Bachelor of Science

Thank you for your interest in the UW Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. There are many avenues for admission into our Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE) program. Use the information below to help you better understand the process and plan your application. Applicants are encouraged to attend a UW ECE information session or prospective student drop-in hours to learn more (see details below). If you have questions, contact the UW ECE Advising Office at undergradece@uw.edu.

Please note that the last cohort of DTC students able to request placement into the BSEE degree program was for the autumn 2022 placement cycle. The final admission cycle to apply for the BSEE was the autumn 2023 admission cycle.

As of the autumn 2024 admission cycle, the BSECE degree will be the only undergraduate option for students seeking admission to the ECE department.

Admissions Pathways

High School Students — Direct to College

Freshman applicants who meet UW admissions criteria and who list an engineering department (or engineering undeclared) as their first-choice major on their application will automatically be considered for Direct to College (DTC) admission.

If admitted to DTC, you will enter the UW as an Engineering Undeclared (ENGRUD) student and will have the opportunity to explore many engineering disciplines before requesting placement in an engineering major after your freshman year. Admission to DTC is only available in autumn quarter.

Are you a running start student? Learn more.

Engineering Undeclared (ENGRUD) Students

As an Engineering Undeclared student, your first year will include engineering foundational coursework such as math and science, as well as UW general education courses. At the end of your freshman year, you will request placement into an engineering major. The requirements to request placement in the UW ECE program are as follows:

• Grade of 2.0 or higher in each prerequisite course
• Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses used to satisfy placement requirements
• Completed the following prerequisite courses or equivalent prior to July 1, the deadline for requesting placement:
  • • E-FIG (ENGR 101 and GEN ST 199) — 2 credits
    • MATH 124, 125, 126 (or MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136)— 15 credits
    • CHEM 142 (or CHEM 143 or CHEM 145) — 5 credits
    • PHYS 121 — 5 credits
    • ENGL 131 or other composition course — 5 credits
    • One course from the following list: AMATH 301, BIOEN 215, CHEM 152, CHEM 153, CHEM 155, CHEM 162, CHEM 165, CSE 121, CSE 122, CSE 123, CSE 142, CSE 160, ENGR 115, ME 123, MSE 170, PHYS 122, PHYS 123, STAT 220
      • *Recommended from list for ECE: CSE 121, CSE 122, CSE 123, CSE 142, or PHYS 122

      If you meet placement requirements, and list six majors in your placement request, you are guaranteed to be placed into one of the engineering majors that you selected. However, you may or may not be placed in your first choice major. Some majors may receive more placement requests than they can accommodate. Learn more about the placement process.

      UW Interest Changers

      As of autumn 2024, the ECE degree will be the only undergraduate option for students seeking admission to the ECE department.

      • Please note that the autumn 2023 admission cycle was the FINAL admission cycle to apply for the Electrical Engineering major.
      • Be sure to confirm you have met the prerequisites for the major.

      This is the only admission point to the BSECE program for current UW students admitted to a major other than through the Direct to College pathway. Please be aware that this is a capacity-constrained admission pathway. Completing the admissions requirements does not guarantee admission, and we may not be able to offer admission to all applicants who meet the minimum prerequisites.

      Current UW students who complete the prerequisites outlined below can apply for admission to UW ECE.

      To be eligible for admission, you should have:

      • Grade of 2.0 or higher in each prerequisite course
      • Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in courses required for application
      • Completed the following prerequisite courses or equivalent by the UW ECE application deadline:
        • MATH 124, 125 and 126 — 15 credits
        • CSE 122 (or CSE 123 or CSE 142) — 4 credits
        • PHYS 121 and 122 — 10 credits
        • ENGL 131 or other composition course — 5 credits

        In addition, complete the following courses before the start of autumn quarter (grade of 2.0 or higher in each course):

        • CSE 123 — 4 credits (or CSE 143 — 5 cr)
        • MATH 207 (formerly MATH 307) unless MATH 135 was completed* — 3 credits
        • Two courses from the following list:
          • BIOL 130
          • BIOL 220
          • CHEM 142 (or CHEM 143 or CHEM 145)
          • MATH 208 (or AMATH 352)
          • MATH 224
          • PHYS 123

          * As of autumn 2021, MATH 307 is renumbered as MATH 207. Students can apply either the 200- or 300-level number toward the pre-enrollment requirement.

