About the College of Applied Human Sciences

Welcome to the College of Applied Human Sciences! Our goal is to help students learn to apply creative interdisciplinary research to solve social problems. In our College, students have the opportunity to apply state-of-the-art technology and integrated problem solving skills to real world situations. Whether the field is education, individual and family development, health or human services, housing, or design, the programs in the College of Applied Human Sciences are aimed at improving the quality of life for all people.

For prospective students, if you enjoy working with people - this is the college for you! We are human-centered with a focus on educating students for people oriented professions. We want you to have a rewarding and memorable experience at Colorado State University!

College Mission

The mission of the College of Applied Human Sciences is to advance discovery, learning, and engagement that enhance the well-being of people, the environment in which they live, and address complex societal issues.

Quick facts about the College of Applied Human Sciences

Undergraduate Students

  • The College of Applied Human Sciences had the second highest enrollment of all colleges on CSU's campus with 4,018 students (enrollment including teacher licensure, secondary majors and minors is 5,145).
  • Our College is home to three of the five most popular undergraduate majors: Health and Exercise Science, Construction Management, and Human Development and Family Studies.
  • Last year, we awarded 970 Bachelor's degrees.

Graduate Students

  • The College has the largest graduate student enrollment of any college at CSU with 775 students.
  • Last year, the College awarded 359 Master's degrees and 58 Doctoral degrees.
  • The Department of Occupational Therapy is ranked 8th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

Faculty and Staff

The College has 110 tenured/tenure-track faculty members, 96 non-tenure track faculty members, and 124 professional and classified staff members. These numbers include 9 Extension Specialists.

Undergraduate Programs

The College of Applied Human Sciences offers a variety of undergraduate majors: construction management, apparel and merchandising, interior design, nutrition and food science, restaurant and resort management, health and exercise science, human development and family studies, and family and consumer sciences. Undergraduate enrollment has grown steadily over recent years, a clear indication of the College's responsiveness to changing marketplace needs. Our units are successful in placing graduates in jobs related to their course of study. Placement rates are consistently high — up to 100% for select programs. Click here to learn more about our Academic Programs.

Graduate Programs

Each of the academic units in the College has a program leading to the master's degree and several offer a Ph.D. option. For detailed information about graduate programs consult individual department/school descriptions in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin and at the Academic Programs link for the College. Click here to learn more about our Academic Programs.

Research

Colorado State University is one of the nation’s leading research universities. College faculty members are actively engaged in research, tackling critical issues on a wide range of human concerns from diabetes, heart disease and childhood obesity to child development and educational reform, to sustainable design and healthy aging. Students (both graduate and undergraduate) have the opportunity to work alongside faculty and participate in cutting-edge research. In FY 2009, College faculty members received 78 research awards, totaling more than $16 million. More information on CSU’s research awards program can be found at http://web.research.colostate.edu/datacenter/

Engagement

The College of Applied Human Sciences houses 20 different Institutes and Centers designed to provide a broad range of outreach activities in keeping with our land-grant heritage and the University goal of applying intellectual and academic resources to social, economic and community development in Colorado, the nation, and the world. Our faculty members are engaged in real-world partnerships which assist our fellow citizens, and provide our students with unparalleled learning opportunities. More information on our outreach activities can be found at http://www.cahs.colostate.edu/outreach.aspx.

Student Leadership Opportunities

There are many opportunities for students to develop leadership skills, combine fun with learning, develop their skills through internships and service learning projects, and make valuable contacts with potential employers. These include:

For example, members of the Dean's Leadership Council learn how to use initiative, team-building and communication for successful leadership.

Integrated Technology

The College is committed to ensuring the best possible experiences for students by integrating industry-specific technologies into programs from apparel design to construction management. By working with faculty, students, and industry leaders, the College offers an exciting, real-world experience in the application of technology throughout our curriculum. Students have access to many technology-related services, software, and equipment in the CAHS Computer Labs located across campus. In addition to computer lab access, students also have access to services and applications via the College's eCAHS system—a web-based portal that allows access to a virtual desktop.

About Fort Collins

Colorado State University, which has a total enrollment of over 25,000 full-time students, is located in Fort Collins, 60 miles north of Denver. The community of about 150,000 is situated along the beautiful front range of the Rocky Mountains. Other major employers in the community include Hewlett-Packard, LSI Logic, Agilent Technologies, Advanced Energy, Kodak, Anheuser-Busch, and Poudre Valley Hospital. There are also several state and federal research agencies in Fort Collins that contribute to the intellectual environment of the university. These include the State Forest Service, the US Forest Service, the US Geological Survey, the National Wildlife Research Center, the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The University of Colorado in Boulder, the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Denver University in Denver, the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and the University of Wyoming in Laramie, are all within a one-hour drive. In addition to the many and varied cultural activities sponsored by the University, the community offers a center for performing arts, a symphony orchestra, repertory theater, choral society, and dance company. The city operates an indoor Olympic-size pool and ice arena, other indoor and outdoor pools, five public golf courses, and sponsors, through its Parks and Recreation Department, a cornucopia of leisure-time activities. Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest are within 30 miles of Fort Collins. Fort Collins was recently identified as the best city to live by Money Magazine. View the article

Fort Collins and Colorado Information