Cultivate
Provides opportunities inside and outside the classroom to cultivate and enhance your overall learning and academic experience.
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Individualized Degree Program (IDP)
Explore the Individualized Degree Major
Students come to IDP to pursue interests that cannot be met by existing major or minor programs. Students work with an IDP specialist to create a customized degree to match their skills and experience with their education, and/or to find an efficient path to graduation.
No matter how or when you come to IDP – whether you are straight out of high school, transferring, or after taking a few years off of university – we will help you design an IDP major to meet your goals.
What Are Milestones?
Milestones are activities students should complete and skills they should develop during their first year, middle years and final year at MSU Denver.
Major Milestones help prospective and current students explore major and career options and create a year-by-year plan that makes the most of their time at MSU Denver and sets them up for post-graduation success.
Career Milestones provide ways to explore options for jobs and/or attending graduate school after graduation and help students understand the types of essential skills employers look for.
Both types of Milestones integrate curricular (what happens inside the classroom), co-curricular (what happens inside and outside the classroom), and non-curricular (what happens outside the classroom) experiences.
Career Milestones Resources
There are nine essential skills you should have in order to find, acquire, maintain, and grow within a job.
Learn more about essential skills.
Students graduating from IDP find themselves in career and graduate school paths based on the skills and experiences they design into their IDP major.
Explore career opportunities by major.
Students who choose to pursue a graduate degree often consider a variety of pathways depending on their experiences and interests.
Learn more about applying to graduate school.
Major Milestones Resources
Learn more about Major Milestones for your major and how to make the most of your time at MSU Denver!
How to Get the Most Out of This Page
Follow These Steps
- Click on your year in school from the list below.
- Read the steps listed in each category: Cultivate, Engage and Prepare.
- Complete any necessary steps listed.
- Check out further resources by connecting with your academic advisor, the Classroom to Career Hub, and your department faculty.
All options listed below are available in-person and online unless noted otherwise.
Major Milestones Categories
Engage
Highlights activities you can engage and participate in globally, nationally and locally to enhance your essential skills and start building your resume.
Prepare
Lists steps to prepare for postgraduate success whether that's entering the workforce, attending graduate school or pursuing other goals and plans.
Arrive! What to Explore During Your First Year at MSU Denver
- Attend orientation and register for classes.
- Meet with your Academic Advisor.
- Complete FAFSA/CASFA/COF and the General Scholarship Application.
- Join a student organization and get connected to support on campus.
- Declare a major, (explore our fully online programs!) or meet with an exploratory advisor to learn about options.
- Attend signature events on campus (Convocation, Fall Fest, Spring Fling, etc.).
- Check out Career Link for on campus and career-aligned jobs.
- Attend Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) career workshops and events.
- Write your early experience resume and utilize resume resources from the C2Hub.
- Review the requirements for the IDP major.
- Meet with an IDP advisor to learn about the IDP process and to gain access to the Canvas IDP Student Center.
- Complete the IDP orientation and student agreement.
- Identify and consult with a faculty advisor to develop a list of courses that will go into your IDP major and submit a draft of your IDP Worksheet.
- Use academic resources such as tutoring and the Writing Center.
- Shadow or interview a professional and/or faculty member in your IDP focus area to learn more about skills needed in your field to include in your IDP plan.
- Build your social network by joining a student club related to your area of interest.
- Join the IDP LinkedIn group and follow IDP on LinkedIn.
- Discuss with your faculty advisor potential career and graduate school pathways.
- Make sure your IDP plan includes all of the prerequisites required for any post-graduate programs you may be interested in attending.
- Schedule an appointment with the C2Hub to create a resume.
Thrive! Make the Most of Your Middle Years at MSU Denver
- Consider adding a minor or certificate to your chosen major.
- Explore resources like the Tutoring program or the Writing Center.
- Review the Honors Program requirements and join a community of interdisciplinary thinkers.