          Students are notified via email of their admission status approximately one month following the application deadline.

          The Admissions Committee will evaluate qualifications based on submitted materials which include an essay and ALL transcripts for ALL colleges attended. Due to the large number of applicants, we cannot include personal interviews as part of the selection process.

          Transfer Students

          As of autumn 2024, the ECE degree will be the only undergraduate option for students seeking admission to the ECE department.

          • Please note that the autumn 2023 admission cycle was the FINAL admission cycle to apply for the Electrical Engineering major.
          • Be sure to confirm you have met the prerequisites for the major.

          To be eligible to apply, transfer students must meet the admission requirements as laid out below. You are strongly encouraged to email UW ECE Advising as soon as possible to make sure credits transfer and that you have completed the prerequisite courses before applying.

          Completing the admissions requirements does not guarantee admission, and we may not be able to offer admission to all applicants who meet the minimum prerequisites.

          Transferring into UW ECE involves two separate admissions processes. You must complete both by the deadlines below to be considered. Note that the deadline for the UW is significantly earlier than for UW ECE.

          Deadlines

          To be eligible for admission, you should have:

          • Grade of 2.0 or higher in each prerequisite course
          • Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in courses required for application
          • Completed the following prerequisite courses or equivalent by the UW ECE application deadline:
            • MATH 124, 125 and 126 — 15 credits
            • CSE 122 (or CSE 123 or CSE 142*) — 4 credits
            • PHYS 121 and 122 — 10 credits
            • ENGL 131 or other composition course — 5 credits

            *Students transferring from a WA state community or technical college, who have been awarded credit equivalent to UW’s CSE 142 through a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Computer Science A exam ( for which UW would only award CSE 121 credit ) are highly recommended to complete the equivalent to CSE 123 or CSE 143 prior to the application deadline . S tudents in this situation who do not have the equivalent to CSE 123 or CSE 143 completed by the application deadline are still eligible to apply for the Autumn 2025 admission cycle . However, beginning the Autumn 2026 admission cycle, students without an equivalent to UW’s CSE 122, CSE 142, CSE 123, or CSE 143 completed prior to the application deadline will not be eligible. For questions, please contact ECE Advising at undergradece@uw.edu .

            In addition, complete the following courses before the start of autumn quarter (grade of 2.0 or higher in each course):

            • CSE 123 — 4 credits (or CSE 143 — 5 cr)
            • MATH 207 (formerly MATH 307) unless MATH 135 was completed* — 3 credits
            • Two courses from the following list:
              • BIOL 130
              • BIOL 220
              • CHEM 142 (or CHEM 143 or CHEM 145)
              • MATH 208
              • MATH 224
              • PHYS 123

              * As of autumn 2021, MATH 307 is renumbered as MATH 207. Students can apply either the 200- or 300-level number toward the pre-enrollment requirement.

              Students are notified via email of their admission status approximately one month following the application deadline.

              The Admissions Committee will evaluate qualifications based on submitted materials which include an essay and ALL transcripts for ALL colleges attended. Due to the large number of applicants, we cannot include personal interviews as part of the selection process.

              We recommend that transfer students attend a Transfer Thursday session hosted by the UW.

              Information Sessions

              UW ECE holds monthly information sessions for prospective students where advisers provide information on admissions, curriculum, electrical and computer engineering as a profession and more. Information sessions are open to anyone interested in pursuing a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

              When and Where

              Second Thursday of every month:

              • 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
              • Zoom link: https://washington.zoom.us/s/97947117969
              • Dates and times are available on our events calendar.

              Prospective Students Drop-In Hours

              We also have drop-in hours set aside for prospective UW ECE students. Drop-ins take place over Zoom every Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. (except on dates with information sessions). Available times, along with the Zoom links, are posted here: Drop-In Hours.

              • Bachelor of Science
                • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE)
                • Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE)
                • BSECE Admissions Requirements
                • UW ECE Undergraduate Program Mission Objectives and Outcomes
                • Careers in Electrical and Computer Engineering
                • ECE Tutoring

                Be boundless

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