Graduate Programs
Continue down the path
Whether you're looking for a certificate, master's or doctorate, our 10 schools and colleges offer graduate degree programs that integrate independent study, research and professional development.
Colorado residents will get their application fee waived automatically for Master's degree programs from October 15-December 1. Note: The free applications are for Master’s degree programs only, and do not include law degrees, or programs facilitated through 2U (including the MSW@Denver, MLIS@Denver, and SchoolCounseling@Denver programs).
- Master's
A master’s degree is the first level of graduate study, typically requiring one to two years of full-time study. To pursue a master’s, you’ll need an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree. Many degrees are specialized to prepare you to enter the job market as a highly qualified applicant or work as an educator in your field.
- Doctoral
A doctoral degree is the highest achievable graduate degree, preparing students to work in the upper echelons of their field as either practitioners or educators. Many doctoral candidates complete a dissertation, thesis or project based off original research, defending their work in front of a committee of experts. Others take rigorous coursework that prepares them for professional practice and licensure.
- Certificate
A graduate certificate is approximately equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, but with a more limited scope. Most can be achieved in a year or less, and many confer professional benefits such as licensure. Learn more about federal-aid designated certificates.
- MA
- Master of Arts
- MFA
- Master of Fine Arts
- MS
- Master of Science
- MLS
- Master of Legal Studies
- MSW
- Master of Social Work
- LLM
- Master of Laws
- Macc
- Master of Accountancy
- MBA
- Master of Business Administration
- MLIS
- Master of Library and Information Science
- MM
- Master of Music
- MPP
- Master of Professional Psychology
- MSL
- Master of Legal Studies
- PSM
- Professional Science Masters
- MSLA
- Master of Science in Legal Administration
- MT
- Master of Taxation
- EdD
- Doctorate of Education
- EdS
- Educational Specialist
- PhD
- Doctor of Philosophy
- PsyD
- Doctorate of Psychology
- Juris Doctor
- Doctor of Jurisprudence
Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
Biomedical Engineering
About this Program
In this program, you'll combine coursework in engineering and life sciences to conduct independent research in the human health and well-being fields. You'll learn to merge engineering principles with science to understand health-related problems and design innovative solutions, including methods, devices and software.
As a biomedical engineer, you'll focus on technological and medical advancements to develop new devices and equipment that improve human health. You might design software for medical equipment, create computer simulations to test new drug therapies, build artificial body parts like hip and knee joints, develop materials for replacements or design rehabilitative exercise equipment.
Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
Computer Engineering
About this Program
From smartphones to cars to medical devices, computers are changing our lives. The master of science in computer engineering challenges students who want to improve the world around them through continuous technological advancement. Graduate students expand on their computer architecture foundation by advancing their math and science skills and improving their ability to articulate why their work matters. Courses cover program design, troubleshooting, hardware design systems testing and more.
Students have the opportunity to work within Colorado's computer and electrical engineering fields while taking specialized, flexible courses that don't conflict with regular business hours. Program graduates work as computer software engineers, computer hardware engineers and systems engineers spanning several industries, corporations and countries.
Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
Computer Science
About this Program
Our PhD program in computer science prepares students to lead within computer science and related fields at the highest technical and academic levels. Students take part in advanced, original research, sharpen their skills at modern software engineering, study cutting-edge technology and tools, and focus their efforts on a specialization of their choice. We support specializations in artificial intelligence, computational geometry, humane games, graphics, networks, parallel and distributed algorithms, security and privacy, and software systems engineering.
With small classes and faculty who themselves pursue nationally recognized research efforts, you will find the support you need to excel. In addition to specialization, courses on web technology, multimedia, networks, databases, data science, cybersecurity and computer game development ensure your education has ample breadth as well. You'll leave DU well equipped to professionally pursue your field of specialization, assume leadership roles in corporations or organizations, or contribute at the highest levels of academia.
Morgridge College of Education
Counseling
About this Program
For individuals who have already earned an eligible Master’s degree, the 18-credit Certificate in Counseling provides the opportunity to earn additional counseling credits through coursework in our CACREP-accredited School Counseling MA degree program. Depending on individual states' school/mental health counseling licensure requirements, districts' salary schedule, and/or other circumstances, the credits completed through the Certificate in Counseling may position students for eligibility for additional credential(s) and/or earning potential.
The program can be completed in as few as nine months (depending on start term and course offerings) and is offered in a fully online format with weekly, synchronous live class meetings held in evenings via video conferencing software. The program consists of eight credits of required coursework and ten credits of elective coursework. Individual student plans of study will be determined through collaboration with Program leadership.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Emergent Digital Practices
About this Program
Our MA in emergent digital practices is a two-year degree that gives you the opportunity to analyze and contextualize various areas of study in relation to technology and digital tools while also materializing an engaging public project that demonstrates your voice. We work with creative students who think critically and work in spaces beyond the defined and familiar. To complete the degree program, you’ll create a thesis project that will serve as a portfolio and example for future employers of how you engage and empower others with thoughtfully applied technologies.
