uw tacoma essay prompt

University of Washington Essay Prompts 2022-2023

University of washington essay prompts quick facts :.

• University of Washington acceptance rate: 53%— U.S. News ranks the University of Washington as a more selective school.
• 1 (~650 word) essay
• 1 (~300 word) short response
• 1 (~200 word) additional information essay (optional)
• University of Washington application: The University of Washington accepts applications via the Common App or ApplyWeb . The University of Washington Common App essay is not considered in the admissions process. Make sure to check all of the University of Washington application requirements. 
• University of Washington essay tip: Every UW application essay is important when it comes to impressing the UW admissions committee. Make sure to give each UW essay prompt your careful attention, no matter the word count. 

What are the University of Washington essay prompts?

You’ve completed the tedious work of finding your top colleges to apply to and now you’re working on your UW essay prompts. Before you start worrying about the college enrollment process, let’s break down each UW essay prompt so you can begin writing your UW application essays! 

There are three UW essay prompts .

Remember that UW admissions doesn’t consider the Common App essay in their writing section. Two of the UW essay prompts are required and one UW essay prompt is optional. While the University of Washington acceptance rate may not seem so intimidating compared to other colleges , your UW essay prompt responses can still make or break your application. 

We have provided all three UW essay prompts for the 2022-2023 University of Washington supplemental essays below. You’ll find a breakdown of how to approach each of the University of Washington essay prompts as well as tips for writing UW application essays that will stand out.

Importantly, the University of Washington does not review your Common App essay. Although the University of Washington Common App essay isn’t considered in the University of Washington admissions process (it won’t factor into your odds against the University of Washington acceptance rate), the Common App personal essay is still important in other universities’ application process. Check out all you need to know about writing a personal essay for the other schools that made your college list . 

University of Washington Essay Prompts #1 ( Required )

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it (650 words)..

Of all the University of Washington essay prompts, this one is the longest and the most open-ended. This UW application essay should focus on some part of your character: the qualities that determine how you move through the world. In this UW application essay, try to highlight who you are, what you value, and who you’d be on UW’s campus.

Identify your values

To begin your brainstorm for the first of the University of Washington essay prompts, write out your values. List any qualities you care about— honesty, compassion, curiosity, etc. For each characteristic, think of a moment that taught you something about this quality and a moment it was tested. For example, if your characteristic was honesty, you might think about a time when you lied and the consequences of your actions. Or, maybe you think of a moment where you had to choose between lying and being honest.

If you’re not sure which characteristic to highlight for this University of Washington essay, start by brainstorming potential stories. Try to think of a time when you were proud of yourself, when you were challenged, or when you learned a lesson.

You can also check out this list of personal achievements and characteristics from the University of Washington admissions page for ideas of what to discuss in this UW application essay.

Focus on action

Whatever story you tell in this UW application essay, make sure your experience involves you making a decision or taking action. A story with a conflict and resolution will make your essay more engaging . Once you have settled on your topic, without second-guessing yourself, write out what happened and, more importantly, what you got out of the situation. 

A great way to make sure you’ve answered this UW essay prompt is to have another person read your essay without reading the prompt. Then, ask what they learned about you from your essay. If they learned something about your character, then chances are you’ve successfully responded to the question. Then, you can move onto the other University of Washington essay prompts.

University of Washington Essay Prompts #2 ( Required )

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the uw (300 words)..

The second of the required University of Washington essay prompts revolves around community and how it creates unique perspectives. Because the UW essay prompts are quite general, brainstorm before you pick a topic. You’re likely part of many intersecting communities, so start by listing all the communities you belong to. Communities can be as big as a globally practiced religion or as small as a friendship group based on Dungeons and Dragons, so don’t leave anything out.

Focus on impact

Once you have your list for the second of the University of Washington essay prompts, think about how these communities impact your life. Remember, diversity is not just based on categories of identity; it also comes from differences in how we view and experience the world. For each community, do two free-writes : one detailing the important characteristics, beliefs, and events shared within that community and one detailing how that community impacts how you move through the world.

The UW essay prompt then asks you to imagine how you might add to the diversity of UW. Maybe you want to join a specific student group. Alternatively, you might even propose to start a new one. Maybe you want to bring your point of view into a field of study where it’s not typically included. For each community on your list, brainstorm how it would impact your time at UW.

Once you’ve done your brainstorm for this UW application essay, string your ideas together. If you’re having trouble organizing your thoughts, stick to the outline provided by the University of Washington essay prompts. Use the questions “what is your world,” “how are you a product of it,” and “how will you add to the diversity of UW” as guiding questions for the beginning, middle, and end of your University of Washington essay.

University of Washington Essay Prompts #3 ( Optional )

Additional information about yourself or your circumstances (200 words)..

This UW essay prompt is optional. The University of Washington application requirements don’t call for a response to this UW essay prompt. However, you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you and you’d like to share that information with the University of Washington admissions. 

Often, prompts listed as “optional” are still essentially required if you want to be a competitive applicant. This is not the case with the final UW essay prompt. If you don’t have any extenuating circumstances, feel free to disregard this University of Washington essay prompt. 

You may want to answer this optional UW application essay if:

• You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education.
• Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations.
• You have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended.

Of all the University of Washington essay prompts, this one lets you fill in potential gaps in your University of Washington application due to various circumstances. If you have had to overcome challenges to get where you are today, the University of Washington admissions committee wants to hear about it.

Although this is the shortest of the University of Washington essay prompts, it is important you still craft a story and directly connect your experiences to your University of Washington application. For example, if you had to start working at a young age to support your family, be sure to include why it is important for the UW admissions team to know. Maybe you didn’t have time for extracurriculars , or maybe you had to make extra efforts to stay on top of your homework. 

Mention how you’ve grown

You should also make sure you include what the experience means to you if responding to this UW application essay. For instance, maybe your hardships taught you to be more responsible, or maybe you learned how to ask for help when you need it. If you choose to respond to this last of the University of Washington essay prompts, make sure your reader knows why you chose to include it. As with your other two University of Washington supplemental essays, remember to be brief, specific, and honest.

How do I write my University of Washington essays?

To make your essays count, remember to consider your audience. Your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts should convey who you are, how you’d succeed at UW, and what you might bring to UW’s campus. Are you a first generation college student? Did you take a meaningful gap year ? This is your opportunity to show what makes you unique. Remember that your responses to each UW essay prompt shouldn’t read like your college resume . Give each UW essay prompt response some personality and passion . 

Take time with the University of Washington essay prompts, and give the same amount of consideration to each UW application essay. While one of the University of Washington essay prompts is shorter than the other, that doesn’t mean it will be easier to write. Each UW application essay should be clear, concise, and captivating. It should also completely answer the University of Washington essay prompts. 

Follow the checklist below to be sure that you answer the University of Washington prompts to the best of your ability. 

UW Essay Prompts Checklist:

✔️ brainstorm.

Before you begin writing, create a list of topics related to the University of Washington essay prompts. Use the breakdowns of the University of Washington essay prompts above to help you get started.

Once you’ve chosen a topic for each of the University of Washington essay prompts, it is time to get writing. Don’t worry about making your first draft perfect—it doesn’t need to be! Don’t think about things like the University of Washington acceptance rate; just focus on getting your story down on paper

Ask yourself: does my UW application essay specifically answer the UW essay prompt? Am I telling a story? Is there a clear beginning, middle, and end? Does my essay show who I am? Because each UW essay prompt has a specific word limit, it’s important to make every word count.

✔️ Proofread

Read through each essay for any spelling or grammatical errors. The University of Washington admissions team will review thousands of responses to the University of Washington essay prompts, and we want your University of Washington essays to stand out for the right reasons. Make sure your responses to the UW essay prompts are as clear and easy to read so your personality can shine.

✔️ Get a second opinion

Have someone else—a family member, mentor, even a peer—read your essay. A second pair of eyes will notice how your UW essays read, whether your story flows, and how well you’ve addressed the UW essay prompts.

✔️ Repeat steps 3-4 until you are satisfied with your UW essay prompts

Remember, the writing process is a process. Give yourself enough time ahead of the deadline to think about the UW essay prompts. Draft each UW application essay, take a step away, and come back to them with fresh eyes.

After working through the checklist above, evaluate your progress. Keep reworking your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts until you can confidently say that the following statements are true:

• My UW essays tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
• Each of my essays answers the UW essay prompt.
• All of my UW essays emphasize who I am and what is important to me.
• My UW essays have no spelling or grammatical errors.

Does the University of Washington care about essays?

Yes! As the University of Washington acceptance rate tells us, not everyone gets into UW. Figuring out how to get into UW will be difficult without placing importance on the UW essay prompts. The University of Washington application essays are UW Admissions’ way of learning who you are as a person. 

The University of Washington admissions office uses a holistic review process. This means they consider your UW essays and extracurriculars alongside your academics. So, your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts are a vital part of your University of Washington application requirements. 

Specifically, UW breaks down their review into two categories: Preparation & Performance and Personal Achievements & Characteristics. While the first depends on your grades and courses, your University of Washington supplemental essays are the perfect place to emphasize the second. UW looks for students who will both succeed academically and contribute to campus life. Your UW application essays should capture who you are and how you will shine at UW. Each of the University of Washington essay prompts lets you share different aspects of what matters to you.

University of Washington Admissions Top Tips for Supplemental Essays

While Seattle may not be the stereotypical “college town,” the city certainly has a lot to offer. If you’re set on UW, which is a top ranking university globally, then we know you want to do everything you can to make your responses to the UW essay prompts stand out. 

To save you time as you begin working on your UW essays, we’ve provided the top ten tips from the University of Washington admissions for writing the UW essays below. We’ve also included tips on how to apply them to your University of Washington supplemental essays.

“Write to the prompt.”

Your University of Washington essays will only be successful if they completely answer the University of Washington essay prompts. Be sure to use our breakdowns of the University of Washington essay prompts, and keep each UW essay prompt in mind when editing your drafts.

“Avoid overused topics.”

Be thorough as you brainstorm topics for each of the UW essay prompts. If you read the UW essay prompts and choose to write about a common experience, use specific details in your UW application essays that show what makes your experience unique.

“Use language you can manage.”

When in doubt, always lean towards simple and straightforward language in your University of Washington essays. Your University of Washington application essays should be written in your voice. Don’t try to sound more intelligent as you respond to the UW essay prompts. Authenticity is key. 

“Keep it simple and real.”

Often, the little things in life have the biggest impact. As you brainstorm topics for your UW application essays, don’t feel pressured to construct the most complicated story. Remember, the University of Washington admissions office wants to be impressed by you! Just be yourself and show them exactly who you are when responding to the University of Washington essay prompts.

