Thank you for your interest in ISE! There are many pathways for admission into the College of Engineering and its departments. Use the information and pathways below to help you better understand the process and plan your application.
If you have questions about admission, contact ISE undergraduate advising at ieadvise@uw.edu.
Application process and requirements
Engineering Undeclared (ENGRUD) students.
Welcome to the University of Washington College of Engineering! 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 are as follows:
- Maintain a minimum 2.00 ENGRUD GPA.
- Complete placement requirements with grades of 2.0 or above in each course.
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. 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 students admitted as freshmen to majors other than Engineering Undeclared who plan to join the ISE department during Junior year.
This is the only admission point to ISE for current UW students admitted to a major other than through the Direct to College pathway. Applicants have completed at least four quarters of equivalent college-level coursework and are on track to begin the department curriculum in the Autumn quarter of their Junior year. The application deadline is April 5.
Ensure you are on track to apply
Find information about the application requirements and the additional lower-division coursework, referred to as enrollment requirements, required for the engineering programs you are considering. While the application requirements are your priority courses to take, it is important to ensure you have a plan to complete the enrollment requirements prior to starting in the major.
Compare majors: Required courses by department
Comparison of the application and enrollment requirements for the different engineering majors.
Department application and deadline
The College of Engineering department application opens mid-March. The deadline is April 5.
Requirements
- Cumulative UW GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Grade of 2.0 or higher in each application requirement course
Application requirements
All engineering departments require MATH 124, 125, 126 and English composition. Additional course requirements are:
| Course number | Credits | Course title |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 142 | 5 | General Chemistry with lab |
| PHYS 121 | 5 | Mechanics with lab |
| PHYS 122 | 5 | Electromagnetism with lab |
| AA 210 | 4 | Engineering Statics |
| English Composition | 5 | Course from the UW English composition list |
You must complete the application requirements no later than by April 15, and the enrollment requirements by no later than the beginning of autumn quarter.
Enrollment requirements
| Course number | Credits | Course title |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 152 | 5 | General Chemistry with lab |
| PHYS 123 | 5 | Waves with lab |
| CEE 220 OR ME 230 | 4 | Introduction to Mechanics of Materials |
Recommended courses
We strongly recommend you take the following courses to make your application competitive.
| Course number | Credits | Course title |
|---|---|---|
| CSE 122 or 142* | 4 | Computer Programming I |
| MATH 207 (formerly MATH 307)‡ | 3 | Introduction to Differential Equations |
| MATH 208 (formerly MATH 308)‡ | 3 | Matrix Algebra with Applications |
‡ As of autumn 2021, MATH 307, MATH 308, MATH 309, and MATH 324 are renumbered as MATH 207, MATH 208, MATH 209, and MATH 224, respectively. Students can apply either the 200- or 300-level number for each course toward their degree requirements.
* As of the 2022-23 academic year, the introductory courses CSE 142 & 143 have been replaced with CSE 121, 122, & 123. Read more about this course renumbering.
Conditional application for admission
If you are unable to complete all application requirements by the April 5th deadline, or all of the enrollment requirements by the start of autumn quarter, you must obtain permission to apply by completing the UW ISE conditional application request form.
For students at a college or university other than UW.
Ensure you are on track to apply
Applicants have completed approximately 2 years of equivalent college-level coursework and are on track to begin the department curriculum in the Autumn quarter of their Junior year. The application deadline is April 5.
Refer to the BSIE degree requirements and Sample quarterly schedule when planning your courses to make sure you are on track. We strongly encourage you to consult the UW Equivalency Guide to ensure you have completed all required prerequisite coursework before the deadline.
Learn more about transferring into an engineering major on the College of Engineering transfer webpage.
| Start quarter | Application deadlines |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Apply to UW mid-December to February 15. Apply to ISE upper admission by April 5. |
Conditional application for admission
If you are unable to complete all application requirements by the April 5th deadline, or all of the enrollment requirements by the start of autumn quarter, you must obtain permission to apply by completing the UW ISE conditional application request form.
Selection criteria
Selection is based on various factors including overall academic track record, grades in prerequisite courses and cumulative GPA, personal statement, and the potential for success as an ISE major and in the profession. We encourage prospective students to speak with the undergraduate adviser to understand how to be a competitive applicant.
Notifications
Students will be notified of acceptance or denial in early May.