The University of Colorado at Boulder is located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains at an altitude of 5,400 feet. Boulder is a medium-sized (100,000 residents) city 35 miles northwest of Denver. In addition to the opportunities provided by the University, the city hosts a lively restaurant and entertainment scene and unsurpassed recreational opportunities in the nearby mountains, including world class skiing, climbing, hiking, and cycling. The city is committed to preserving its beautiful natural environment and is surrounded by 26,000 acres of open space.

THE UNIVERSITY

The University of Colorado opened its doors in September 5, 1877 with 44 students and one instructor. Today, the Boulder campus enrolls approximately 26,000 students from every state in the US and more than 80 other countries. The campus offers more than 2,500 different courses in over 150 fields of study. It is ranked as one of the top four universities in the US for academics, quality of life and social life in the Fiske Guide to Colleges, 2000. It is ranked 10th among all public research universities and third among "rising research universities."

The University has made a commitment to enhancing student access to information technologies. In addition to making computers available to students in every building on campus, the University offers a Technology, Arts and Media Certificate through which students can gain technical skills appropriate to their academic interests.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR: 

                             2001-2002                   2002-2003

TIRES students should plan to arrive in Boulder two weeks prior to the start of classes to find housing and attend an orientation session. For more details, see the TIRES website at the University of Colorado.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

Students will normally enroll in three courses/semester at the University of Colorado. Most courses are 3 credits, or 6 ECTS credits.

Core courses for the TIRES program include "City Life: Immigrants and Transnationalism" (offered Fall semester) and "Transnationalism, Xenophobia, and Citizenship." (offered Spring semester). Students will be expected to enroll in both courses.

Beyond the core courses, students will enroll in other courses that are approved by the local advisor as satisfying the TIRES curriculum. Students can expect to select from the following courses:

In addition to these courses, research methods and special topics courses are offered each semester. Opportunities for independent study and internships are also available.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

Visas and Residency: Students are required to apply to the US Consulate for their visa. The University of Colorado provides assistance with other residency issues while attending CU.

Housing: Students may choose to live on campus in dormitories or in an apartment off campus. Dormitories typically offer shared rooms and common areas, rather than single-rooms. Room and board in the dormitories is approximately $2,750 per semester. The University of Colorado and the local advisor provide some assistance with housing, but students ultimately are responsible for finding housing if they live off campus.

Medical: If students cannot transfer their state health insurance to the US, they may enroll in a CU plan for $1,200.

Fees and other expenses: Students should budget approximately $3,000 for fees, books, and personal expenses during the academic year.

CONTACTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Lynn A. Staeheli
Program on Political and Economic Change
Institute of Behavioral Science
Campus Box 487
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0487
303-447-0612
lynner@spot.colorado.edu

University of Colorado home page: http://www.colorado.edu/

University of Colorado TIRES website:  http://www.colorado.edu/ibs/tires