You may choose to explore interdisciplinary ideas and practices, including digital design, tangible interaction, data visualization, 3D animation, sonic environments and modeling. The technical and creative problem-solving skills you can develop will leave you poised for success in the artistic or entrepreneurial worlds, where forward-thinking analysis fuses with tangible applications. Graduates have established careers as game designers, open hardware and software creators, art directors or technology critics — roles where their unique combination of skills and perspectives are valued.
This program is not currently accepting applications.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Emergent Digital Practices
About this Program
Our MFA in emergent digital practices is a three-year, technically advanced degree in which you'll use new technologies to produce creative works. Through access to state-of-art spaces and hands-on opportunities to master diverse digital tools, you can push the boundaries of artistic and critical expression. As an MFA student, you'll complete your degree by creating and publicly showcasing a body of original artwork.
MFA students explore art forms ranging from interactive to visual to sonic. The technical and creative problem-solving skills emergent digital practices students develop leave them poised for success in the arts. Graduates have established fulfilling careers as open software or hardware designers, installation artists, curators, technology critics, gallery owners and academics.
This program is not currently accepting applications.
Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
Engineering
About this Program
A Master of Science in Engineering will help you advance your career and provide you with a strong foundation in engineering and innovation. Whether you are looking to expand your career options or develop your expertise in engineering, your MS in Engineering will be tailored to you with relevant career paths and interdisciplinary skillsets in mind. You will enhance your core skills while expanding the breadth of your knowledge with flexible elective requirements and an optional concentration in management.
Our graduates enter the workforce with a strong foundation in innovation and entrepreneurship, and the ability to use concrete tools to translate ideas and initiative into marketplace success. Our students have gone on to become leaders in various engineering fields with top-rated companies in both the public and private sectors. Career opportunities span a variety of fields, including software development, construction project management, and product engineering.
University College
Project Management (IT)
About this Program
Develop strategies to manage complex, large-scale projects by learning the tools and techniques of project management as part of our MS in information and communications technology with a concentration in project management program. Through the use of hands-on case studies and project management software, you will learn to apply agile concepts, design risk-management plans and assess project contracts. You'll also determine how projects can fit into an organization's strategic vision, develop your understanding of financing and budgets, and gain skills that can make you a vital part of a successful project.
You can supplement your degree with electives in other topics in IT, and you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with your peers and expand your professional network. Earn your MS in information and communications technology with a concentration in project management entirely online or in the evenings on campus through the University of Denver's University College. The curriculum has been developed to align with the Project Management Institute's (PMI®) "Project Management Body of Knowledge" (PMBOK® Guide) and prepares students to take the PMP® Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certification Exam.
Morgridge College of Education
School Counseling
About this Program
For individuals who have already earned an eligible Master’s degree, the 24-credit Certificate in School Counseling leads to recommendation for the Colorado Special Services Provider License as a School Counselor and may lead to eligibility as a school counselor in various other states, depending on credentialing requirements in each individual state at the time of application.
Through coursework from the CACREP-accredited School Counseling MA degree, this certificate program offers focused school counseling content to prepare counselors to meet the academic, career, and social/emotional needs of students from diverse backgrounds within P-12 school systems. This certificate requires two 300-hour internship experiences, completed in a P-12 school in your community, which are integrated into the coursework (i.e., COUN 4910, COUN 4920). The program can be completed in as few as three quarters (depending on start term and course offerings) and is offered in a fully online format with weekly, synchronous live class meetings held in evenings via video conferencing software.
University College
Software Design and Programming
About this Program
Learn how to develop web-based applications from start to finish while advancing your skills at software design and programming. Through hands-on instruction, you'll gain experience in object-oriented methods and programming, learning a spectrum of languages such Java, C#, PHP and Python within frameworks such as J2EE, .NET and Ruby on Rails. Whether working in a traditional client-server architecture or more contemporary cloud-based architecture, you'll learn how to apply fundamental client-side and server-side constructs. The software design and programming program prepares you to generate program code, create database queries and compare integrated development environments (IDEs).
Along with technical skills, you'll have the chance to develop perspective on the business needs of today's companies. You can earn your MS in information and communications technology with a concentration in software design and programming entirely online or in the evenings on campus through the University of Denver's University College. Beyond the coursework dedicated to software, you also can choose electives from other IT areas, including web design, security and database design.
University College
Web Design and Development
About this Program
Learn to create interactive, web-based applications that support the demands of contemporary business through the web design and development program. You'll get hands-on instruction in UX principles, information architecture and web design. Explore how the worlds of web design and development collide, and compare and contrast potential solutions for web, app and mobile scenarios. Not only that, you'll also learn to use popular programming languages and frameworks to meet the demands of today's business environments.
You can earn your MS in information and communications technology with a concentration in web design and development entirely online or in the evenings on campus through the University of Denver's University College. Beyond the coursework dedicated to web design, you also can choose electives from other IT areas, including security, mobile app development and software programming. You also can combine your degree with a 24-week coding boot camp offered as a non-credit program through the Center for Professional Development.
