University of Denver AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of Denver?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: No explicit policy (No explicit policy)
- •College of Professional Studies (Bachelor's): AI use prohibited
- •College of Professional Studies (Master's): AI use prohibited
- •Graduate School of Social Work (MSW): AI use prohibited
- •Professional Writing - Dramatic Writing MA: AI use prohibited
- •Professional Writing - Creative Nonfiction Writing MA: AI use prohibited
- •Information Technology - Web Design & Development MS: AI use prohibited
Last verified: 2026-02-18 (no change from 2025-09-19) • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Grammar and spell-checking tools
- Getting human feedback on drafts
✗Avoid
- Submitting AI-generated paragraphs as your own
💡No explicit policy doesn't mean AI is allowed — err on the side of caution
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“No AI-specific admissions essay policy found on main undergraduate or graduate admissions pages”
— First-Year Application Checklist(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
College of Professional Studies (Bachelor's)
“written in your own words and unique voice, without the help of AI-based assistance”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
College of Professional Studies (Master's)
“written in your own words and unique voice, without the help of AI-based assistance”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
Graduate School of Social Work (MSW)
“AI-based assistance is not permitted”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: career goals statement
Professional Writing - Dramatic Writing MA
“written in your own words and unique voice, without the help of AI-based assistance”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
Professional Writing - Creative Nonfiction Writing MA
“written in your own words and unique voice, without the help of AI-based assistance”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
Information Technology - Web Design & Development MS
“written in your own words and unique voice, without the help of AI-based assistance”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | No explicit policy | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| College of Professional Studies (Bachelor's) | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| College of Professional Studies (Master's) | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| Graduate School of Social Work (MSW) | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| Professional Writing - Dramatic Writing MA | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| Professional Writing - Creative Nonfiction Writing MA | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| Information Technology - Web Design & Development MS | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (15)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://www.du.edu/admission-aid/undergraduate/first-year-applicants/application-checklist
- https://www.du.edu/admission-aid/undergraduate/how-to-apply
- https://www.du.edu/admission-aid/undergraduate/first-year-applicants/admission-standards
- https://www.du.edu/graduate-education/admission/prospective-students/admission-policies-procedures
- https://bulletin.du.edu/graduate/admission-and-enrollment-policies/admission-process-and-standards-for-all-applicants/supplemental-documents/
- https://studentaffairs.du.edu/student-rights-responsibilities/honor-code
- https://academicaffairs.du.edu/writing/content/statement-generative-ai-and-writing
- https://daniels.du.edu/graduate-admissions/
- https://www.law.du.edu/admissions
- https://www.du.edu/academics/admission-steps/computer-science-ms-2026-2027
- https://www.du.edu/academics/admission-steps/higher-education-ma-2025-2026
- https://www.du.edu/academics/admission-steps/international-studies-ma-2025-2026
- https://www.du.edu/academics/admission-steps/library-information-science-library-and-information-science-mlis-2026-2027
- https://www.du.edu/artificial-intelligence/resources
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-18 (current) | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L0 | D0 | E0 | Medium |
Additional Context
No university-wide admissions AI policy exists. Main undergraduate and graduate admissions pages are silent on AI use in essays. However, multiple programs have explicit L4 prohibitions: College of Professional Studies (both bachelor's and master's), Graduate School of Social Work (MSW, for Fall 2026+), Professional Writing MA programs (Dramatic Writing and Creative Nonfiction), and IT Web Design & Development MS all require personal statements 'without the help of AI-based assistance.' Other programs checked (Computer Science, Higher Education, MLIS, International Studies, Daniels MBA, Law) have no AI-specific admissions language. The university Writing Program's generative AI statement is permissive but explicitly scoped to classroom contexts, not admissions. Honor Code does not mention AI and applies only to enrolled students.
Frequently Asked Questions
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