Getting Started

The Department of Computer Science is here to support you in your journey.

Activate Your IdentiKey & CU Email

The first step is to activate your IdentiKey login. Your IdentiKey will be a unique credential that provides you with access to a majority of our campus systems and services.

You will also need to set-up your CU Boulder email account. All official forms of communication will be through this account, so it is important that you log in regularly. 

Activate Your IdentiKey   Activate Your CU Email

Get to Know the CU Buff Portal

The Buff Portal is also known as the student portal and is where you’ll manage your student transactions while you’re at CU Boulder. Upon first logging into Buff Portal, you must consent to conduct business electronically during your time at CU Boulder. Students also have the option of conducting official university business in-person.

Buff Portal Features Access the Buff Portal

Complete Your Pre-Registration Tasks

Before you can register for classes, there are a few pre-registration items that you need to complete including updating your contact information, accepting the tuition and fee agreement, and applying for and authorizing the College Opportunity Fund (Colorado Residents Only). Log into the Buff Portal to complete these items.

Equipment Requirements

Minimum Computer Requirements

Camera Requirements: The minimum webcam resolution is 320x240 VGA resolution. We recommend the “Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p Camera, Desktop or Laptop Webcam” which meets the minimum requirements and is reasonably priced. For screen resolution we recommend a minimum of 1920 x 1080.

Registration & Enrollment

View Your Transfer Credit Report

Before registering for classes, it is best to verify your Transfer Credit Report. Your transfer credit report shows you any classes you’ve submitted to CU Boulder for college credit. This report is updated as we receive official transfer credit documents, so if you’re expecting to see credits and don’t, check back later.If you do not receive transfer credit for a class you took at another university that you think is equivalent to a class in the program, please contact TCHelp@colorado.edu. They will evaluate the class in question and determine if it is equivalent to the class offered in the program.

Verify Your Transfer Credit Report Transfer Credit Guidelines

Register for Classes

  • Register for classes through the Buff Portal.

  • CSPB courses are reserved for Applied Computer Science Post-Baccalaureate students. Students must register for CSPB subject courses in order to earn credit for their classes.

  • All courses in the Applied Computer Science program are evaluated using letter grades. Students must select the letter grade option when registering for classes in order to receive credit for their classes. 

How to Register for Classes

Curriculum, Program Policy & Requirements

Curriculum

Students are required to complete 45 credit hours of computer science courses in order to graduate and earn a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder. The 45 credit hours consist of 26 credit hours of required courses and 19 credit hours of elective courses as indicated below. Please always use the course catalog for the most up to date class information and availability. Though all of our required courses are available every term, and a majority of elective courses are as well, there are some elective courses that will be offered inconsistently due to instructor availability.

CSPB 1300 Computer Science 1: Starting Computing 4 

CSPB 2270 Computer Science 2: Data Structures 4

CSPB 2400 Computer Systems 4

CSPB 2824 Discrete Structures 3

CSPB 3104 Algorithms 4

CSPB 3155 Principles of Programming Languages 4

CSPB 3308 Software Development Methods and Tools 3

CSPB 3022 Intro to Data Science with Probability and Statistics 3

CSPB 3202 Intro to Artificial Intelligence 3

CSPB 3287 Design and Analysis of Data Systems 3

CSPB 3403 Introductions to CyberSecurity for a Converged World 4

CSPB 3702 Cognitive Science 3

CSPB 3753 Design and Analysis of Operating Systems 4

CSPB 4122 Information Visualization 3

CSPB 4502 Data Mining 3

Program Policy & Requirements

Please know that you are a student of University of Colorado, Boulder, as well as the College of Engineering & Applied Sciences, AND the Department of Computer Science.  As such you are held responsible for knowing and understanding how the policies of each of those applies to you. The following section outlines the operational policies specific for the Post- Baccalaureate Applied Computer Science program.

The graduation requirements for the PostBacc Applied Computer Science program are as follows:

  • Students must receive an overall GPA in the program of at least 2.000 (prior to December 2021, this threshold was 2.250)
  • Students will have needed to complete a minimum of 45 credit hours within the PostBacc program
  • Students cannot receive a grade lower than C- in any class in the program.
  • Note: If no grade higher than C- is achieved in all classes, this will not result in the minimum GPA required to graduate.
  • Students who receive a grade below C- in class must retake that class.
  • Once matriculated into the program, students are required to register for the online Applied Computer Science section 001 classes and must have chosen the letter grade option in order to receive credit for those classes.

Students can complete the program by following a 1-year, 1.5-year (both considered accelerated pathways), 2-year or 3-year pathway to completion. Register for the appropriate classes as listed on the pathway you have decided on. For students in the accelerated pathway, with petition approval, a registration hold will be placed to prevent enrolling in future semesters without first meeting with an advisor to discuss your proposed schedule. Accelerated pathways, both 1-year & 1.5-year tracks, are where 4 or more classes in fall/spring terms, or 3 or more classes in summer term are proposed.