“Use humor, honesty, and humility.”

Respond to the UW essay prompts in your own voice. If you have a humorous voice, let that shine through, but only use humor if it feels natural. No matter your writing style, all of your University of Washington essays should be honest and authentic. If you choose to write about your accomplishments , try to do so without bragging or showing off.

“Make it memorable.”

Your University of Washington supplemental essays will be memorable if you are passionate about the story you are telling. Don’t worry about whether the UW admissions team will find your story interesting—if your UW application essays are honest, specific, and exciting to you, they’ll be exciting to read.

“Find the sweet spot.”

Each of the University of Washington essay prompts has a specific word count. While your UW application essays should not be over the word count, it isn’t a bad thing if they are under. For example, if you can tell your story in 400 words, don’t add fluff to reach the 650-word limit. Just be sure your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts are specific and detailed enough to paint a complete picture for your reader.

“Proofread.”

The last thing you want UW admissions thinking about as they finish reading your UW application essays is a typo. Make sure to double-check your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts for spelling and grammar. Try to complete your University of Washington essays ahead of the deadline so you can give yourself a few days away from each of your UW application essays before your final proofread. 

“Punctuate properly.”

Punctuation can change the entire meaning of a sentence, so it’s important you punctuate your University of Washington essays correctly. Try highlighting all your commas, periods, etc., and reading your responses to the University of Washington essay prompts out loud. If someone is helping you edit your UW essays, ask them to do a read-through specifically looking at punctuation.

“Write a punchy first line.”

While it is important your University of Washington essays have a strong opening, don’t let this tip trap you into trying to be overly funny or clever. Your UW application essays thrive on specificity, so write an opening line suited to your specific story and voice.

UW Essay Prompts: Final Thoughts

Remember, the University of Washington essay prompts are your chance to introduce yourself to UW admissions. While the University of Washington acceptance rate is not the highest, strong essays can make all the difference. 

Although your academic history is an important part of your University of Washington application requirements, your UW application essays let UW see who you are beyond numbers and statistics. If you feel your GPA or test scores don’t reflect the kind of student you are or hope to become, your University of Washington essays are the place to showcase your best self. And with so many universities deciding to go test-optiona l, your essays are of utmost importance when it comes to maximizing your odds against the University of Washington acceptance rate. 

Each essay is an opportunity

Think of each UW application essay as an opportunity to overcome the University of Washington acceptance rate and impress the University of Washington admissions. Write each UW application essay thoughtfully, passionately, and comprehensively. Each UW essay prompt response should be not only moving, but also mechanically impeccable. 

While the University of Washington essay prompts may seem like a challenge, remember you have complete control over your UW essays. The strength of your responses to each UW essay prompt relies entirely on how much time, effort, and care you put into them. Start thinking about the UW essay prompts early so you can make your essays the best they can be.

This University of Washington supplemental essays guide was written by Sarah Kaminski . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Transfer personal statement

All applicants must write a personal statement and submit it with the transfer application for admission. The personal statement should be a comprehensive narrative essay outlining significant aspects of your academic and personal history, particularly those that provide context for your academic achievements and educational choices. Quality of writing and depth of content contribute toward a meaningful and relevant personal statement.

You should address the following topics in your personal statement. Within each subtopic, such as Academic History, write only about what is meaningful to your life and experience. Do not feel compelled to address each and every question.

Required elements

Academic history.

• Tell us about your college career to date, describing your performance, educational path and choices.
• Explain any situations that may have had a significant positive or negative impact on your academic progress or curricular choices. If you transferred multiple times, had a significant break in your education or changed career paths, explain.
• What are the specific reasons you wish to leave your most recent college/university or program of study?

Your major & career goals

• Tell us about your intended major and career aspirations.
• Explain your plans to prepare for the major. What prerequisite courses do you expect to complete before transferring? What led you to choose this major? If you are still undecided, why? What type of career are you most likely to pursue after finishing your education?
• How will the UW help you attain your academic, career and personal goals?
• If you selected a competitive major, you have the option of selecting a second-choice major in the event you are not admitted to your first-choice major. Please address major or career goals for your second-choice major, if applicable.

Cultural Understanding

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington.

Optional elements (include if applicable)

Educational challenges/personal hardships.

Describe any personal or imposed challenges or hardships you have overcome in pursuing your education. For example: serious illness; disability; first generation in your family to attend college; significant financial hardship or responsibilities associated with balancing work, family and school.

Community or volunteer service

Describe your community or volunteer service, including leadership, awards or increased levels of responsibility.

Experiential learning

Describe your involvement in research, artistic endeavors and work (paid or volunteer) as it has contributed to your academic, career or personal goals.

Additional comments

Do you have a compelling academic or personal need to attend the Seattle campus of the UW at this time? Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Content, as well as form, spelling, grammar and punctuation, will be considered. Suggested length is 750-1000 words.

• Online application: You should write your statement first in a word processing program (such as Word) or a text editor, and then copy/paste it into the text box provided on the application. All line breaks remain. However, some formatting may be be lost, such as bold, italics and underlines. This will not affect the evaluation of your application.
• PDF application (spring applicants only): Type or write your statement on 8.5’’ x 11’’ white paper. Double-space your lines, and use only one side of each sheet. Print your name, the words “Personal Statement” and the date at the top of each page, and attach the pages to your application.

Tell us who you are

Share those aspects of your life that are not apparent from your transcripts. In providing the context for your academic achievements and choices, describe your passions and commitments, your goals, a personal challenge faced, a hardship overcome or the cultural awareness you’ve gained. Tell us your story. Be concise, but tell the whole story.

Be specific

Personal statements too often include sentences such as “I’ve always wanted to be a Husky” or “My whole family attended the UW.” Although this may be important to you personally, such reasons are not particularly valuable to the Admissions staff because they do not tell us anything distinctive about your experiences and ultimate goals.

Write like a college student

Your personal statement should reflect the experience and maturity of someone who has already attended college. It should reflect your understanding of the components of an undergraduate education, such as general education and the major. We want to read how, specifically, your academic and personal experiences fit into your academic, career and personal goals.

Keep in mind

• We want to know about your intended major and career aspirations, and we want to know your plan to get there.
• You have the option of selecting a second-choice major. If you do, be sure to address it in your personal statement.
• The UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.

All writing in the application, including your essay/personal statement and short responses, must be your own work.  Do not use another writer’s work and do not use artificial intelligence software (ChatGPT, Bard, etc.) to assist or write your statement.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the University of Washington Essays 2023-2024

The University of Washington has two supplemental essays that are required for all applicants, and one optional, “additional information” prompt. While we typically encourage students to respond to any optional prompt, this one is actually optional, as you should only respond if there truly are unusual circumstances that have impacted your high school career. If you are applying to UW’s Honors Program, you will also have to write an additional essay.

UW is one of the top public universities in the country, with elite STEM programs and a location that offers unparalleled access to Amazon and Microsoft, among other influential companies, so you’ll want to make sure your essays truly shine. In this post, we’ll break down how to brainstorm for and write each one, so you can be sure you’re putting your best foot forward.

Read these University of Washington essay examples to inspire your writing.

University of Washington Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words)

Prompt 2: Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. (300 words)

Prompt 3 (optional): You are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. For example, you may use this space if:

You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education

Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations, you have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended. (200 words), uw interdisciplinary honors program applicants.

We want to understand your desire to learn new things and to push your education outside of the areas of learning that you are most familiar with. Tell us why this type of learning interests you and which subjects you’re excited to explore in college. (450 words)

All Applicants, Prompt 1

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words).

This prompt is the first of the five options on the Coalition Application and is purposefully phrased nebulously to allow for a wide range of responses. You can relay any experience that reflects or shaped who you are. 

To start, examine your many identities, and choose one that you want to highlight. All experiences are valid, whether they are traditional or unconventional. Focus on the things that make you different from others, and reflect on how they shaped you as a person. Remember that this is your main college essay, so be sure to pick an experience that was integral to your growth throughout high school. 

This is a good chance to tell the story behind any major extracurriculars on your activity list. For example, you might write “debate team captain” as an extracurricular, but this essay is where you can recount the grit and dedication it took for you to reach that position, as you once were extremely shy. You can also use this space to explore identities that don’t appear elsewhere on your application, such as your role within your family. For example, you can write about how you tutor your younger brother in math, and how watching his face light up after understanding a new concept sparked your love of teaching. 

A common theme across all college essays is “show, don’t tell.” This phrase is thrown around frequently, but is easier said than done. A few things to keep in mind when showing rather than telling are vividness and authenticity, which can be created by invoking imagery and specific details. For example, rather than saying “I like tennis and the game has always fascinated me,” try conjuring an image in the reader’s mind such as “At the start of my first official match, I gripped my trusted red racquet tightly, swaying ever so slightly from foot to foot in the ‘ready’ stance that I had practiced for years.” While the first response may be true, it is generic and can apply to any tennis aficionado. The latter response better authenticates your experiences than the former, and demonstrates your sincerity to readers. 

All Applicants, Prompt 2

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the uw. (300 words).

This question serves two purposes: it gives UW an opportunity to learn more about how you developed your values, and it allows them to consider how you might interact with others on campus. It is easy to get mired in focusing on describing your community, but remember, UW wants to learn about you through seeing how your community impacted you. Use a description of your community to frame your essay, but always remind yourself to connect the story back to how it changed you. Once you have framed the essay with a description of who you have become as a result of your community’s impact, be sure to extend this thread to your potential future influence on UW.

There are several ways to interpret community. You could interpret it in the literal sense by explaining how your hometown and family have guided your ambitions. For example, maybe growing up on your family’s farm inspired your appreciation for agriculture and working with your hands. You hope to share this appreciation with other students by working on the UW farm and organizing workshops where students can learn how to plant their own flowers or herbs.

Or, perhaps the community you want to highlight is less conventional, such as the coffeeshop you work at. You could discuss how your coworkers are from all walks of life, and how you’ve befriended a retired older couple that picks up weekend shifts. They offer you advice based on their many life experiences, showing you the importance of having an older mentor. This makes you want to join the Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter at UW.

Regardless of what your community is, be sure to highlight how you’ll contribute to UW’s diversity, whether that’s through your perspective, actions, ideas, cultural traditions, etc.

All Applicants, Prompt 3 (optional)

You are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. for example, you may use this space if:.

