Compass Curriculum

What is Compass Curriculum

students walking on campus with El Pomar clocktower in the background

The Compass Curriculum is the signature undergraduate education program at UCCS for all majors and all colleges. This program endeavors to provide you with the tools for professional and personal success that you will need when you graduate. 

All parts of the program incorporate the skills employers say they want students to have from their education (critical thinking, oral and written communication, ethics, innovation, problem-solving, understanding inclusiveness, and sustainability).

Through the Years

Year 1 (Gateway)

During your first year at UCCS, we highly recommend completing the following foundational courses. These courses lay the groundwork for success in future years and are sometimes required pre-requisites for more advanced courses.

Education Framework

  • Gateway Program Seminar
  • Core Writing One: English 1310, 1308, or 1300/1305
  • Core Writing Two: ENGL 1410, TCID 2080, TCID 2090, or INOV 2100
  • Quantitative Reasoning: Requirements vary by UCCS college and major

Years Two and Three (Explore and Navigate)

Although you may take them at any point in your degree plan, most students complete the following requirements in years two and three while also taking courses in their major. In some cases, students may select from any UCCS course that holds these designations, but in some majors you are required to take a specific course to meet the requirement.

Education Framework:

  • Explore: Arts, Humanities, and Culture
  • Explore: Society, Health, and Behavior
  • Explore: Physical and Natural World
  • Inclusiveness
  • Sustainability
  • Navigate
  • Writing Intensive (two courses, one must be at the 3000 or 4000 level)

Senior Year (Summit)

As you near graduation, you will be required to take a "Summit" course in your major that gives you opportunities to apply your learning to authentic contexts and real-world problems. You will also complete your Writing Portfolio requirement either by earning a grade of S (Satisfactory) in PORT 3000 or PORT 4000 or by earning a C- or better in ENGL 3010 or TCID 3080.

Education Framework:

  • Summit Experience: Varies by major
  • Writing Portfolio Requirement
    • PORT 3000 (0-credit, $25 fee)
    • PORT 4000 (1-credit)
    • ENGL 3010 (3-credits)
    • TCID 3080 (3-credits)