The Challenging Academically Talented Students (CATS) program is designed to prepare high school students for the next step in their academic journey at UNH by offering the ability to earn college credit, explore career pathways, and showcase academic abilities to college recruiters – all at a discounted tuition rate.
Enroll in one of our pre-approved courses that include a variety of Discovery Courses, First-Year Courses, and current topics.
- Get a head-start on college by earning UNH credits.
- Save money on college by earning credits at a discounted rate.
- Explore topics that aren't available at your high school.
- Showcase your potential and college-readiness to recruiters.
- Gain confidence in your ability to succeed in college.
Start your journey at UNH and preview our CATS application today! It's free to apply.
Applying for CATS
Ready to take the next step? Gather the following documents that will be needed to apply:
- High School Transcript
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Refer to the calendar below for term dates and deadlines.
Student Eligibility
CATS students should meet the following qualifications:
- 16 years old or older.
- Enrolled in a U.S. based school.
- Overall 3.0+ GPA or B average.
- Be on track to be admissible to a 4-year college.
CATS Enrollment Calendar
| Semester | Application Deadline | Enrollment Opens for Approved Students | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | January 7 | December 16 | January 21 |
| Summer | May 5 | March 24 | Varies depending on class |
| Fall | August 12 | July 17 | August 26 |
Pre-Approved* CATS Courses
Please select a semester, and then click into each course to preview course information and seat availability.
College of Professional Studies (CPS) - Online
ART 550: Art History: Western World
CMPL 402: Excel
COM 480: Visual Communication
EDC 504: Health Safety and Nutrition in EC Settings
HIS 411: US History: 1865 to Present
HMSV 424: Human Services and the Helping Process
HUMN 480: Introduction to Ethics
MGMT 410: Principles of Management
MKT 510: Principles of Marketing
PSY 410: Introduction to Psychology
PSY 470: Child Development
PSY 480: Infant and Toddler Development
PSY 525: Human Development
PSY 565: Core Principles of Addiction
SCI 490: Human Biology
SOCI 410: Introduction to Sociology
College of Liberal Arts (COLA)
ANTH 411: Global Perspectives on the Human Condition
ANTH 415: Humans, Fossils, DNA: The Human Story
ANTH 500: Peoples and Cultures of the World
ARTH 480: Introduction to Art History
ENGL 401: First Year Writing
MUSI 401: Introduction to Music
MUSI 405: Survey of Music in America
PHIL 424: The Future of Humanity
SPAN 401: Elementary Spanish I
College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA)
NUTR 400: Nutrition Health & Well Being
Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics (PAUL)
ADMN 502: Financial Accounting
ECON 401: Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 402: Principles of Macroeconomics
Registration for Fall 2024 opens on July 17, 2024.
College of Liberal Arts (COLA)
ANTH 411: Global Perspectives on the Human Condition
ANTH 412: Adventures in Archaeology
ANTH 415: Humans, Fossils, DNA: The Human Story
ANTH 500: Peoples and Cultures of the World
ANTH 501: World Archaeological Cultures
ANTH 550: Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
ANTH 610: Medical Anthropology
ARBC 401: Elementary Arabic I
ARTH 480: Introduction to Art History
ARTH 795: Understanding Art History: An In-Depth Overview
ARTS 501: Introductory Ceramics
ARTS 510: Principles of Design
ARTS 515: Principles of Interior Design
ARTS 525: Introductory Woodworking
ARTS 532: Introductory Drawing
ARTS 551: Introduction to Darkroom Photography
ARTS 552: Introductory Digital Photography
ARTS 567: Introductory Sculpture
ARTS 598: An Artist's Life
ARTS 610: Principles of Typography
ARTS 611: Animation and Motion Design
ARTS 614: Design and People
CHIN 401: Elementary Chinese I
CMN 456: Propaganda and Persuasion
CMN 457: Intro Language & Social Interaction
ENGL 401: First Year Writing
FREN 401: Elementary French I
GERM 401: Elementary German I
LLC 540: Film History
MUSI 401: Introduction to Music
MUSI 403: Roots of Rock
MUSI 404: Intro to Music, Media, Moving Image
MUSI 515: Music in World Cultures
PHIL 447: Artificial Intelligence, Robots, and People
POLT 402: American Politics
RUSS 401: Elementary Russian I
SPAN 401: Elementary Spanish I
College of Health and HUman Services (CHHS)
LAP 501: Lifetime Activity Program
LAP 502: Pickleball
LAP 504: Strength Training
LAP 505: Intro to Running
LAP 506: Fly Fishing
LAP 507: Yoga and Meditation
LAP 508: Vinyasa Flow Yoga
LAP 509: Standup Paddleboarding
LAP 511: Disc Golf
LAP 514: Wilderness First Aid
LAP 517: Personal Training
RMP 490: Recreation & Tourism in Society
RMP 501: Rec Services for Individuals w/ Disabilities
Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics (PAUL)
ADMN 502: Financial Accounting
ECON 401: Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 402: Principles of Macroeconomics
HGMT 401: Introduction to the Hospitality Industry
HGMT 405: Introduction to Food & Service Management with lab
College of Professional Studies (CPS) - Online
ART 512: Fundamentals of Design
CMPL 402: Excel
CMPL 525: Foundations of Cybersecurity
COM 480: Visual Communication
CRIM 425: Juvenile Justice
DAT 510: Introduction to Data Analytics
EDC 504: Health Safety and Nutrition in EC Settings
ENT 500: The Entrepreneurial Mindset
HIS 402: Great Civilizations
HIS 410: United States History to 1865
HIS 411: United States History: 1865 to Present
HMSV 424: Human Services and the Helping Process
HRM 635: Managing Conflict
HUMN 470: World Religions
LD 600: Becoming an Effective Leader
MGMT 410: Principles of Management
MKT 510: Principles of Marketing
MKT 600: Social Media Marketing
PSY 410: Introduction to Psychology
PSY 470: Child Development
PSY 525: Human Development
PSY 565: Core Principles of Addiction
SCI 490: Human Biology
SCI 502: Nutrition and Health
SCI 550: Wellness and the Human Body
SOCI 410: Introduction to Sociology
College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA)
EREC 411: Environmental & Resource Economics Perspectives
NUTR 400: Nutrition Health & Well Being
NUTR 403: Culinary Arts Skills Development
Spring 2025 coursework options will be finalized in late 2024.