This portion of the application is optional, and while we recommend that you fill out most “optional” essays, this space is truly optional. If you don’t have any unusual circumstances, you can leave it blank without penalty. If feel that the parameters apply to you, you should fill this section out. This is your chance to explain anything that hasn’t been addressed in other parts of your application. Since the maximum is 200 words and the prompt is straightforward, you can (and should) also be totally straightforward in your response, rather than painting a picture with vivid imagery. 

For the first prompt, an example of a response could be:

“In the sophomore year of high school, my dad was diagnosed with cancer, and it profoundly affected multiple areas of my life, including my academic performance. For that reason, there is a significant dip in my grades in the spring semester of that year.”

For the second:

“Because my parents own a small restaurant, it is often my responsibility to watch my younger siblings while they are working, and even help out by doing the dishes or bussing tables in my free time. For that reason, I was unable to join as many extracurriculars as my after school time went towards helping ensure the family restaurant was running smoothly.” 

For the last prompt, you can briefly state school-related limitations or opportunities, like if your school did not have an AP or IB program, or if it did have a special internship program that you participated in. Keep in mind that some universities designate admissions officers to research your region and know what programs your school has or doesn’t have – this might be something you want to look into before filling out this section. However, you might want to fill out this section if the school you’re applying to does not have regional admissions officers.

If there is a specific school program or opportunity that you wish to mention, we recommend doing so via your activity list or one of your essays, rather than in this short, 200-word window. If you find that you don’t have space in the rest of your application, then this section is fine.

Please reflect and respond to the following question, and in doing so explain your interest in the UW Interdisciplinary Honors Program. What is interdisciplinary learning and why is it important to you? (300 words)

While you might be tempted to approach this prompt in the way you would approach a traditional “Why This Major?” essay, hold on for a second and reread the prompt. Rather than being asked why you are pursuing a particular major or area of study, you’re being asked about why learning new things interests you and which “subjects you’re excited to explore in college”. 

Although you will likely be most excited to study the topics relevant to your major, this prompt specifically requests that you “push…outside of the areas of learning that you are most familiar with.” UW admissions officers are hoping to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of your intellectual potential, so your response should focus on a topic other than your intended major.

However, be sure to discuss an area of interest that has some alignment with the rest of your application, so that it doesn’t feel totally out-of-the-blue. If you’ve never been a part of any music-related classes or activities, writing about your passion for songwriting may feel a little disjointed. 

Of course, our identities are complicated, but remember that the people reading your applications don’t know you outside of what you tell them, which means it’s crucial that the various pieces of your application come together to form a cohesive unit. Otherwise, your readers may not understand who exactly you are.

To give an example of something you could write about, maybe your intended major is biology, but you’ve also studied Latin throughout high school. You could focus your essay on how you hope to read ancient and medieval scientific texts, to learn more about how human understanding of the world around us has evolved.

Another approach to this essay could be identifying a topic that has nothing to do with biology but ties into some aspect(s) of your identity. Perhaps growing up in a multilingual, bi-racial household, with parents from South America and East Asia, meant you were constantly participating in family gatherings and celebrating holidays with very different cultural contexts. In college, you hope to study anthropology and sociology, even though you have no direct experience with either of those subjects, so that you can not only understand your own identity better, but also be better prepared to engage with those who have their own complicated stories.

Note that the prompt asks you to not only describe one of your academic interests, but also explain “why this type of learning interests you,” with regards to interdisciplinary learning. To answer this part of the prompt, you’ll want to identify one or two of your goals for college, and how you see interdisciplinary learning in particular helping you reach them.

The second example given above already does this, as the student explains that they want to be able to better communicate with people from cultural backgrounds that differ from their own, and they clearly connect that goal to the subjects they are focusing on. 

The student in the first example is starting to get to this component of their essay, but needs a little more personal connection. They could get that by, for example, writing about how they’re not sure how they can best utilize their skills within the vast field of biology–as a doctor, researcher, educator, or something else–and throughout college, hopefully exploring the history of the subject will give them a clearer idea of the right path ahead.

Here are some finals tips for you to consider when responding to this essay: 

• 450 words is on the long side for a supplemental essay, so take the time to share an anecdote that integrates your interest in a specific topic with your background, personal values, and overall love of learning, rather than just stating your points in a direct, factual way
• Explain why the University of Washington specifically can help you reach your goals, by referencing a few course offerings, campus organizations, research opportunities, and so on that align with your interests
• Not to sound cheesy, but have fun! As we noted at the beginning of this breakdown, you have more freedom here than in a “Why Major?” essay, so highlight your curiosity, excitement, and any quirky connection you have to your topic, rather than worrying about whether or not you’ve taken enough APs or done enough extracurriculars related to your topic

Where to Get Your University of Washington Essays Edited 

Do you want feedback on your UW essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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University of Washington Information School

Informatics.

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Application Materials

Application.

In order to apply to the program, applicants who are current UW students or transfer students must complete an application and provide the information and materials listed below.

The Informatics program has two admissions cycles per year, spring and autumn.

• The application to start the program in Winter 2025 will open in September 2024, with a deadline in early October 2024.
• The application to start the program in Autumn 2024 will open in March 2025, with a deadline in early April 2025.
• Transfer students should also complete a UW transfer application for the quarter they wish to enter the program.

What you will need:

• Schools and Transcripts
• Prerequisites courses
• Why Informatics
• Collaboration Skills
• Experience with IDEAS
• Goals after Graduation
• Informatics AI usage
• Application Limit
• What we Look for

Schools and transcripts

Applicants are required to provide information about all schools where they have earned academic credit and are required to provide an unofficial transcript for each. Please include all schools even if the courses appear on your UW transcript. If you have taken any UW Seattle courses, you also need to list and attach an unofficial transcript for the UW.

Prerequisite courses

Applicants will provide information about the prerequisite courses they took. They will be asked at which school they took the course, what term it was taken, and the course number. If they have taken more than one course that meets any prerequisite course requirement, it is recommended that they enter the course that has the highest grade.

• Current UW student prerequisites
• Transfer applicant prerequisites

Application essay

In addition to providing information about prerequisite grades and academic history, applicants must submit an application essay of less than 700 words that responds to the following prompts. The essay is evaluated based on the 4 prompts below as well as the overall writing; all prompts are weighted equally.

Essay prompts for the academic year Autumn 2024 applications are below. Essay prompts change every year; be sure to address the correct year's prompts in your application! Winter 2025 essay updates will be posted by mid-September 2024.

Writing and Formatting Requirements:

We expect students to already be capable of writing clearly and coherently in English. Your response helps us evaluate that.

What we’re looking for: Clear communication is central to thriving in our courses, as most involve writing. Be sure to check your spelling. Do your best to avoid grammar errors, but note that we will not penalize you for them unless they significantly interfere with our ability to comprehend your writing.

You may include anything you want in your application essay, as long as it satisfies the following requirements: 

• The structure of your essay is up to you as long as you address all 4 prompts.
• 700-word limit total for all prompts combined.
• Applicants will copy/paste their submission as plain text into a text box in the application. Be sure to test this before the deadline. This means that bold, italic, etc formatting will not be included.
• Do not include links to external information or websites. Additional information can not be considered, so such links will just use up the word count.

Prompt: Why Informatics?

Why Informatics? Why are you choosing to pursue an Informatics degree? 

Consider: What brought you to this major? How have you engaged with the study, design, and development of information? Classes you have taken, activities you have participated in, work you have done, etc.

What we’re looking for: We’re looking for students who have demonstrated that they will be interested, engaged, and active in our program and what we teach.

Prompt: Collaboration Skills

What skills and experiences illustrate your ability to foster meaningful collaboration with your peers and contribute to the enrichment of this major and community? Describe specific instance(s) where your actions have demonstrated active engagement and a commitment to creating a collaborative learning environment either in or out of the classroom.

What we’re looking for: In the iSchool we strongly value collaboration and community. All our classes involve group work and collaborative efforts, which are integral to learning. Informatics students will thrive in this collaborative environment, and help empower others to thrive as well.  

Prompt: Experiences with IDEAS

What experiences do you have with inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and/or sovereignty in relation to information? These might be the same experience with information you described above, or different ones. These experiences might include learning, volunteering, activism, community organizing, mentoring, teaching, or personal experiences with exclusion or oppression. We are especially interested in experiences in which you took action to address issues of fairness, bias, or exclusion, whether advocacy or self-advocacy, social or technical. You may want to consider the iSchool diversity statement when composing your response.

What we’re looking for: It’s important that Informatics majors are attentive to ways that people can be excluded and oppressed by information and information technology and in general. We’re seeking students who are committed to making information technology more just, equitable, and inclusive

Prompt: Goals after Graduation

How will pursuing an Informatics major impact your life, community, and/or world after graduation? How will the Informatics degree specifically support those intended impacts? Clearly state your goals and be specific about the features or aspects of the Informatics programs that will support your goals. 

What we’re looking for: It is important that Informatics is actually well-positioned to support your goals, whatever they are. Informatics doesn’t support every goal.

Informatics AI usage — ChatGPT or generative AI usage

ChatGPT and similar tools can be valuable in making your writing better and your thinking richer. But it cannot be used to replace writing and thinking. 

During the application process, you will be asked "Did you use ChatGPT and/or similar tools in writing this essay? If so, please indicate how you used the tool(s)."

Not acceptable:

Enter prompt and/or some notes into ChatGPT; submit some version of what comes out, even with some modifications. This will be considered plagiarism.

Acceptable:

• Use ChatGPT to find a better word (as you would a thesaurus)
• Use ChatGPT to assure your grammar is correct
• Use ChatGPT to find a better way to phrase an idea, a sentence or two

Note: two-application limit

Applicants will be allowed to apply to the Informatics major a maximum of two times. For this reason, applicants are encouraged to be selective and apply only when they have fulfilled all the criteria and feel that they can present a strong application.

Freshman Direct Admission applications do not count toward the two-application limit. 

Only applications that are complete and considered for admission are counted in the two attempts. Starting an application or submitting without all prerequisite courses completed will not count toward your two attempts. 

What We Look for

As you write your statement, keep in mind that the admissions committee seeks a diverse range of students. We value various perspectives and backgrounds because they enrich our learning environment. Whether you’re passionate about people, technology, or information, we want to understand what makes you unique.

When reviewing your statement, the admissions committee will consider the four essay prompts. Therefore, as you share your story, aim for clarity and coherence. You can structure your statement around the provided prompts, but feel free to explore other creative ways of organizing your responses. Sometimes a single experience can address multiple criteria. Remember to link your personal experiences to the Informatics Major. Show us how your journey aligns with our program and why you’re a great fit for our community.

