2026 Course Information

Course options for the 2026ÌýWinter Session will be announced in the fall. FillÌýout theÌýrequest informationÌýform to receive an emailÌýonce classes are available. 

Winter Session course offerings vary every year and include a variety of topics. They often include 1-3 credit, upper and lower- level, Arts and Sciences courses. Below you will find a sample of previous winter courses to give you a sense of what you might expect to take:Ìý

ANTH 1155: Exploring Global Cultural Diversity: Water & Society

ATOC 1050: Weather and the Atmosphere

EDUC 3013: School and Society

ETHN 3314: Violence Against Women and Girls

LING 1000: Language in US Society

ORGN 4040: Individual, Team and Organizational Development

PSCI 3163: American Foreign Policy

CMDP 2100: Approaches to Historical Media Practices

ENGL 3026: Syntax, Citation, Analysis: Writing About Literature

ETHN 3702: African American Sport Experience

MDST 1002: Introduction to Social Media

PACS 3700: Communication and Conflict Management

PSYC 3131: Human Emotion

ARTS 1171: Photography for Non-Majors

EBIO 3180: Global Ecology

ETHN 2536: Survey of Chicana/o History and Culture

IPHY 2420: Introduction to Nutrition

MDST 3002: Digital Culture and Politics

PHIL 2240: Philosophy and Sports

SOCY 3016: Marriage and the Family in the United StatesÌý

In general, Winter Session courses are delivered in an online, asynchronous instruction mode. In an asynchronous course, assignments have fixed due dates, but your interactions with course content, other students, and the instructor are flexible. Some Winter Session courses do incorporate more collaborative work and group projects which may require periodic synchronous Zoom meetings or discussions.Ìý

Be sure to consult with your academic advisor to ensure your Winter Session course meets the degree requirements for your specific degree program.Ìý

Credit Load Limit

Given the condensed nature of these courses, you may enroll in a maximum of four credits during Winter Session. We recommend you be in good academic standing. You should plan to spend the same number of hours actively participating online as you would in a traditional, full-semester course. Due to the accelerated time frame, Winter Session courses require a greater time commitment each week. Be prepared to spend approximately 35-45 hours per week on coursework for a three-credit course.

Winter Session courses count as part of your spring semester credit load. For example, if you take 3 credits during Winter Session and 15 credits during the spring semester, you will have a total of 18 credits for the Spring Term. You should keep in mind theÌýcredit limit policyÌýper semester when planning your Winter Session and regular spring semester classes. For most students the credit limit is 21 credit hours. Some colleges may have different credit limits.

Below, you can find general guidance for credit overload petitioning by school/college.ÌýPlease contact your college if you have additional questions about semester credit limits, the 4-credit limit for Winter SessionÌýand credit overload petitions.

A&S students who are at their spring credit limit, please refer to the Credit Overload Petition. Additional questions should be sent to: ASPetitions@colorado.edu.

Things to note:

  • A&S will only allow students to take one Winter Session course. Petitions for any more than that will be denied.
  • Although waitlisted classes count toward a student's credit limit, students should only submit these petitions if they are fully enrolled for the semester (not waitlisted). The petition will not be considered otherwise.
  • A&S will notify CE Enrollment Services if/when a student needs to be overridden into a Winter Session class as a result of their petition being approved.Ìý

Engineering students are directed to submit a College of Engineering and Applied Science, Student Petition form for credit overloads.ÌýÌý

Engineering students are limited to 19 credits in the spring semester. If your total spring enrollment will exceed 19 credits only because of a Winter Session course, a petition is not required. Email engineeringdeansoffice@colorado.edu to request enrollment in your final course (include course and section numbers). You should enroll in your Winter Session course first, then request assistance enrolling in one of your Main Campus spring courses.Ìý

ÌýIf you will be taking a Winter Session course and want to take more than 19 credits in the regular spring semester, you must complete a College of Engineering & Applied Science petition form to request a credit overload. Please contact your academic advisor with questions.Ìý

Business students should contact their Leeds Academic AdvisorÌýin order toÌýget a petition form.

For credit overloads, students need to submit a .

The normal academic load for an undergraduate student in the College of Music is 15 to 17 credit hours. Enrollment in fewer than 12 credit hours or more than 19 must be approved by the Undergraduate Associate Dean,ÌýMatthew RoederÌý(roeder@colorado.edu).Ìý

School of Education students should petition for a credit hour overload using the School of Education Student Petition form. See your School of Education academic advisor if you have questions.Ìý

Students should email exploratorystudies@colorado.edu inquiring about overload requests.

Nondegree students may not petition to go over the 4 credit limit.