Below is a the list of courses from Spring 2024 that can serve as a guideline for potential course offerings.
College of Liberal Arts (COLA)
ANTH 411: Global Perspectives on the Human Condition
ANTH 412: Adventures in Archaeology
ANTH 415: Humans, Fossils, DNA: The Human Story
ANTH 500: Peoples and Cultures of the World
ANTH 501: World Archaeological Cultures
ANTH 550: Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
ANTH 625: Sexuality in Cross-Cultural Perspective
ARTH 400: Topics in Art History
ARTH 474: Introduction to Architectural History
ARTH 480: Introduction to Art History
ARTS 501: Introductory Ceramics
ARTS 510: Principles of Design
ARTS 525: Introductory Woodworking
ARTS 532: Introductory Drawing
ARTS 551: Introduction to Darkroom Photography
ARTS 552: Introductory Digital Photography
ARTS 567: Introductory Sculpture
ARTS 598: An Artist's Life
ARTS 610: Principles of Typography
ARTS 612: Interaction & Game Design
CMN 456: Intro Language & Social Interaction
ENGL 401: First Year Writing
LLC 540: Film History
LLC 552: Comparative Literature II
LLC 444l: US Latinx Cities
LLC 535A: Prof Culture in EU - Case Study: Germany
MUSI 401: Introduction to Music
MUSI 403: Roots of Rock
MUSI 404: Intro to Music, Media, Moving Image
MUSI 405: Survey of Music in America
MUSI 472: Theory I
MUSI 515: Music in World Cultures
NAIS 400: Intro to Native American and Indigenous Studies
PHIL 424: The Future of Humanity
PHIL 447: Artificial Intelligence, Robots, and People
POLT 402: American Politics
College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA)
NUTR 400: Nutrition Health & Well Being
NUTR 403: Culinary Arts Skills Development
NUTR 405: Food and Society
SAFS 405: Sustainable Agriculture & Food Production
Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics (PAUL)
ADMN 400: Intro to Business
ADMN 502: Financial Accounting
ECON 401: Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 402: Principles of Macroeconomics
HGMT 401: Introduction to the Hospitality Industry
College of Professional Studies (CPS) - Online
ART 550: Art History: Western World
ART 512: Fundamentals of Design
BEHS 445: Homeland Security and Emergency Management
CMPL 402: Excel
CMPL 525: Foundations of Cybersecurity
COM 480: Visual Communication
CRIM 425: Juvenile Justice
DAT 510: Introduction to Data Analytics
EDC 504: Health Safety and Nutrition in EC Settings
ENT 500: The Entrepreneurial Mindset
HIS 402: Great Civilizations
HIS 410: United States History to 1865
HMSV 424: Human Services and the Helping Process
HRM 635: Managing Conflict
HUMN 470: World Religions
HUMN 480: Introduction to Ethics
LD 600: Becoming an Effective Leader
MGMT 410: Principles of Management
MKT 510: Principles of Marketing
MKT 525: Presentation Excellence in Sales
MKT 600: Social Media Marketing
PSY 410: Introduction to Psychology
PSY 470: Child Development
PSY 480: Infant and Toddler Development
PSY 525: Human Development
PSY 565: Core Principles of Addiction
SCI 470: Physical Geography
SCI 490: Human Biology
SCI 502: Nutrition and Health
SCI 528: Natural History of Northern New England
SCI 550: Wellness and the Human Body
SOCI 410: Introduction to Sociology
College of Health and HUman Services (CHHS)
LAP 501: Lifetime Activity Program
LAP 502: Pickleball
LAP 504: Strength Training
LAP 505: Intro to Running
LAP 506: Fly Fishing
LAP 507: Yoga and Meditation
LAP 508: Vinyasa Flow Yoga
LAP 511: Disc Golf
LAP 516: Cycling
LAP 517: Personal Training
RMP 490: Recreation & Tourism in Society
RMP 501: Rec Services for Individuals w/ Disabilities
RMP 563 - Rec Management & Policy Practicum
Tuition and Fees
The CATS tuition rate is $300 per credit hour. Most pre-approved undergraduate courses tend to be 4 credit hours, resulting in a tuition cost of $1,200 per course. Tuition does not include associated fees including but not limited to registration, technology, student services, course specific labs, course materials, and potential tax liability.
Policies and Procedures
Eligible high school students are able to take up to two (2) UNH classes per semester in their junior and/or senior year. Course availability for CATS students is limited to the classes listed within our pre-approved list on this website each semester, and acceptance into the CATS program does not ensure enrollment as priority registration opens first to matriculated UNH students. Even though a course may be listed as pre-approved on our website, the course may not have any more seats available.
*Seats fill on a first-come, first-served basis and courses may become unavailable once filled. Early registration is recommended. Courses not included on the pre-approved list may be requested while applying, but are contingent upon approval from UNH faculty and staff that the student must obtain independently.