The Informatics admissions committee believes all students interested in information deserve to major in Informatics. However, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission is capacity-constrained because we have limited teaching capacity and space; thus, we can only admit a portion of the students who apply. 

Applications are evaluated based on the written essay (80% of the overall score) and a calculated average of grades in the prerequisite courses (20% of the overall score). An essay score is calculated with equal weight to the criteria outlined in our rubric . We use statistical methods such as z-scoring to calculate the ranking of applications reviewed. All applicants are reviewed by at least two people on our admissions committee. We review the prerequisite course scores where students use AP, credit/no credit, or satisfactory/not satisfactory grades to ensure this is not disadvantaging a student's final rank.

If you have any questions while working on the application, please contact the Admission team at [email protected]  Do not wait until the due date to reach out to us if you do have questions!

Full Results

Customize your experience.

University of Washington (UW) 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Regular Decision Deadline: Nov 15

You Have: 

University of Washington 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: One 500 word essay (required), one 300 word essay (required), one 200 word essay (optional). Supplemental Essay Type (s): Oddball ,  Community , Additional Info 

At the UW, we consider the college essay as our opportunity to see the person behind the transcripts and the numbers. Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300-400 words in length.

Please note that the uw essay questions must be answered within our application. for the common app, that means within our uw questions. we do not consider the common app essay., essay prompt, tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words max).

You can think of this prompt as the slightly more general cousin to the Common App’s first prompt, which is about your background. You can write about almost anything in your life experience that has shaped who you are today. But maybe you feel like you used your best story in your personal statement. What to do? Your goal is to reveal a different side of yourself, so try thinking in opposites! If your personal statement was about your family, maybe this essay could focus on school or work. If your personal statement was about your leadership skills, could this essay cover a time when you let someone else lead the way and learned something new? As you begin to zero in on the area of your life that you haven’t tapped into yet, think about how your past experiences still resonate in your life today. Maybe your summer job as a lifeguard taught a new sense of personal responsibility that has made you more attentive in your day-to-day life. Maybe an ill-fated childhood attempt to drink an entire carton of milk taught you how to balance enthusiasm and moderation in every major project you take on. The experience itself can be big or small, but its connection to who you are today must be clear. UW wants to know who you’ll be on campus, so show them!

Short Response

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the university of washington. (300 words).

Ah, the infamous “community” essay. Many schools ask students about their communities because they want to know how applicants relate to the people around them, forge connections, and commune with their peers. In this particular instance, the question calls attention to family as well, so consider how the people who you are related to (or those who you consider family even if they’re not bound to you by blood) have influenced your life and worldview. Maybe you’re very involved in your local synagogue, polka dancing club, or environmental organization. University of Washington wants to know about your life beyond the classroom and how you will continue those activities and interests on their campus. Why do you invest in the people you invest in?

Additional Information About Yourself or Your Circumstances (200 words)

You are not required to write anything in this section, but feel free to include additional information if something has particular significance to you. for example, you may use this space if:, -you have experienced personal hardships in obtaining your education, -your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations, -unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended.

This prompt is an opportunity for you to explain just about anything else that you haven’t covered elsewhere on the application. Usually, we recommend this type of optional essay only to students who have experienced a major academic strain or have had noticeable blemishes on their records. One example could be the explanation of a complication, like an illness that caused you to miss school and impacted your grades. Perhaps your family moved around a lot, which made it hard to transfer grades or connect with your peers. Maybe an undiagnosed learning disability caused you major challenges in school until you learned how to cope with it.  UW’s prompt covers these circumstances, and invites responses from applicants who feel that their unique circumstances are not represented elsewhere in their application. 

Additional Space (Optional) (200 words)

You may use this space if you need to further explain or clarify answers you have given elsewhere in this application, or if you wish to share information that may assist the office of admissions. if applicable, be sure to include the question number to which your comment(s) refer..

Admissions is giving you one more opportunity to address anything that needs to be addressed. If you feel inclined to answer, think about what else might admissions officers might want or need to know about you. You have an additional 200 words at your disposal to speak to them in your own voice, so use them as long as what you’re writing isn’t simply filler — if that’s the case, it’s better just to leave this blank. 

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Writing Skills Assessment (WSA)

The Writing Skills Assessment (WSA) score provides a quantitative measure of students’ ability to think analytically and communicate ideas in writing.

The 90-minute assessment consists of two essays – a persuasion task and a position task – that students write in response to prompts. We encourage you to prepare as best as you can by reviewing the study guide and taking the online practice test, or by attending an in-person workshop.

Scores are valid for two years.

Preparation

• Online Study Guide and Practice Assessment

The online study guide and practice assessment are designed to help you practice the Writing Skills Assessment (WSA) before actually taking the exam. We offer some tips and strategies to help before you begin to write, and then offer two sample questions—one persuasion task and one position task—that you can respond to.

We have also included our scoring guide. Once you have an understanding of how the scores are formed, you should be ready to try scoring your own practice essays. Knowing the scoring guide (see the step 2 tab) will also help you understand how and what to write to earn the highest score possible.

Step 1: Get Started

To practice the Writing Skills Assessment, you will need the following:

• Timer. When you take the WSA, you will be given 90 minutes to complete the two tasks. Allow about two hours of time in which to go through this workshop. Download an online stopwatch . Practice writing your answers until you can give your best possible answers to both questions in 90 minutes.
• Persuasion Task : You will be asked to persuade a particular reader of your point of view or recommended action. Your writing should be appropriate for the writer, reader and situation. See the step 2 tab for a sample persuasion task.
• Position Task: You will be asked to explain and then defend a position on a given statement to the reader. You will be evaluated on how well you support your position and how clearly you organize and express your ideas.
• Remember: Read the question and directions fully and carefully. Take some time to brainstorm, plan and outline a response before you begin to write. Take care to organize your ideas and develop them fully, but leave time to reread your response, check it against the question, and make revisions. There is no right or wrong answer, and you don’t need to have any specific knowledge, but you can make up information if necessary and use examples from your own experience. You will be evaluated on how insightfully you think about the task, how well you support your position and how clearly you organize and express your ideas.

Step 2: Review Rubric

Please refer to Foster Writing Assessment Rubric, available here .

Step 3: Review Online Presentation

Preparing to Take the WSA

Step 4: Practice the Assessment

Step 3: practice the assessment.

When you take the actual assessment, you will be given 90 minutes to complete two tasks—the Persuasion Task and the Position Task. It will be up to you to manage your time; no one will tell you when to stop one task and start the other. Practice writing your answers to the Persuasion Task and the Position Task until you feel you can give your best possible answers to both questions in 90 minutes.

Persuasion Task

Kathy Edwards and Ellen Randall own an upscale infant’s and children’s clothing boutique, Mes Enfants , located near an exclusive residential district. They are supplied by both wholesale warehouses and a number of independent craftspeople who weave, knit, crochet, and sew to order. Although expensive, these orders have created loyal customers, and the shop is gaining in reputation. Sales revenue has increased, on average, by 12 percent in each of the last four years when sales reached $200,000. Last week the partners learned that their lease is not being renewed, and they will need to find a new location for the store within six months.

Recently they were approached by a large national chain Kidswear that sells children’s clothing and is eager to establish a store at one of the large malls in the area. They sell many of the same brands as Mes Enfants but do not work with special orders. Kidswear is offering $400,000 for the business. The contract would also stipulate that Edwards and Randall would be hired on as managers with a base salary of $40,000 each (about 15% less than they made last year), plus 3 percent of the profit. The chain would require Mes Enfants to adopt its corporate business plan and it would provide the shop space and be responsible for advertising.

Randall, however, wants to keep the boutique as it is and to rent space in another nearby shopping center, although the monthly rent for the new space would go from their current $1,100 to $2,000, and they would have to pay about $10,000 to remodel. She feels the special orders draw people into the shop. Although these orders account for less than 20 percent of the profit, special-order customers make additional purchases, and she does not want to lose their talented craftspeople. Edwards, though, who manages the daily operations of the store and does the bookkeeping, feels that connecting with the larger company would be a wise business move. Besides providing financial stability, the chain has promised to allow them to keep their three part-time employees.

The partners cannot agree on what to do. They have sought the services of a business consultant, Julia Simmons. Simmons asks each of them to write her a letter persuading her that their ideas and concerns provide the best solution to their problem.

In the role of either

Kathy Edwards, write a letter to Julia Simmons persuading her that accepting the offer from Kidswear is the best option for Mes Enfants

Ellen Randall, write a letter to Julia Simmons persuading her that reopening their own small business in the new space is the best option.

There is no right or wrong answer. Your goal is to argue persuasively. Your writing must include analysis of both the numerical and verbal evidence given in the prompt. Then you may add additional details to support your position. Do not simply restate the information in the problem. Consider the pros and cons of your position, and directly address objections your reader might have to your arguments.

Position Task

Choose one of the two statements below. As soon as you have made your choice, copy the letter “A” or “B” and the first three words of the statement in the “Topic Title” blank on the front of the Position booklet. Then plan and write an essay according to the specific directions following the two statements.

A. The opinion of the majority is not the final proof of what is right.

B. There is no rule without an exception.

Directions: Compose a unified essay analyzing one of the two statements above, in which you do the following: Explain what you think the statement means. Discuss why you would accept, reject, or alter it. Support your position with reasoning and examples from history or current affairs, academic studies, or your own observations.

There is no right or wrong position. Your response will be evaluated on overall quality, including the strength of your analysis; how insightfully you support your position; your organization; and how clearly you express your ideas following the conventions of standard written English.

Step 5: Tips and Strategies (for non-native English speakers)

Tips and strategies (for non-native english speakers).

Many students, who did not grow up speaking English as their first language, often have difficulty with the WSA. The problems are often related to grammar issues, incorrect or awkward word usage, differences in the way that other cultures develop and organize essays, or simply having a lack of experience writing in English. The following tips and strategies are designed to guide students towards a better understanding of English, and hopefully, a better WSA score.

Writing Fluency

Writing every day, in English, is very important. Having fluency with writing takes time, and the more comfortable you are the easier it will be to complete two essays in 90 minutes. Even just keeping a daily journal will increase your writing fluency in English. Suggested writing practice: Write one page in a journal every day. Or choose a position or persuasion task (from the internet or the Foster School’s practice essays), and write your response.

Reading English every day, especially articles that are somewhat similar in style or tone to the WSA, will help you internalize the language so you can be more natural with your writing. Notice how the authors organize their articles, how they support their propositions, how they vary the sentence structures, how they transition from one thought to another, and how or if they relate their points back to the thesis. Suggested reading: The Economist and Businessweek . Or start with something easier, like People or Time .

