Prospective Students
All prospective students must complete the University of Colorado Denver application to start the admissions process. The application deadlines are: Fall Semester - August 1st; Spring Semester - January 1st; Summer Semester - May 15th.
Some CAM majors have additional admission requirements. Please carefully review the application information below for each department:
In addition to being admitted to CU Denver, the Film & Television Program requires a Secondary Film & Television Application for all applicants. Applicants must first apply to CU Denver. Once they apply, they will get a ToDo message in their CU Denver Applicant Portal with a link to the secondary application. An applicant must be admitted to CU Denver and have completed the secondary application by the deadlines below.
Spring 2024 Applicant Deadlines:
Application deadline: January 10th, 2023
Fall 2024 Applicant Deadlines:
Early application deadline: January 1st
Regular application deadline: May 1st
Final application deadline: July 1st - Applicants applying after July 1st will be considered on a space-available and case-by-case basis.
As listed above: New CU Denver students will complete the FIlm and TV application through their application portal after they apply to CU Denver.
Current CU Denver students who want to switch their major to Film & Television can submit the Film & Television Secondary Application here.
Our goal is to notify applicants of their admission decision within a month after application submission.
Learn more about the application process and our program by attending an on Film & TV Department Tour or a CAM Virtual Info Session.
The Music & Entertainment Industry Studies Department offers both non-audition track programs (Music Business and Recording Arts) and audition track programs (Music Performance, Singer/Songwriter, Songwriter Entrepreneur, Music Business, and Recording Arts).
Non-Audition Track Programs: The MEIS non-audition programs in Recording Arts and Music Business are designed for students who seek careers working behind-the-scenes in the music industry and want minimal required performance courses in the curriculum.
Non-Audition Track Application Deadlines: Non-audition track applicants are not required to complete any additional requirements for admission other than being accepted to CU Denver. Non-audition track students can start during any CU Denver semester. The deadline to apply for the non-audition track programs are the same as the university application deadlines:
Audition Track Programs: The audition track programs are designed for students who seek careers as performers in the music industry and want lots of performance training and applied lessons in the curriculum. MEIS offers four audition track programs: Music Performance, Music Business - Audition Track, Recording Arts - Audition Track, and Singer/Songwriter. The audition track programs generally admit students for a Fall Semester start but exceptions can be made for transfer students who prefer to start in the Spring Semester. Applicants who do not complete the audition track requirements or who don't pass their audition can start in a non-audition track program.
Audition Track Deadlines for Fall Semester Applicants:
To schedule an audition please email the faculty member listed on the audition requirement page for your instrument (below).
Guitar (Commercial, Jazz, Electric)
Voice (Contemporary, Commercial)
Songwriter Entrepreneur
* For these two programs, applicants must accompany themselves on either piano or guitar.
* Music Business and Recording
Arts Audition Track applicants cannot choose the songwriter programs for
their instrument.
MEIS Open Houses - We host MEIS Open House events on each audition date. Each Open House consists of a MEIS Overview session, a Q&A panel with current MEIS students, the opportunity to sit-in on a General Recital class, a faculty meet and greet, and a tour of our music facilities and recording studios. Attending an Open House is a sure way to get all your questions answered and to make sure that MEIS is the right fit for you. When scheduling an audition, make sure to also register to attend an Open House:
We also provide individual on-campus tours of campus and our music spaces for applicants and families. With at least two weeks notice, we are available for tours on most weekdays. Please reach out to Dave Walter at david.walter@ucdenver.edu to schedule a music tour.
Applying to the CU Denver Visual Arts Department is easy! A portfolio is not required to start in any of our Visual Arts Department Programs. Applicants just need to apply and be admitted to CU Denver to start in our programs.
The 3D Graphics & Animation, Digital Design, and Illustration majors require a portfolio submission after the completion of pre-portfolio courses. The portfolio submission happens after the first or second semester at CU Denver depending on the program. Passing a portfolio is required for students to advance to upper level program courses in these programs. That vast majority of students pass the portfolio because the pre-portfolio courses prepare students to pass. Visit the specific program pages and click on the curriculum map links to see details about the typical class schedule and when the portfolio submission happens.
Transfer students to one of these three programs who will have completed many of the pre-portfolio course listed for the major prior to starting at CU Denver should inquire about submitting a portfolio prior to starting at CU Denver. Passing a portfolio prior to starting would reduce the number of semesters that a student would need to complete at CU Denver to graduate. Please contact Visual Arts Department Chair, Michelle Carpenter, at michelle.carpenter@ucdenver.edu for information about portfolio requirements and deadlines.
The Art History, Art Practices, and Photography majors don't require a portfolio at all.
Learn more about the application process and our program by attending a CAM Virtual Info Session or on-campus Visual Arts Department Tour or Preview Day. See virtual and in-person prospective student event options here.
The CU Denver College of Arts & Media offers two graduate Master of Science programs:
If you have any questions about the application process for any of the College of Arts & Media majors, please contact the Director of Enrollment Management, David Walter, at 303-315-7487 or david.walter@ucdenver.edu.
CU Denver
Arts Building
1150 10th Street
Suite 177
Denver, CO 80204
303-315-7400