What is IDP?

The Individualized Degree Program (IDP) is an academically sound nontraditional undergraduate program. Students develop an interdisciplinary degree in collaboration with a faculty advisor and the Center for Individualized Learning to meet specific educational goals not met by other majors/minors at the university.

IDP Options

  1. IDP Major: 40 credit hours, including 21 upper division credits
  2. IDP Extended Major: 60 credit hours, including 30 upper division credits (for students in catalog years before 2024-5)
  3. IDP Minor: 20 credit hours, including 6 upper division credits (a major must be chosen from the catalog)

Two IDP Paths:

  1. Student Designed IDP – Students work with an IDP advisor to evaluate their completed courses, examine possible paths to graduation, discuss their interests, and ultimately design their own degree.
  2. Faculty Designed IDPs – Students select from a list of degree options that are not yet in the catalog but are being developed by faculty for possible inclusion based on need and interest. These faculty designed programs are sometimes called incubators or emerging programs.

Is IDP right for you?

Five minute video that describes IDP requirements and process. Read the transcript at https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IDP-Video-Transcription.pdf

Before meeting with an advisor, please watch this video and review requirements. Read the transcript.

IDP Student Learning Outcomes

Through the IDP process I will: 

  1. Synthesize my fields of study into a coherent IDP concept. 
  2. Evaluate the specific skills, competencies, and expertise I learned through my IDP coursework and relate them to my IDP concept and my academic, professional, and/or personal goals. 
  3. Professionally communicate the meaning, content, and value of my IDP to diverse audiences. 

IDP Requirements

The Individualized Degree Program (IDP) is a personalized education in which you will undertake with the assistance of your IDP Advisor and a faculty advisor. In order to participate in an IDP, it is required that you contact an IDP advisor. Timely graduation is dependent upon your full engagement, follow-up, communication, and participation throughout the entire IDP process.

All IDP students must complete an IDP proposal including a degree plan and a rationale essay. The final proposal must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor, chair of the department where the IDP has the most credits, appropriate dean, and the Director of the Center for Individualized Learning.

Generative AI Policy

The use of generative AI is restricted to specific and rare circumstances in the IDP process. Students should not use such tools unless specifically called for in written directions or under guidance of the IDP Advisor or IDP Faculty Advisor. Any use of generative AI in the creation of submitted work for your IDP will be treated as a violation of academic integrity under MSU Denver’s Student Code of Conduct & Academic Responsibilities.

Examples of acceptable use:

  • Using Grammarly to check for correct sentence structure or other grammatical issues.
  • Using ChatGPT to brainstorm title ideas.

Examples of unacceptable use:

  • Using ChatGPT to write any part of the IDP essay.

IDP Advisors - Schedule an appointment

Photo of cat lying on its back used as Dani's profile picture

Danielle Rado, Ph.D. (she/her)

Individualized Degree Specialist

Schedule an appointment with Dani
Ms. Lisa's IDP Venn Diagram for profile photo

Lisa Kirscht, J.D., M.S. (she/her)

Lead Individualized Degree Specialist

Schedule an appointment with Lisa
Staff photo for CIL Director Sara Jackson Schumate

Sara Jackson Shumate, Ph.D. (she/her)

Director

ONLY schedule if you are an aerospace student OR specifically referred to Sara

Schedule an appointment with Sara (aerospace and specific referrals only)
Picture of Grendel, CIL Staff mascot

Not sure who to schedule with?

You can either use Navigate to find the first available appointment with Dani or Lisa, or fill out the CIL contact form

[email protected] 303-615-0525 Fill out the CIL contact form

Student FAQs

Contact the Center for Individualized Learning

Contact Us

Campus Location:
Central Classroom, Room 223

Mailing Address:
Campus Box 50, MSU Denver PO Box 173362 Denver, CO 80217-3362

 

Phone:
303-615-0525

Email:
[email protected]