In order to graduate as an undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS), you must complete the following steps. If you do not complete each of these steps, this may result in a delay in your graduation:

  1. Meet with your advisors:

    • Meet with your CLAS Advisor to review your progress in completing the overall degree requirements of the College and CU Denver.
      Note: Schedule this meeting before you register for classes for your final term, in order to avoid the busiest time for CLAS Advising, which is at the start of each semester.
    • Meet with each of your Major and Minor Faculty Advisors​ to review your progress toward each specific program.
      Note: You will also want to schedule your meeting with each department before you register for classes, in order to avoid peak advising times. 

  2. Apply online in your UCD Access portal before the census date of the term in which you intend to graduate:

    • Login to the UCD Access Portal.
    • Select “Academics” from the Student Center box (toward the center of the screen).
    • Select the “Apply for Graduation” option.
    • On the graduation form, make sure to provide the correct address to which you want your diploma to be mailed.

Commencement Ceremony

Updates and information about Commencement will be sent to your CU Denver e-mail account after you have submitted your graduation application. If you are forwarding this account please be sure your spam filters are off or you will miss important updates.

Commencement ceremonies are held at the end of Spring and Fall terms. Summer graduates are invited to participate in the Fall commencement ceremony in December.

Your Diploma

Your diploma will include only your degree information (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science) and your major. Your major option, minor, and any certificates you have received will not be noted on the diploma itself. Your transcript, however, will reflect this additional information.

CU Denver's Office of the Registrar will not begin to mail diplomas to graduated students until approximately two months AFTER commencement. Verify that your mailing address is correct in your student portal as this is the address they will use. Please contact the Office of the Registrar​ if you have any concerns about receiving your diploma.