interests, future goals, and how their prior experiences have prepared and motivated them to pursue a graduate degree from CU Boulder. Additionally, students that are pursuing research are asked to provide information about how prior research and professional experiences shaped their interests for graduate school. Your personal statement should address the following areas:
What inspired you to pursue a degree in this field, and how does your background prepare you for success in the program? Please be as specific as possible and highlight any relevant coursework, research, or professional experiences that have influenced your decision to pursue this degree.
What specific areas of research or practice within the department interest you most, and why? If interested in research, which professors are you interested in working with? Explain your rationale.
Describe a significant academic or professional accomplishment that demonstrates your ability to succeed in the graduate program. What challenges did you encounter, and how did you overcome them? How did this experience prepare you for the rigor of graduate-level coursework and research?
How would your experience or engagement with issues related to diversity add to the field of civil, environmental, and architectural engineering over the next 10 years? This can include working with diverse communities, involvement or leadership with diversity-related student groups, or other forms of engagement.
International Applicants: International applicants must provide a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score if English is not your native language. The English proficiency requirement will be waived if you have completed at least one year of full-time study at a US institution (or at an institution in a country where English is the native language) at the time you apply, and within two years from your desired admission term. Your transcripts are used to confirm this. Non-native English speakers only should provide certification of adequate spoken and written English. Preferred scores for each English proficiency exam are:
TOEFL 90 (only internet-based tests are accepted)
IELTS 7.0
Duolingo 120