Practice exams

There is one previously used exam available at the Foster School of Business. The Odegaard Writing Center also periodically offers workshops where a couple other previously released exams are available. However, you should not feel that you need to have actual WSA exams in order to practice. You can simply respond to an article in a magazine, or respond to letters to the editor in your local newspaper. Each letter to the editor is itself a position statement by the author.

Always take some time to plan content and organization before you write. By doing this you eliminate some of the risks of going off topic or lacking organization. If you spend just a few minutes to write down an outline before you begin your essay, it will save time later when you are in the middle of writing, and can’t remember what you wanted to write about next.

Though time is important, you may want to start practicing without a time limit, and once you start to gain fluency, add in time limits, such as 45 minutes for one essay.

If you can, save 5 minutes at the end of the exam to look over your essay for errors, especially your known errors that you often make.

Grammar: Removing bad habits from your writing requires diligence and lots of practice. How do you know what your common English errors are? You might look back at your first drafts of your essays in your composition courses for a start. Once you have a list of errors, devote time to each of these issues, one at a time. The web offers an amazing amount of exercises on any grammar point. After you have practiced one of these problematic areas, read an article and look for how the author uses this correctly. Spend as much as a week or so on each grammar problem, looking for or listening for correct usage all the time, and concentrating on always getting at least that one point correct whenever you write. Below are a number of common errors we have seen students make on their WSAs, but this is by no means comprehensive:

Subject-Verb Agreement Pluralization Article Usage, (ex. – the, a, my, this, that, etc.)

Suggested practice: There are many websites dealing with these grammar problems. Just type the above terms into a search engine to find any of them, and then begin practicing to fix your problem area(s).

Study Plan 1

• Choose a common grammar error.
• Find exercises online to help remove that error and do lots of them.
• Read an interesting business-related article, and look for how the author uses that same grammar point correctly.
• Respond to that article. This could be a position essay about something you agree or disagree with in the article. Or, you might find a point in the article that you can write a persuasive letter about. Remember, the topic is not as important as the practicing.
• Wait a day or two and review your essay using the grading criteria listed on the WSA handout. How do you think you did?
• Review your essay and look for usage of the grammar point you are focusing on.
• If you know a native speaker with strong skills, or a writing tutor, ask for feedback. There is no need to be concerned about the score of the essay with these practice essays. Rather, attempt to make some improvement with each essay you write.

Study Plan 2

A plan that includes organization, strategy, and development.

• Choose a newspaper, and find the letters to the editor.
• Make an effort to stay on topic, and try to ensure you know exactly what the topic is. Often, students who are not fluent in English have a difficult time capturing the essence of the position statement, and end up off topic.
• Try to arrange your essay by writing an outline first, so that you can ensure a good organization of your paragraphs.

Registration

The new WSA registration tool allows an applicant to register for a WSA offered by any of the University of Washington business schools.

Changes to Note:

• UW NetID is required for login. If you do not have a NetID yet, please request one here .
• Identity must be verifiable. Applicants must indicate which type of photo identification they will bring to the test session in their registration form. The valid identification types are: passport, state issued driver’s license, state issued ID card, Husky card, other college photo ID card, or military photo ID card. The name on your photo ID must match the name on your registration form. The University of Washington welcomes undocumented students; the Washington State Department of Licensing issues photo identification to Washington state residents.
• Test administration type must be chosen in-advance. Please review session options below before registering to ensure you are choosing the correct session for your needs. Pay special attention to the different registration deadlines.
• Registration fee paid online prior to selecting their WSA test session ($35 standard assessment fee).
• Confirmation with exam details will come separate from payment receipt.
• WSA fee is non-refundable. Please read the details in the drop-down below.

Online Registration (Standard)

Online Registration (Standard) To take the WSA at UW Seattle, UW Bothell or UW Tacoma with standard testing arrangements, please choose this option. Each campus has a different date by which a student must complete the WSA for each application cycle. Foster School of Business has the earliest deadline and requires students complete the WSA prior to the following posted dates:

• Autumn (or Summer) Quarter start: April 5
• Winter Quarter start: October 5

Register Here

Online Registration (Special Accommodation)

Nonstandard testing arrangements are available for students with current documented disabilities.

Please include your academic accommodations plan from your current college or university—we do not need your diagnosis paperwork. If you have not already registered with Disability Resources for Students , we recommend you do that as soon as possible as it can take several weeks to have an accommodations plan approved.

The $35.00 assessment fee is non-refundable. If a student does not reschedule (see rescheduling details below) and does not show up to their test session, they will be marked as a “No Show” for that test date and will be able to log into the Foster School WSA registration portal the day after the missed session to pay for and register for a new test session.

If you have questions about the WSA, please e-mail [email protected] .

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B.S. in Computer Science & Systems

Main content.

Computer scientists create new theories around technology development, thinking through ideas on how to solve problems and take technology to the next level in sustainable and efficient ways.

Computer Science & Systems (CSS) is the science of design, construction, implementation, and maintenance of both the hardware and software elements of computing systems.

UW Tacoma's CSS program focuses on working with embedded systems -- computer systems with a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electrical system -- with emphasis on the latest paradigms, languages and techniques of today's computing practitioners. Students are prepared to pursue graduate studies and continuing education for professionals.

Students in the Bachelor of Science in CSS degree complete a rigorous core curriculum in data structures, algorithms, discrete structures, programming languages, computer architecture, operating systems, and contemporary ethical issues. Through project-based courses with industry partners, students apply what they’ve learned in the design, construction, and implementation of complex software systems.

What our Graduates Do

SET students pursue internships and careers at companies like Boeing, Intel, Tacoma Power, Blue Origin, T-Mobile, and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Bremerton. Possible careers include:

• Project Manager
• Software Engineer
• Systems Analyst
• Video Game Designer
• Web Developer

Bachelor of Arts  Option

The Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science & Systems blends a solid foundation in computer science with a minor in another discipline.

Learn more about the application requirements and curriculum for the B.A program on the Bachelor of Arts in CSS page .

Application Process Overview

Css - computer science & systems (bs and ba).

See Computer Science & Systems application for more details.

The Intrepid Among Us

Ice axe in hand, madeline zent broke new ground in computer science and on the slopes.

Being a first-generation student can be arduous and lonely, as can outdoor adventures. But for Madeline Zent (B.S. Computer Science, '21 ), navigation is a collaborative process. Madeline founded the Outdoor Adventures club with the goal of creating unique outdoor opportunities for both first generation students and members of the BIPOC community. While at the School of Engineering & Technology, Madeline also restarted the Women in Computer Science club and served as UW Tacoma’s STEM Youth Outreach Coordinator.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Academic Advisors ! 

How to Apply

Admission to the CSS major is competitive. Please review the following prerequisites and application process carefully.

Want to check your programming skills? Take our Java Self-Assessment Test .

Prerequisites

To qualify for admission, you must first be admitted to UWT and have completed the following prerequisites:  

• Calculus I (TMATH 124 or equivalent)
• Calculus 2 (TMATH 125 or equivalent)
• Any lab-based science course (except Astronomy)
• Introduction to Programming (TCSS 142 or equivalent)
• Object-Oriented Programming (TCSS 143 or equivalent) 

*All pre-requisite courses must be completed within the last seven years

** UW Tacoma students are encouraged to complete lab sciences from the following: TBIOL 110, TCHEM 105, TCHEM 131, TGEOS 117, TPHYS 121, and TPHYS 122. We do accept lab based science courses other than these options. 

GPA requirements

• Required cumulative prerequisite GPA of at least 2.5, with a minimum grade of 2.0 in each individual prerequisite course.
• Required minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all college coursework. 

Before starting the application, make sure you're ready to apply:

You've been admitted to UW Tacoma and met the requirements to apply to the major (previous tab).

You have completed at least 45 college-level credits.

You completed the prerequisite courses listed in the Admission Requirements tab.

You've earned a minimum grade of 2.0 in each prerequisite course and maintain a minimum cumulative prerequisite GPA of 2.5.

Check that you have the programming skills necessary for the major. Take our  Java Self-Assessment Test .

Please note that the application does not require a personal statement at this time. Letters of recommendation are not accepted. 

Notes for transfer students:

• You may need one additional approved lab-based science course (Chemistry I -TCHEM 142 or Biology I - TBIOL 120) to meet the total number of lab science credits required (18 minimum) for graduation. 
• UW Seattle and UW Bothell students seeking to transfer to UW Tacoma also need to have a transfer application on file to be considered for admission.
• If you are not admitted to UWT, you cannot be admitted to a SET major, but you may hold off on accepting your offer of admission to UWT until you have your program admissions decision. 
• Transfer students at Washington State community colleges are encouraged to pursue the  Associate in Science - Transfer Track 2 to meet the admission requirements. Use the   UW Course Equivalency Guide   to determine the equivalent prerequisites at your school. 

CSS is a capacity-constrained major, which means we normally have more applicants than space in the program. Competitive applicants typically have grades of 3.0 and higher in prerequisite math, science, and computer science courses, as well as a strong cumulative GPA.

Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Completion of all prerequisite courses
• Grades in prerequisite courses -- individually and cumulatively
• Overall previous academic performance, consistency in grades, repeats and grade trends are all considered
• Completion of at least 45 college-level credits

All prerequisites must be completed before advancing to the next academic level.  All courses within the major must be completed with a minimum grade of 2.0 (including TCSS 142 and 143).   Courses may only be repeated once. Advanced concentration courses build upon knowledge gained in the core courses.

Follow the  CSS Schedule Planning Grid to complete all required courses. 

Core courses

• TCSS 305 Programming Practicum
• TCSS 321 Discrete Structures I
• TCSS 325 Computers, Ethics, and Society
• TCSS 342 Data Structures
• TCSS 343 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• TCSS 360 Software Development and Quality Assurance Techniques
• TCSS 371 Machine Organization
• TCSS 372 Computer Architecture
• TCSS 380 Fundamentals of Programming Language Concepts
• TCSS 422 Computer Operating Systems

Additional required courses

• TMATH 126 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III
• TMATH 208 Matrix Algebra with Applications
• TMATH 390: Probability and Statistics in Engineering and Science
• A lab-based science course*
• An additional lab-based science course* OR an additional 300 or 400-level math course, except TMATH 310

*Astronomy courses do not meet the lab-based science requirement.

The CSS Schedule Planning Grid (PDF) shows a sample pathway to complete the B.S. in Computer Science & Systems degree. Work with your advisor to make sure you are completing required courses for the program and electives for your area of interest.

