CLAS Majors, Minors, and Certificates

CLAS Majors, Minors & Certificates

Your major is your primary field of study. It defines the main academic focus of your bachelor’s degree. CU Denver College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers majors ranging from economics to creative writing, climate change and environmental studies, philosophy, and more. You have faculty advisors in your major academic departments to help you as you plan out your major coursework. 

You must have at least one major, but you can choose to double-major in two majors that are both Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science programs or you can earn dual degrees if you complete two majors with different degree designations. Discuss your options with your CLAS Advisor.

A Major Gives You:

• A structured set of required courses that you plan out working with your major faculty advisor
• Deep knowledge in an academic discipline
• A central focus of your bachelor’s degree program

A minor is an optional secondary area of study that complements your major. CU Denver CLAS does not require undergraduates to declare a minor, but students can choose to add one or more minors in varied fields such as biophysics, ethnic studies, statistics, data science, and many others. Work with the listed faculty advising contacts to discuss the minors and let your CLAS Advisor know if you would like to add any CLAS minors to your program. 

Typical Minor Requirements at CU Denver:

• Usually about 18 credit hours that you plan out working with your minor faculty advisor
• Upper‑division coursework (often 9 credits or more)
• Minimum grades (usually C- or better)
• Minimum minor GPA of 2.0 (common across programs)

An undergraduate certificate is a short, specialized academic program focused on developing specific skills or knowledge. CU Denver offers many undergraduate certificates such as African American Studies, Applied Statistics, Digital Studies, and American Indian Studies. Certificates often appear in interdisciplinary pathways, such as Integrated Health Studies, where students pair a certificate or minor with thematic coursework for deeper expertise in health‑related topics. Discuss the cerfiticates you are interested in with the listed advising contacts and complete the CLAS Undergraduate Certificate Intent to Declare Form to add an undergraduate certificate to your record. 

Certificates Typically Offer:

• Focused coursework on a specific topic or skill
• Flexibility in pairing with any major degree program
• A separate credential that can enhance your resume or career preparation

See all CU Denver CLAS Undergraduate Programs in the Catalog.

Behavioral & Social Sciences encompass academic fields that study human behavior, social systems, cultural patterns, and population health. At CU Denver, these areas appear across multiple departments within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Reach out to the listed advising contacts for more information and tell your CLAS Advisor if you want to add any of these programs.

In CU Denver's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Humanities focus on language, culture, ideas, and human experience, with majors, minors, and certificates that encourage analytical, interpretive, and creative skills. Contact the listed faculty advisors for more information and let your CLAS Advisor know if you would like to add one of these programs to your degree. 

Integrated Sciences in CU Denver CLAS provide pathways allowing you to take courses across multiple scientific disciplines—such as geology, biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics— to build a unified, research‑driven curriculum tailored to your goals. These programs emphasize integrative scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and methodology across STEM fields. Contact the listed faculty advisors for more information and let your CLAS Advisor know if you would like to add one of these programs to your degree. 

Natural & Physical Sciences in CLAS emphasize scientific inquiry, quantitative reasoning, and laboratory or field‑based research. These programs help you develop your abilities to analyze natural systems, understand physical laws, and apply scientific methods to real‑world problems. Reach out the the listed advisors for more information and let your CLAS Advisor know if you would like to add one of these programs to your degree. 

CU Denver CLAS Individually Designed degrees allow you to be creative with your educational experiences by going beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines. The Interdisciplinary Studies Option allows your to combine coursework from two, three, or even more academic units to explore a particular theme. Reach out to the listed advisors for more information and, if you decide you want to pursue an individually designed degree, ask the faculty advisor to contact your CLAS Advisor to let them know to make the change.

CLAS Interdisciplinary Programs allow you to integrate coursework from multiple academic fields—such as natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the arts—to create flexible, customized pathways that align with your interests and career goals. Overall, interdisciplinary study equips you with broad perspectives, critical thinking, and adaptable problem‑solving skills needed to approach complex real‑world issues from multiple angles. Work with the listed faculty advisors for more information and let your CLAS Advisor know if you would like to add one of these programs to your degree. 

In CU Denver CLAS, BA degrees are typically associated with liberal arts, humanities, and social science–oriented study pathways. These degrees emphasize:

• Broader theoretical understanding
• Social, cultural, or behavioral dimensions of a field
• Flexibility in elective choices, often enabling interdisciplinary exploration

BS degree programs in CU Denver CLAS emphasize scientific, quantitative, and technical skills, often preparing students for graduate-level scientific or professional training. These degrees typically require:

A minor is an optional secondary area of study that complements your major. CU Denver CLAS does not require undergraduates to declare a minor, but students can choose to add one or more of the minors below. Work with the listed faculty advising contacts to discuss the minors and let your CLAS Advisor know if you would like to add any CLAS minors to your program. 

An undergraduate certificate is a short, specialized academic program focused on developing specific skills or knowledge. CU Denver CLAS offers many undergraduate certificates that you can complete alongside your degree program. Discuss the cerfiticates you are interested in with the listed advising contacts and complete the CLAS Undergraduate Certificate Intent to Declare Form to add an undergraduate certificate to your record. 

Online programs can usually be completed with completely online coursework or with a combination of on-campus and online courses. Get in touch with the advising contacts listed for specific details about the programs you are interested in.