Pre-engineer Overview
If you indicate an interest in engineering on your UW application, you are automatically assigned pre-engineering status. If you do not have pre-engineering status, you can have your status changed to pre-engineering at Student Academic Services in 301 Loew Hall.
As a pre-engineering major, you spend your first one to three years taking required courses in math, chemistry, physics, English composition, and engineering fundamentals, along with some general education courses in the Visual, Literary, & Performing Arts (VLPA) and Individuals & Societies (I&S).
Once you have completed all prerequisite courses, you can apply for admission to one or more engineering programs. If you plan to apply to more than one department, be sure to meet with an adviser to create a course plan that will meet the prerequisites for all your chosen departments.
Several engineering departments admit a small number of incoming freshman directly in to the department. See Direct Freshman Admission for details.
Department Admissions Process
To apply to one or more departments, submit an Engineering Department Application form and transcripts to each engineering department.
Applicants who are UW students are considered at the same time as transfer applicants. The criteria by which applicants are judged vary from department to department, but are based in part on the GPA earned in prerequisite courses.
If you need assistance in filling out the application or have questions about the process, contact a Student Academics Services adviser at (206) 543-1770.
Upper Division Application Deadlines by Quarter
| Quarter | Due Date | Departments Admitting during the Quarter |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | July 1 | All departments with the exception of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering. |
| Winter | No departments admit students during winter quarter. | |
| Spring | February 1 | Bioengineering Chemical Engineering Computer Engineering Computer Science & Engineering Electrical Engineering Human Centered Design & Engineering Industrial & Systems Engineering Materials Science & Engineering Bioresource Science & Engineering The following departments DO NOT ADMIT students Spring Quarter: Aeronautics and Astronautics, Civil & Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering. |
| Summer | No departments admit students during summer quarter. |
Early Admission to Engineering (Autumn Quarter Only)
All departments except Computer Science & Engineering offer an early admission option. To be considered for early admission, applicants must be currently enrolled at the UW and have completed the following courses before the application deadline, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. At least 15 credits of the prerequisite courses must be completed at the University of Washington.
- Fifteen credits of mathematics at the level of MATH 124, 125, & 126 (Calculus I, II, III) or equivalent
- At least 10 credits of physical science courses plus accompanying lab selected from PHYS 121, 122, 123 (calculus based physics) or CHEM 142, 152 (General Chemistry I, III)
- Five credits of English composition
- Chemical Engineering requires completion of CHEM 142, 152, 162 and PHYS 121/121Z. Bioengineering requires completion of CHEM 142, 152, and 162
Contact Engineering Advising
Student Academic Services
301 Loew Hall
(206) 543-1770
engradv@uw.edu
For admissions questions, contact:
Dan Feetham
Academic Advisor
Student Academic Services
dfeetham@u.washington.edu
340 Loew
(206) 685-2426