Download the CSS Planning Grid

TCSS 390 Undergraduate Seminar in Computer Science & Systems is a workshop style course to help you solve problems and develop a deeper understanding of CSS material. The course, overseen by a faculty member and a student mentor includes lectures and problem sessions in mathematics, programming, problem solving, and CSS applications.

• The  Teaching and Learning Center  (TLC) at UW Tacoma provides academic support in math, science, statistics and writing to all UWT students. 
• The Learning and Research Commons (LARC) is the hub of support for all members of our campus community for teaching, learning, conducting research, and using technology to support all of these endeavors. 

Students must complete 25 additional graded credits of 300-level or 400-level courses chosen from the Computer Science & Systems program (excluding TCSS 390). 

For these 25 elective credits, students must complete:

• 5 credits from the following approved design electives: TCSS 437, 445, 450, 461, 465, or 491 
• An additional 10 credits of 300- or 400-level TCSS electives, and
• An additional 10 credits of 400-level TCSS electives.
• No more than 10 credits of TCSS 497, TCSS 498, and TCSS 499 may be used to satisfy the elective requirement.
• You may also take up to 5 credits of a 400-level SET course (TEE, TCES, TINFO, TINST) and/or 5 credits of a 500-level TCSS course to count towards the elective requirement (categories 2 and 3 above).
• See the  CSS Electives - Extended Course Descriptions page for more information on CSS electives. 

More information on TCSS 497, 498, and 499 (Internships, Directed Readings, Undergraduate Research), including required forms and documentation, can be found on our Undergraduate Resources page. 

2023-2024 TCSS Electives 

Css honors graduation requirements.

To qualify for CSS honors, you must meet  all of the following requirements — in addition to completing all degree requirements for the B.S. in CSS :

• Maintain and graduate with a minimum departmental GPA of 3.6 (starting with CSS 321 and 305).
• 10 credits of graded TCSS 499 research on one project under the supervision of a CSS faculty member.  The faculty advisor must be a full-time CSS faculty member. If you are working on a research project in another unit or with a part-time faculty, you must have a full-time CSS faculty member approve the project and sign off on the thesis and presentation. In the rare instance that your original advisor is not able to work with you through completion of the project, another faculty member within the same research area can become your advisor.
• TCSS 440 (Formal Models in Computer Science) or another 5 credit senior elective (400-level only) in the research area of your Honors Thesis, as determined by you and your faculty advisor. Your faculty advisor must approve the course you take to meet this requirement.
• Give an oral presentation, arranged by you and your faculty advisor, on the honors project. Attendees must include your faculty advisor, the CSS Program Chair (or chair’s designee), and at least five additional people (e.g., other students, faculty).
• Well-written, clearly presented document, typically 4000 – 6000 words, that follows  CSS Honors Thesis Guidelines . 
• Demonstrates original and creative thinking, as judged by the faculty advisor and CSS Program Chair (or chair’s designee).
• Reflects work done independently under the supervision of a faculty member.
• Includes a  cover page  with approval signatures by your faculty advisor and the CSS program Chair.
• A final approved copy, with all required signatures, must be emailed to the CSS Chairs ( Tom Capaul and Wei Cheng ). In order to ensure the honors designation will be marked on your diploma, thesis submission is due no later than the last day of finals during the quarter in which you plan to graduate. Earlier submissions are encouraged.  Take a look at some recent CSS Honors theses
• Application for the honors designation occurs when you file an application for graduation. As stated above, please notify the SET undergraduate advisors as soon as you decide to pursue honors, and double check that honors is included on your graduation application. Your approved thesis must be submitted and all honors requirements must be fulfilled in order for you to graduate with CSS program honors. 

Finding a Research Project

There are many ways for SET students to learn about undergraduate research opportunities.  

• Check out  SET Research for information on faculty research areas and ongoing projects. You are welcome to contact faculty directly to express your interest in a project. 
• Email or meet with an undergraduate advisor   to discuss your research interests and to identify potential project matches.
• Keep an eye out for email announcements on available undergrad research positions.
• Email or talk with faculty teaching courses you particularly enjoy. Even if they don't have a project you could work on, they will be familiar with other faculty research and can point you in the right direction.
• Email or talk with the CSS program chairs,  Tom Capaul and Wei Cheng . 

More about the CSS honors program

Senior Electives

Seniors in the B.S. program choose from a wide range of CSS Electives , which offer the flexibility to specialize in a particular area of interest or increase overall breadth.

Honors Designation

High achieving B.S. students may complete advanced coursework and an in-depth research project as preparation for graduate school or to further strengthen their educational experience for industry. 

• Develop your ability to understand, analyze, and synthesize scholarly work
• Practice the work of scholars
• Develop and practice skills as an independent and critical thinker
• Improve your written and oral communication skills

CSS honors students write a culminating thesis that clearly demonstrates original and creative thinking, as judged by a faculty advisor and the CSS Program Chair. The thesis should reflect independent work done under the supervision of a faculty member.

If you meet all of the CSS honors requirements, you will graduate "with Honors in Computer Science and Systems" from the University of Washington. Talk with a SET academic advisor as soon as you decide to pursue honors. Your CSS honors requirements will need to be coded into your DARS and included with your graduation application. 

ABET Accreditation

The B.S. in Computer Science & Systems is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET,  https://www.abet.org . The BS in Computer Science & Systems is for the student who wants to become an expert in the methods and programming languages needed to design software systems. It offers a solid core in computer science principles along with a host of intensive project work in specific sub-disciplines of the field.  See the  B.S. CSS Schedule Planning Grid  for classes required.

The mission of the Computer Science and Systems (CSS) program is to offer high-quality undergraduate and graduate education to meet the needs of a diverse population of citizens and employers in Washington, especially in the South Puget Sound region. 

Objectives, as defined by accreditation agencies, are the abilities, skills, and accomplishments expected of graduates within a few years of graduation. Programs are expected to assess their graduates' accomplishments to determine if the objectives have been achieved. Since the objectives are typically fairly broad, it is not expected that every graduate will achieve every objective.

The CSS program has set six objectives for its BS and BA graduates. The career path a graduate takes will affect the accomplishments they achieve but within the first few years after graduation they should have accomplished some of the following:

• Developed a product or process by applying knowledge of mathematics, computing, systems and development tools.
• Participated effectively as a member of a development team and undertaken leadership roles when appropriate.
• Taken graduate courses or continuing education classes to improve skills and abilities.
• Made positive contributions to community and society by applying skills and abilities learned during undergraduate program in computing.
• Made decisions related to work that demonstrate understanding of the importance of being an ethical computing professional.
• Applied communication skills to effectively promote ideas, goals, or products.

The Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) has defined a set of educational outcomes that all graduates of computer science programs must meet. CSS students must demonstrate the following attributes and abilities by the time of graduation:

• Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
• Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
• Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
• Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
• Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
• Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

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Notice | First-year admitted students now have until June 1 to commit, a result of FAFSA delays.

We are excited that you are interested in the University of Washington Bothell and thinking about joining our Husky family! If at any time you have questions during the application process, please feel free to contact us by email at [email protected] or at 425-352-5000.

Application checklist

• Important Deadlines
• How to apply
• Writing and Activities Sections

✓ Confirm you meet our academic requirements for admission

Review our detailed breakdown of UW Bothell’s academic requirements for admissions. You may also want to review our advanced coursework policies.

✓ Prepare to pay the application fee or request a fee waiver

The non-refundable online application fee is $60 for domestic students or $75 for international students. An application fee waiver can also be requested.

✓ Prepare your writing section essays

You will be required to submit a personal essay under the general Common App writing section and a diversity essay under the UW Bothell specific questions. See the writing prompts below for more information.

✓ Prepare your activities and experience statements

You will be able to identify and describe up to ten of the most significant activities you have participated in throughout high school. Find more about the activities prompt below.

✓ Gather your courses and grades

You will need to enter all your course and grade information on your application profile to apply to UW Bothell.

✓ Fill out and submit your Application

Important deadlines, september 1.

UW Bothell application opens

Filing period opens for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). You should complete the FAFSA or WASFA each year by January 15th to be considered for priority funding.

November 15

Early action deadline.

Regular decision deadline.

January – March

Admissions notifications go out.

Deadline to confirm your enrollment and submit your enrollment deposit.

Submit your final official transcripts when they become available after you finish your senior year of high school.

May 1 – August 31

Complete UW Bothell 101 and new student Orientation.

Start your Application

• Create an account on the Common App website .
• Complete your general Common App sections under the Common App tab.
• Use the College Search tab to add the University of Washington Bothell to your College List.
• Start the UW Bothell application from your My Colleges List. This will contain some additional information specific to UW Bothell’s application and allow you to submit your full Common App for consideration with UW Bothell.

Note: The first-year application is only for freshman applicants (including Running Start students). If you are a transfer student, you can find information about your application here .

Writing and activities sections

Did you know?

You can use our Writing & Communication Center even before you are a UW Bothell student. The staff works with students of all writing abilities and can help you craft a great personal statement.

The written responses are our best means of getting to know you and your best means of creating a context for your academic performance. When you write your essays, tell us about those aspects of your life that are not apparent from your academic record:

• A character-defining moment
• The cultural awareness you’ve developed
• A challenge faced
• A personal hardship overcome

Personal essay directions:

Choose one of the following prompts (limit: 250-650 words).

• Some students have a background, identity, interest or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt or one of your own design.

Diversity question directions:

Respond to the following prompt (limit: 300 words).

• Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington Bothell.

Activities and experiences:

Identify and describe up to ten of the most significant activities you have participated in throughout high school. Your list should include activities, skills, achievements, or qualities from any of the following categories:

• Leadership in or outside of school (athletics, student government, cultural clubs, band, scouting, community service, employment, etc.)
• Activities in which you have worked to better your school or community
• Exceptional achievement in an academic field or artistic pursuit
• Personal endeavors that enrich the mind (independent research, music, language/culture school, reading, personal business, writing, etc.)
• Family caregiving responsibilities or a high school job

Identify the a category type for the activity (academic, art, athletics, etc.), provide details of the activity/experience and write a short description (limit: 150 characters).

Note: The Activities/Experience and Personal Essay sections of the Common App are only for first-year applicants. Transfer students will have different Personal Statement prompts depending on the desired program.

Urban Studies

The Urban Studies Program offers a bachelor of arts in urban studies with formal options in Global Urbanism and Community Development & Planning. The degree starts with an introduction into the discipline of urban studies with course topics on exploring cities, world development, and urban studies "in practice". The formal options deliver focused theory and skill-based courses that teach how to understand and impact the local and global dynamics of urban society. Graduates are prepared for public or private-sector jobs in areas such as housing and community development, planning, transportation, government agencies, and social services. The program is also excellent preparation for those interested in graduate study in such fields as community development, public administration, law or urban planning/design.