- Explore student leadership on campus and volunteering in your community.
- Earn credit and gain experience through an internship, study abroad, or community-engaged learning.
- Attend identity or interest-based campus events like the Richard T. Castro speaker series.
- Connect with the Undergraduate Research and Scholarship program.
- Attend an in-person Career Fair to network and secure a professional headshot.
- Connect with the Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) for opportunities for professional mentoring and job shadowing.
- Check your progress in the Canvas IDP Student Center and submit updated drafts of your IDP worksheet.
- Meet with your IDP advisor to make sure you are on track with your General Studies requirements, degree planning, and IDP proposal.
- Explore experiential learning opportunities such as Study Abroad or Undergraduate Research.
- Consider adding an internship to your IDP plan. UC 3980: Internship is a great option for IDP students.
- Meet with your IDP Faculty advisor to discuss additional courses, skills, and other opportunities that support your goals.
- Attend a professional event in one or more of your fields of study.
- Join a professional organization.
- Take on a leadership role in a student organization or volunteer for an organization.
- Apply to be a research assistant or teaching assistant if opportunities are available in one of your fields of study.
- Review job ad requirements and/or graduate school requirements that you can build into your IDP plan.
- Complete the IDP exit interview.
Soar! Maximize Your Final Year at MSU Denver
- Meet with your advisor to complete remaining graduation requirements.
- Ready to Graduate? Check out this guide from the registrar!
- Attend or present in-person at a major-specific or industry-specific conference or networking event.
- Attend in-person alumni and campus-wide networking events.
- Submit a proposal to present in-person at the Undergraduate Research Conference.
- Seek to collaborate with local civic organizations.
- Finalize your portfolio of relevant projects and skills.
- Attend in-person career-focused events with an industry-ready resume.
- Identify needs for Professional Certifications or MCAT/LSAT etc. and prepare for professional school admissions.
- Prepare and submit applications for jobs, graduate school, or relevant post-grad training.
- Submit your IDP proposal by the deadlines listed on the IDP student website.
- Meet with your IDP faculty advisor to talk about your post-graduation plans.
- Focus on completing your coursework successfully.
- Join a profession organization related to one of your fields of interest.
- Attend a conference on one of your fields or interest and/or the Undergraduate Research Conference.
- Identify and engage in an experiential learning course or activity to build your skills and connections.
- Complete the IDP Exit Survey (available in the Canvas IDP Student Center).
- Participate in an practice interview with an IDP Faculty Associate (see the Canvas IDP Student Center for more information).
- Take CPD 4100: Promoting Your Individualized Degree to help you prepare and polish your job or graduate school application materials.
- If applying to graduate school, identify and reach out to potential recommenders, and start working on your application materials.
Things every student should do at MSU Denver.
Roadrunner Upkeep
- Complete FAFSA/CASFA/COF/Scholarship Applications every year.
- Stay on track for graduation by meeting with your advisor every year and check into the Rowdy Pit Stop every semester.
- Read The Runner in your email every Monday.
Roadrunner Career Readiness
- Find and get hired for jobs during college and beyond by visiting the Classroom to Career (C2) Hub and utilize their resources for students.
- To be prepared for any opportunity that comes your way, update your resume early & often.
- Explore options for hands-on learning and graduate school & get prepared for both.
- Log in to Career Link each month to stay up to date on programs, events, and job/internship opportunities.
Roadrunner Wellbeing
- Explore wellness and belonging resources from CESA.
- Access mental wellbeing support through the Counseling Center.
- Visit Rowdy’s Corner when you need some food access support.
- Nourish your physical well-being by checking out the Rec Center and Exercise Sciences, including for-credit courses.
- Determine your need for a Health Insurance Opt-Out Waiver each semester.
Follow Us
Contact the Individualized Degree Program
Connect with Us
Phone: (303) 615-0803
Email: [email protected]
Campus Location:
Central Classroom (CN)
Suite 223