This “4+1” degree fast tracks students into graduate level work while completeing their undergraduate degree, allowing participating students to complete an interdisciplinary Bachelor degree in International Studies or Philosophy and an interdisciplinary Master degree in Humanities or Social Science through the MHMSS program in five years.
This program is intended for outstanding undergraduate students who have graduate-level skills and can do graduate-quality work as undergraduates.
Program Benefits
- Fast track completion of both Bachelor's and Master's degrees: up to 15 credits double-count toward BA and MH/MSS requirements
- Early exposure to graduate-level coursework
- Closer faculty mentorship and advanced training
- Streamlined preparation for future academic or professional paths
Who Should Apply?
Students who apply into the 4+1 program should demonstrate:
- A commitment to Interdisciplinary Studies, as demonstrated by a declared International Studies or Philosophy major
- Outstanding academic abilities demonstrated by a high GPA (3.0 or higher) in all classes, with all 4000 level or above International Studies/Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies classes completed with at least a B grade
- Advanced levels of reading comprehension, writing, and analytical skills indicating readiness for graduate study, as demonstrated by class performance and assignments in upper division courses
- Outstanding intellectual curiosity and work ethic demonstrated by class performance, assignments, and academic relationships with faculty outside of the classroom
- Community engagement and other extra-curricular activities that pertain to International Studies/Philosophy will also be looked upon favorably
Program Information
Interested students should submit an application to the Department no later than the end of their junior year. To declare your participation in the 4+1 program, please follow the steps below:
Meet with Advisors
You must meet with both the undergraduate and graduate advisors for your programs.
These meetings ensure that you understand the program requirements and planned course sequencing.
Complete the Intent Form
- Fill out the 4+1 Intent Form.
- Obtain signatures from both your undergraduate and graduate advisors.
- You must also include
- A letter of interest that describes the student’s reasons for applying into the program.
- Undergraduate transcripts.
- Letters of support from at least two CU Denver faculty members who attest to applicant’s advanced levels of reading, writing and analytical skills, and to their outstanding intellectual curiosity and work ethic.
Once all signatures are complete, email the form to: CLAS.Advising@ucdenver.edu
Register for Graduate-Level Courses
Submitting the signed Intent Form will allow you to register for graduate-level coursework without needing special permission.
Important: Some graduate courses may still require instructor permission.
In those cases, please contact the course instructor directly to request permission to enroll.
Apply to the Graduate Program
During your final undergraduate semester, you must submit a graduate application for the MH or MSS program.
Note: Participation in the 4+1 program does not guarantee admission to the MH or MSS graduate programs.
Begin Graduate Status
If you complete your undergraduate degree, and are admitted to the MH or MSS program, you will begin the next academic term as a graduate student.
After acceptance into CU Denver undergraduate program, students must submit an application to the program no later than the end of student's Junior year.
Application materials include:
- Letter of interest describing reasons for applying to the program
- Undergraduate transcripts
- Minimum 2 recommendation letters of support from CU Denver faculty members who attest to applicant's advanced levels of reading, writing, and analytical skills, as well as to their outstanding intellectual curiosity and work ethic
Once accepted:
- Begin taking approved 5000-level course
These courses can double-count toward your BA and MA up to 15 credit hours. After finishing the BA and receiving formal admission, you will continue to full graduate status the next semester.
Following review and admission by the faculty, undergraduate students will begin the completion of graduate-level (5000+) coursework approved by their INTS/PHIL and MH or MSS advisor.
These classes would “double count,” satisfying requirements for both the BA major and the Master degree in Humanities of Social Science. No more than 15 undergraduate credit hours may “double-count” for the Master degree.
Students would then continue graduate studies in the MH or MSS degree plan to complete their Master degree by the conclusion of their fifth year in CLAS at CU Denver.
Tracks
Undergraduate Advisor: Dr. Soumia Bardhan, Soumia.Bardhan@ucdenver.edu
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Margaret Woodhull, Margaret.Woodhull@ucdenver.edu
Select a Zone of Expertise and a Focus Theme
Students should look at the course offerings on the INTS website and decide how they will balance the coursework between the zone and the focus theme. Students can choose more regional or global areas or more thematic topics. Some focus themes have more course options than others. Take note of any pre-requisites for courses in the focus areas (especially in economics and business). Also consider semester-long study abroad programs.