 Undergraduate Programs

 program of study: major: sustainable urban development.

The Urban Studies Program at UW Tacoma offers a BA in Sustainable Urban Development (SUD). As one of the first such degrees in the nation, students will be prepared to address recent initiatives that have called for a significant “greening” of urban development, both locally and internationally. Graduates will be prepared for careers in planning agencies, corporations adhering to sustainability practices, consulting firms, nonprofit organizations, and environmental/resource related agencies at the local, state, and federal levels of government. The degree is also excellent training for further graduate study in fields such as urban planning, public administration and law.

• Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sustainable Urban Development

Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and at least 40 college-level credits will be considered for admission.

• A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in all college course work. Applicants with a completed application and a minimum GPA of 2.50 will be given priority consideration for admission.
• Fulfillment of General University Requirements.
• Completion of a minimum of 40 transferable college-level credits.

How to Apply

A completed application consists of the following materials:

• Transfer students must submit a UW Tacoma application for transfer admission and application fee. Current UW Tacoma students must complete the “Declare/Change Major” form.
• An official transcript must be submitted from each college and university attended, even if no credit was earned. Failure to submit a complete set of transcripts may result in denial of admission or dismissal from the university. If you took a world language or intermediate algebra in high school and are using that to fulfill the world language or mathematics requirement, you must submit an official high school transcript as well.
• Submit a personal statement to describe how your personal, professional or educational experiences have shaped your academic, career and/or personal goals. How will a BA in Sustainable Urban Development from UW Tacoma help you attain these goals? This is also where the student should address any weaknesses in their transcripts or explain adversity experienced that affected previous academic performance.

 Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sustainable Urban Development

UW Tacoma Urban Studies Program offers a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Urban Development. As one of the first such degrees in the nation, students will be prepared to address recent initiatives that have called for a significant “greening” of urban development, both locally and internationally. Graduates will be prepared for careers in planning agencies, corporations adhering to sustainability practices, consulting firms, nonprofit organizations, and environmental/resource related agencies at the local, state, and federal levels of government. The degree is also excellent training for further graduate study in fields such as urban planning, public administration and law.

To qualify for graduation with a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Urban Development from the University of Washington Tacoma, each student must complete the following requirements:

• General Education: No fewer than 40 credits of general education courses, to include a minimum of 10 credits in each of three areas of study: Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities.
• Writing/Composition: A minimum of 15 credits of writing to include 5 credits of English composition (with a minimum 2.0 grade) and 10 credits of writing-intensive courses.
• Quantitative/Symbolic: A minimum of 5 credits of Reasoning course work.
• World Languages: College-level study in a single world language either through two sequential years in high school or through the second-quarter level (102) of college coursework prior to applying for graduation.
• Diversity: A minimum of 3 credits in Diversity coursework; designated courses study diversity in the United States with a focus on the sociocultural, political and economic diversity of human experience and help students develop an understanding of the complexities of living in increasingly diverse and interconnected societies.  (For students admitted as of autumn 2014.)
• Be a matriculated Sustainable Urban Development major in good academic standing with the University of Washington Tacoma.
• Complete at least 45 of last 60 credits in residence at the University of Washington Tacoma.
• Complete a minimum of 180 credits.
• Earn a minimum grade of 2.0 in each required Sustainable Urban Development course
• Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 for all coursework.
• Apply for graduation with a program advisor by the deadline posted by the University for the expected quarter of graduation
• T URB 101 (5 credits)
• T URB 102 (5 credits)
• T URB 103 (1 credit)
• T SUD 222 (5 credits)
• T SUD 240 (5 credits)
• T SUD 444 (5 credits)
• T SUD 445 (5 credits)
• T SUD 475 (5 credits)
• T URB 403 (2 credits)
• T GIS 311(6 credits)
• T URB 225 or TMATH 110 (or equivalent)
• T URB 200 (5 credits)
• Any T SUD or T URB course that is not among the required Introductory or Core Courses may be counted as an elective course toward the SUD major, except that a maximum of 10 credits total of T SUD 494, T SUD 498, T URB 496 and T URB 498 may be counted toward these 20 credits of Major Electives.
• The balance of credits needed to meet University credit requirements are general electives. Students may focus on an in-depth area of study (i.e., a minor or certificate) or explore the liberal arts, business, social work or health-related fields, or may take further TSUD or TURB courses.  Transfer credits from other institutions may apply toward general electives. Contact academic advisor for details. 

 Program of Study: Major: Urban Design

Urban design will prepare students to become design professionals who understand challenges of working in and with changing cities. In order to produce livable cities and neighborhoods, learning to design must be an inclusive and pragmatic process. Students will gain skills in inclusive urban design and incorporate a passion for social change, equality, and justice into meaningful urban design solutions. It will train students to be socially conscious designers who understand the importance of community voices, the dynamics of poser, and the challenges of creating a resilient urban environment with a focus on spatial equality. Students will acquire skills in visual communication, design thinking, and community engaged design processes, computer graphics and the use of digital technologies for visualization, analysis, and methods of data gathering and dissemination.

• Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Urban Design

The School of Urban Studies admits students into the Urban Design major for autumn quarter only, due to the highly sequenced nature of the courses. However, in special circumstances there is an option to be admitted during winter or spring quarter. Contact the Urban Studies advisor for more information. Complete applications received by the priority application date will be assured of a review; complete applications received after the priority application date will be reviewed on a space-available basis.

A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in all college course work. Applicants with a completed application and a minimum GPA of 2.7 will be given priority consideration for admission.

Three years of high school math through intermediate (second year) algebra or a course in intermediate algebra at the college level

5 credits of English composition

Describe how personal, professional or educational experiences have shaped your academic, career and/or personal goals. How will a BS in Urban Design from UW Tacoma help you attain these goals?

Note: Freshman must have at least 40 college-level credits to declare Urban Design as a major. Students interested in this major are encouraged meet with an Urban Design advisor anytime.

Step 2: Meet with the Urban Studies advisor to discuss degree requirements and time to completion. (Optional, highly recommended)

If you are not a current UW Tacoma student:

Step 1: Submit an application for admission to UW Tacoma. In your application to UW Tacoma, you will be asked to submit a personal goal statement. Follow the essay prompt in the application, being sure to address how a BS in Urban Design from UW Tacoma will help you attain your goals.

If you are transferring from a community college or another university, complete the Application for Transfer Admission and select Urban Studies in section 2 under "Program Selector".

If you are a freshman or Running Start student, complete the Freshman Application.

If you were previously enrolled at UW Tacoma, complete the Returning Student Application in lieu of the Application for Transfer Admission.

If you are an international student, complete the Application for International Transfer Admission . Review the additional requirements for international students.

Step 2: Submit the Urban Design Online Application . Include a personal statement addressing the following topic:

Step 3: Meet with the Urban Studies advisor to discuss degree requirements and time to completion. (Optional, highly recommended)

 Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Urban Design

To qualify for graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Urban Design from the University of Washington Tacoma, each student must complete the following requirements:

• General Education: No fewer than 40 credits of general education courses, to include a minimum of 10 credits in each of three areas of study: Natural World, Individuals and Society and Visual, Literary and Performing Arts.
• Quantitative/Symbolic: A minimum of 5 credits of Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning course work.
• Diversity: A minimum of 3 credits in Diversity coursework; designated courses study diversity in the United States with a focus on the sociocultural, political and economic diversity of human experience and help students develop an understanding of the complexities of living in increasingly diverse and interconnected societies. (For students admitted as of autumn 2014.)
• Be a matriculated Urban Studies major in good academic standing with the University of Washington Tacoma.
• Earn a minimum grade of 2.7 in each required Urban Design (T UDE) studio course (T UDE 260, 340, 350, 360, 440, 450, 460) and a 2.0 or higher in all other required major courses.
• Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 for all major coursework.
• Apply for graduation with a program advisor by the deadline posted by the University for the expected quarter of graduation.
• T UDE 101* (5)
• T URB 101 (5)
• T URB 102 (5)
• T URB 103 (1)
• T UDE 210* (5)
• T UDE 260* (5)
• T URB 220 (5)
• T UDE 340 (5)
• T UDE 350 (5)
• T UDE 360 (5)
• T UDE 310 (5)
• T URB 403 (2)
• T UDE 440 (5)
• T UDE 450 (5)
• T UDE 460 (5)
• T URB 480 (5)
• One Urban Design, Planning, or Architectural History Course,
• One Introduction to Computer Graphics or Computer-Aided Design (knowledge of SketchUp(TM) is required), and
• One introductory course in design, using computer graphics
• Choose at least 2 courses in Sustainable Urban Development (T SUD)
• The additional credits needed to meet University credit requirements are general electives. Students may focus on an in-depth area of study (e.g., a minor or a certificate) or explore the liberal arts, social sciences, business, social work or health-related fields.

Academic Standards/Policies

• Students must satisfactorily complete all required Urban Design (T UDE) studio course work by achieving a minimum 2.7 grade point average in each course. If a grade below 2.7 is received, the student must repeat the course. Course credit will only be awarded once and both grades will be computed into the grade point average.
• Students must satisfactorily complete all other required major course work by achieving a minimum 2.0 grade point average in each required course. If a grade below 2.0 is received, the student must repeat the course. Course credit will only be awarded once and both grades will be computed into the grade point average.
• Upper-division courses completed at other accredited four-year institutions may be applied toward the general elective requirement. Academic advisor can request a transcript evaluation for you.

 Program of Study: Major: Urban Studies

The Urban Studies Program offers a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies with formal options in Global Urbanism and Community Development & Planning. The degree starts with an introduction into the discipline of urban studies with course topics on exploring cities, world development, and urban studies "in practice". The formal options deliver focused theory and skill-based courses that teach how to understand and impact the local and global dynamics of urban society. Graduates are prepared for public or private-sector jobs in areas such as housing and community development, planning, transportation, government agencies, and social services. The program is also excellent preparation for those interested in graduate study in such fields as community development, public administration, law or urban planning/design.

• Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Urban Studies: Community Development and Planning
• Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Urban Studies: Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Planning

The School of Urban Studies admits students every quarter except summer.

• Applicants with a completed application and a minimum GPA of 2.50 will be given priority consideration for admission.
• Transfer students must submit a UW Tacoma application for transfer admission and application fee. Current UW Tacoma students should meet with the School of Urban Studies Advisor to declare/update their major.

 Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Urban Studies: Community Development and Planning

BA Urban Studies – Community Development and Planning. Examines the production and development of cities from different community perspectives and teaches how cities are planned and built, and the power dynamics that influence inclusion and exclusion from urban spaces and political processes. Explores new strategies for producing better cities and improving urban conditions.

To qualify for graduation with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Washington Tacoma, each student must complete the following requirements

• Transfer students can bring up to 105 lower-division credits into the program.
• Earn a minimum grade of 2.0 in each required Urban Studies course.

Introductory Courses (11 credits)

• T URB 220 (5 credits)
• T URB 316 (5 credits)
• T URB 345 (5 credits)
• T URB 432 (5 credits)
• T URB 225 (5 credits) or T GIS 311 (6 credits)
• Students need to declare one of the following three formal options and complete four courses within chosen option.
• Additional requirements specified below.

General Electives

The balance of credits needed to meet University credit requirements are general electives. Students may focus on an in-depth area of study (i.e., a minor or certificate) or explore the liberal arts, business, social work or health-related fields, or may take further T URB or T SUD courses. Transfer credits from other institutions may apply toward general electives. Contact academic advisor for details

Option specific requirements

• T URB 235 (5)
• T URB 312 (5)
• T SUD 475 (5)

 Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Urban Studies: Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Planning

Prepares students to solve complex social, economic, and environmental problems by combining GIS (geographic information systems) based approaches to mapping and spatial analysis with a classical and theoretically critical foundation in urban planning.

• T GIS 312 (6)
• T GIS 313 (3)
• T GIS 414 (5)
• T GIS 415 (5)
• T GIS 350 (5)
• T GIS 450 (5)
• T GIS 460 (5)
• T GIS 470 (5)
• Students must satisfactorily complete all Urban Studies required course work by achieving a minimum 2.0 grade point average in each course. If a grade below 2.0 is received, the student must repeat the course. Course credit will only be awarded once and both grades will be computed into the grade point average.
• Upper-division courses completed at other accredited four-year institutions may be applied toward the general elective requirement. Academic advisor can conduct a transcript evaluation upon request.

 Program of Study: Minor: Sustainable Urban Development

The Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) minor provides an opportunity for students pursuing other majors to complement their learning with concepts and principles valuable in the largely urban world in which they live and vote. These principles include the necessity to consider social justice, environmental, and end economic outcomes as part of the sustainability matrix; the tensions, complementarities, and tradeoffs among these dimensions; and the role that urban/suburban growth and form play in furthering this multi-dimensional concept of sustainability. This background should be attractive and useful for students from many majors, including social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and the professional fields.

• Minor in Sustainable Urban Development

 Minor in Sustainable Urban Development

Requirements

• The Sustainable Urban Development minor requires the completion of 31 credits (listed below).
• All of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at UW Tacoma.
• No more than 50% (15 credits) can overlap with another major.
• Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) majors cannot earn this minor.
• Courses in the minor may also count, as appropriate, toward foreign language, RSN, writing, and Areas of Inquiry requirements, without restriction.
• Students must satisfactorily complete all coursework in the SUD minor by achieving a minimum 2.0 grade point average in each required course. If a grade below 2.0 is received, the student may repeat the course. Course credit will only be awarded once, and both grades will be computed into the grade point average.
• T URB 103 (1-2, max. 3); 1 credit required for the minor.
• T SUD 222 (5)
• T SUD 240 (5)
• T SUD 444 (5)
• T SUD 445 (5)
• 5 credits of any other T URB or T SUD course

 Program of Study: Minor: Urban Studies

Urban Studies is multi-disciplinary by nature and can serve to complement a variety of degree programs in the social science, business, healthcare, and social work. The Urban Studies minor offers courses on contemporary urban issues with a global and community perspective. Courses include Exploring Cities, City in World Development, and Urban Studies in Practice - a course that exposes students to the field of urban studies through a variety of faculty research presentations, guest lectures, public forums, debates, workshops, and other events. The Urban Studies minor will be noted on the official UW transcript.

• Minor in Urban Studies

 Minor in Urban Studies

Urban Studies is multi-disciplinary by nature and can serve to complement a variety of degree programs at the UW. This minor is intended to provide students from other programs (across all UW campuses) with an understanding of and appreciation for urban issues and problems.

• No more than 50% (15 credits) can overlap with another major. 
• Urban Studies majors cannot earn this minor. 
• Students must satisfactorily complete all core & core elective coursework in the Urban Studies minor by achieving a minimum 2.0 grade point average in each required course. If a grade below 2.0 is received, the student may repeat the course. Course credit will only be awarded once, and both grades will be computed into the grade point average.
• T URB 305 (3)
• T URB 430 (5)
• T URB 340 (5)
• 10 credits of any other T URB or T SUD course

 Graduate Programs

 program of study: master of arts in community planning.

The Master of Arts in Community Planning (MACP) degree program builds on an undergraduate education in urban studies or a related field. MACP graduates will build a portfolio of skills that prepare them to be competent collaborative professionals who work with and empower community constituents, influencing processes of policy formation, resource generation, community change and urban development. Graduates will gain theoretical and hands-on skills to transform passions for social change, equity and justice into professionally- driven actions that build community and create long-term positive change. The program’s emphasis on urban social studies, community development, and urban problem solving is a direct expression of the UW Tacoma’s mission as a higher education institution to build and enhance authentic connections with its communities. The MACP is a two-year, 60 credit program designed to support a cohort of up to 20 students per year. Admission is for autumn quarter only. Courses can be taken on a full-time basis (10 credits/quarter) and a part-time option is available.

• Master Of Arts In Community Planning

Please see this program's Graduate Admissions page for current requirements.

Each student is required to maintain satisfactory progress meeting the Graduate School and School of Urban Studies standards relative to scholarship and performance in pursuit of the master’s degree, including each of the following:

• Maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA
• Earn a quarterly GPA of 3.00 or higher
• Earn a grade of 2.7 or higher in each required course
• Make adequate progress with practicum project as determined by the faculty advisor or committee chair.

 Master Of Arts In Community Planning

• Required Courses (60 credits): TCMP 521, TCMP 525, TCMP 546, TCMP 554, TCMP 557, TCMP 566, TCMP 573, TCMP 571, TCMP 572, TCMP 582, TCMP 590, TCMP 591 
• Along with UW Graduate School requirements, all courses taken to complete the 60 credits must receive a passing grade (2.7 or higher).
• A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required.
• All courses are graded on a 4.0 scale. No courses can be graded on a S/NS or C/NC basis.

Skills Developed

• Qualitative and quantitative analytical skills
• Asset mapping
• Persuasive argument and critique
• Development finance and budgeting
• Collaboration with NGOs
• Communications planning and design
• Conflict management
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Design and facilitation of public meetings
• Graphic communication
• Project management
• Professional writing skills
• Strategic planning and prioritization
• Succinct and effective public messaging

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the structural forms of socio-spatial power that produce inequitable patterns in metropolitan development; understand the history of social movements (including current community organizing models) that challenge the status quo
• Be capable of interpreting and organizing a theoretically informed policy position, including efficient and accurate practices of reading, summarizing, sourcing and citing examples from other locations including, failed solutions and/or peer-reviewed research
• Develop and experience practices of policy analysis, project management and community engagement, using interpretive, relational and positivist methods
• Be comfortable accessing, collecting, organizing, and analyzing primary and secondary data sources to create findings relevant for quantitative and qualitative evaluation, narrative development, and the creation of "findings" and contextual landscape analyses
• Become proficient at succinct, research-based, effective, professional forms of planning communication in a variety of genres appropriate for broad audiences and targeted communities
• Be able to carry out stages of analysis and action in a community-based process of policy advocacy, inclusive planning and/or institutional change through a variety of methods and tool development including advocacy documentation and community organizing

 Program of Study: Master Of Science (Geospatial Technologies)

The School of Urban Studies offers a Master of Science (MS) in Geospatial Technologies. Admission to this program is for autumn quarter only. The degree will provide advanced training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including mobile and web-based GIS. Students will be trained in the use and application of geospatial hardware, software, and data in urban and environmental planning scenarios. It will also prepare students to become leaders in the management and utilization of geospatial technologies within the job market — public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Graduates of this program will be able to engage in the development and deployment of location-based mobile applications and management of web-based geospatial data. While technical in design, this program will maintain a theoretical/critical focus on the application of these technologies to urban and environmental issues.

• Master Of Science (Geospatial Technologies)

Each student is required to maintain satisfactory progress meeting the Graduate School and the School of Urban Studies standards relative to scholarship and performance in pursuit of the master’s degree, including each of the following:

 Master Of Science (Geospatial Technologies)

• Required courses (40 credits):  T GIS 501, T GIS 502, T GIS 503, T GIS 504, T GIS 505, T GIS 506, T GIS 507, T GIS 508
• Along with UW Graduate School requirements, all courses taken to complete the 40 credits must receive a passing grade (2.7 or higher).
• All courses are graded on a 4.0 scale. No courses can be graded on an S/NS or C/NC basis.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Understand the increasingly central role that geospatial technologies play in the governance of contemporary lived and environmental spaces.
• Be proficient in the automation and customization of geospatial technologies such as GIS, web-based data services, locative mobile devices, and mobile and handheld geospatial sensors.
• Recognize appropriate uses and limitation of geospatial technologies in urban and environmental planning scenarios.
• Be equipped to carry out an independent geospatial project through all stages of conceptualization, planning, design, and implementation.
• Be familiar with geo-visualization and representation of modeling results

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Common App announces 2024–2025 Common App essay prompts

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We are happy to announce that the Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2024–2025.

Our decision to keep these prompts unchanged is supported by past research showing that overall satisfaction with the prompts exceeded 95% across our constituent groups - students, counselors, advisors, teachers, and member colleges. Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations and incorporate feedback into future decisions.

While some schools are beginning discussions with juniors and transfer students about college options, it's important to clarify that this doesn't mean students need to start writing their essays right away. By releasing the prompts early, we hope to give students ample time for reflection and brainstorming. As you guide students with their planning, feel free to use our Common App Ready essay writing resource, available in both English and Spanish .

For students who wish to start exploring the application process, creating a Common App account before August 1 ensures that all their responses, including their personal essays, will be retained through account rollover .

Below is the full set of essay prompts for 2024–2025.

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

We will retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section. Over the next year, we'll consult with our member, counselor, and student advisory committees to ensure we gather diverse perspectives and make informed decisions.

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Washington State University applications surge with help from Common App

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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

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Tell us about your academic and personal achievements. What have you learned from your successes and/or challenges, and how will this influence you as you pursue your college education.

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