Students are required to complete 45 credit hours of computer science courses in order to graduate. The residency requirement for the program is of the 45 credit hours, 30 credit hours must be taken from courses in the program (online courses) while the student is matriculated in the program as an Applied Computer Science student.

Students who are enrolled in the program but do not register for classes for three consecutive semesters will need to reapply to the program. If a student plans to take a semester or two off before enrolling in classes again, that student should notify their Academic Advisor to let them know they are taking a semester off and when they plan to return.

It is the policy of the College of Engineering and Applied Science that students enrolled in the Post-Baccalaureate Applied Computer Science degree program may not earn minors and cannot register for on-campus courses at this time. Please note: Students who attempt to register for on-campus, will be dropped from those courses by the Registrar’s Office and/or their Academic Advisor.

The Applied Computer Science Program reviews academic standing immediately following the Fall, Spring and Summer terms. Good academic standing is considered a cumulative GPA of at least 2.000 (prior to December 2021, this threshold was 2.250). Students whose cumulative GPA falls below this threshold will be placed in one of the following status:

Academic Alert​ status is assigned to ​engineering undergraduate students who experience academic difficulties in their first semester as a degree-seeking student at CU Boulder​ and their GPA falls below 2.000 (prior to December 2021, this threshold was 2.250). A student placed on Academic Alert is not in good academic standing and must discuss his/her/their situation with their academic advisor without delay and then take immediate steps for academic improvement.

● Suggestions to students to support a return to good academic standing:

○ Students take a single course per term to reduce workload

○ Students evoke grade replacement and make a second attempt in a course with grade below C- to improve GPA

○ Students to work with the academic coaches

After the following term​ where the student is on Academic Alert, a student's second term grades are then reviewed with the following possible outcomes:

● Student's CU cumulative GPA is at least 2.000 -- Outcome is that student returns to Good Academic Standing.

● Student's CU cumulative GPA is below 2.000, but the CU term GPA is at least 2.000 -- Outcome is that student is placed on Academic Recovery.

● Student's CU cumulative GPA is below 2.000 and CU term GPA continues below 2.000 -- Outcome is that student is placed on Academic Suspension.

Academic Recovery​ status is assigned to continuing engineering undergraduate students whose CU Cumulative GPA falls below 2.000 (prior to December 2021, this threshold was 2.250). A student placed on Academic Recovery is not in good academic standing and must discuss his/her/their situation with an academic advisor without delay and then take immediate steps for academic improvement.

● Suggestions to students to support a return to good academic standing:

○ Students take a single course per term to reduce workload

○ Students evoke grade replacement and make a second attempt in a course with grade below C- to improve GPA

○ Students to work with the academic coaches

After the term the student is on ​Academic Recovery, a student's next term grades are then reviewed with the following possible outcomes:

● Student's CU cumulative GPA is at least 2.000 -- Outcome is that student returns to Good Academic Standing.

● Student's CU cumulative GPA is below 2.000, but the CU term GPA is at least 2.000 -- Outcome is that student continues on Academic Recovery.

● Student's CU cumulative GPA is below 2.000 and CU term GPA is below 2.000 -- Outcome is that student is placed on Academic Suspension.

Academic Suspension​ status is assigned to students who fail to meet the academic requirements of Academic Recovery or Academic Alert, and reflects that the student is unable to make satisfactory academic progress toward the Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science degree. Academic Suspension results in the student being released from the Applied Computer Science Program and College of Engineering and Applied Science. Students suspended from the program will no longer be eligible to take Main Campus courses or pursue the Applied Computer Science degree.

You can repeat courses at any point in your academic career without grade replacement, though some academic programs have limits on the number of course repeats allowed for specific courses. If you retake a class and don't submit a grade replacement request form, the grade and credits you earn in all attempts will be included in your student credit and GPA totals, and in calculations on your official academic record.
 

Campus Resources

As a student of the University of Colorado, Boulder, you have a wealth of departments and resources available to you across campus. The most commonly utilized by our students are listed and linked below for easy access. 

Academic Calendar & Holidays

Academic Coaching 

BuffOne Card

Bursar’s Office

Career Services

Disability Services

Financial Aid

Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance

Library services

Registrar’s office

Religious Observances

Student Conduct/Conflict resolution/ Discrimination/harassment/honor code  

Student Health Insurance

Veteran Services

Meet with an Advisor

Current Students Only: Academic advisors support and help you personalize your academic journey. Email Kristina Richards for advising assistance or to schedule an appointment.

Meet your Advisor

  • Shortly after being admitted and once fully matriculated into the program, students will receive a welcome email to their CU student email account and instructions on how to set up an appointment with an academic advisor.
  • All students must meet with an advisor before they can register for classes their first term in the program.
  • During their time in the program, students can schedule individual academic advising appointments with an advisor if they need any help with the program.