Plan to Use Winterim, Maymester, and Summer to Complete the Major
INTS requires a capstone and at least one high-impact project course (internship or service learning). These courses should be taken when the majority of coursework for the major is complete, ideally in the last semester before graduation. Students can apply for travel study abroad programs in all these terms, and internships can be completed in summers. INTS allows students to count two courses (6 credits) of internship (paid and unpaid toward their degree).
Required Undergraduate Coursework:
Five Introductory Courses
INTS 2020 Foundations of International Studies
ECON 2012 Macro Economics
PSCI 3042 International Relations or PSCI 3022 Comparative Politics
HIST 4032 Globalization in World History since 1945
COMM 4720 Global Communication or ANTH 2102 Culture & Human Experience
Take INTS 3000: Introduction to International Studies and Complete the Intro Courses
Students must take INTS 3000 before doing any other INTS coursework beyond the other introductory courses listed. These courses are offered every semester, but space may be limited. Students are strongly encouraged to complete all introductory courses before taking additional courses in the major.
Ten Courses in Major
At least four from one Zone of Expertise (full list available via INTS website; includes travel study courses) (Z/F) At least four from one Focus Theme (full list available via INTS website; includes travel study courses) (Z/F) At least one High Impact Course, e.g., travel study, internship (6 credits max.), service learning, or independent study (H) Note: Students must take courses in at least two different disciplines for both their zone and focus theme, as well as at least three disciplines overall for the major (i.e., PSCI, ECON, HIST, COMM, ANTH or others).
One Required International Studies Capstone INTS 4990
36 Credit hours in Master of Humanities or Master of Social Science, three of which will be core required classes.
Core Courses
SSCI 5020 or HUMN 5025 Foundations and Theories in Interdisciplinary Social Science OR –Humanities (offered fall only)
Taken in the First Semester of students' Senior/Fourth year
SSCI 5013 or HUMN 5013 Methods and Practices of Interdisciplinary Social Science OR -Humanities (offered Spring only)
Taken in the Second Semester of students' Senior/Fourth year
SSCI 5924 or HUMN 5924 Research Perspectives in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences OR -Humanities
Taken Last Spring of students’ graduate program
21-24 credit hours coursework 5000 or above selected in conjunction with an advisor
5950 or 5960 MH Thesis (6 credits) or Project (3 credits)
NOTE: Thesis students take 10 classes; Project students take 11 classes
12-credit hours will double count for both BA and MH or MSS during the fourth/Senior year.
Undergraduate Advisor: Dr. Mark Tanzer (Mark.Tanzer@ucdenver.edu)
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Margaret Woodhull (Margaret.Woodhull@ucdenver.edu)
Required Undergraduate Coursework
PHIL 2441 Logic, Language and Scientific Reasoning or PHIL 3440 Introduction to Symbolic Logic
PHIL 3002 Ancient Greek Philosophy
PHIL 3022 Modern Philosophy PHIL 3760 Kant
1 UD course in Ethics
1 UD course in Continental Philosophy
1 UD course in Social/Political Philosophy
1 UD course in American or Analytic Philosophy
1 UD course in History of Philosophy
1 UD elective
2 additional PHIL electives
Required Graduate Coursework
SSCI 5020 or HUMN 5025 Foundations and Theories in Interdisciplinary Social Science OR –Humanities (offered fall only)
Taken in the First Semester of students' Senior/Fourth year
SSCI 5013 or HUMN 5013 Methods and Practices of Interdisciplinary Social Science OR -Humanities (offered Spring only)
Taken in the Second Semester of students' Senior/Fourth year
SSCI 5924 or HUMN 5924 Research Perspectives in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences OR -Humanities
Taken Last Spring of students’ graduate program
21-24 credit hours coursework 5000 or above selected in conjunction with an advisor
5950 or 5960 MH Thesis (6 credits) or Project (3 credits)
NOTE: Thesis students take 10 classes; Project students take 11 classes
15-credit hours will double count for both BA and MH or MSS during the fourth/Senior year.
How does this work and what can you do with this degree? Watch this introductory video by the CU Denver Philosophy Department to learn more! https://youtu.be/Jw6EonSFAjY?si=HYxeuWp5C7fawmHm
Contact Us!
For more information:
Dr. Omar Swartz, Graduate Advisor, Interdisciplinary Studies: omar.swartz@ucdenver.edu or
Dr. Margaret Woodhull, Director, Interdisciplinary Studies: margaret.woodhull@ucdenver.edu or
Email: masterhs@ucdenver.edu
Phone: 303-315-3565
Location: Student Commons Building, room #3203