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Undergraduates

Admission

Other Pathways to ChemE

 

High School Students

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

Engineering Undeclared Students

Request placement into chemical engineering at the end of your first year. Students who are ready to start ChemE core coursework during their first year should contact an advisor to discuss their options. 

We are so glad you're considering applying to chemical engineering! This page goes over the details of application requirements, steps, and policies. If you're interested in learning more about chemical engineering, please use the links on the right hand side.

We pride ourselves on our community and student-centered department where students have opportunities to participate in undergraduate research, study abroad, design capstones and internships. Students will progress through the program as a cohort, building community and support among their classmates. 

UW Students outside the College of Engineering

Many ChemE students discover an interest in ChemE after arriving at UW and we'd love to have you join our program. 

Students must be in good standing at UW and complete the following requirements:

  • Prerequisite courses with a minimum 2.0 GPA in each prerequisite course and a minimum 2.50 GPA overall in the following prerequisite courses: 
    • CHEM 142*, 152*, 162 or equivalents
    • MATH 124*, 125*, 126*, 207 or equivalents
    • PHYS 121* and 122 or equivalents
    • ENGL 131* or other composition course
  • Enrollment requirements: Students must be able to demonstrate they plan to complete the following spring quarter enrollment requirements and autumn quarter continuation requirements.
    • Prior to the start of spring quarter: CHEM 162, PHYS 122, and MATH 207
    • Prior to the start of Autumn Quarter: organic chemistry I and II (CHEM 237 and CHEM 238; or CHEM 223 and CHEM 224; or CHEM 335 and CHEM 336); PHYS 123 (or PHYS 143); MATH 208 (unless MATH 136 or AMATH 352 is taken); CHEM E 310; CHEM E 375

We have a single annual admissions cycle focused on students starting the chemical engineering core sequence of courses in the spring quarter immediately following the deadline of January 15. 

Apply by January 15

Students who apply and are admitted before completing all of the requirements listed above will need to finish those requirements quickly to stay on track with the ChemE Continuation policy.  Please use the links in the sidebar to set up an appointment with an advisor for more assistance with your academic plan. 

Transfer & Postbaccalaureate Student Admission

Transfer students make up a significant and valued part of our program each year. We're aware the transfer process can be complicated. In an attempt to make transfer advising more simple, we've made a checklist. We recognize everyone has different circumstances that impact their academic plans and we love to meet with students very early on in their coursework preparing for a transfer to chemical engineering. Please use the links in the sidebar to set up time with one of our advisers. 

Please note that the UW ChemE program starts in spring quarter, so students should be planning to transfer to UW and take CHEM E 310 and 375 for spring quarter. Students applying to UW during other quarters who are interested in ChemE should meet with UW ChemE Academic Advising to identify a clear plan and timeline for declaring the major as well as graduation.  

Postbaccalaureate students are students who have completed a prior bachelor's level degree and wish to return to school for a B.S. ChemE. The admissions requirements and process are essentially identical, though it is very important to explain why you need a ChemE degree in addition to the one you already have. 

 

 Complete your college's math placement course and begin math courses as soon as possible.

 Review ChemE Application Requirements, Statistics and Policies

 Review sample plans of study.

 Use the UW Transfer Equivalency Guide to identify the courses you need to take at your community college. 

 Join your college's MESA program, if it's offered, for assistance with preparing for transfer. 

 Meet with your college academic adviser to make a potential academic plan. 

 Meet with UW ChemE Academic Advisors

 Begin working on your ChemE personal statement

 

UW APPLICATION 

 Apply to University of Washington

 

 

DEPARTMENTAL APPLICATION

  Apply for Chemical Engineering Upper Division admission 

  Apply for financial aid: Submit your FAFSA or WAFSA to UW

  Apply for the UW Materials Intensive S-STEM Scholarship 

 

PREPARE TO TRANSFER

  Decisions communicated mid-February

  Begin looking for housing. UW ChemE classes require in-person participation, so you'll need to be able to commute or move to Seattle.

  Students with disabilities should get in contact with UW Disabled Resources for Students to begin the process of getting accommodations in place at UW. 

  Attend Virtual Advising & Orientation

 Classes begin late March at UW Seattle

Reverse Transfer - Finish your Associate's degree at UW

Since the ChemE major starts with CHEM E 310 in spring quarter of the second year, many transfer students do not complete their transfer degrees prior to transferring. It is more important to complete prerequisites and the continuation requirements than to complete a degree prior to transferring. The WA State Reverse Transfer Process makes it possible for students to receive that AS degree after transferring to UW. 

Learn more

Sample Transfer Plans

These sample plans of study use course numbers from specific community colleges, but they provide a guide for any student starting in a community college as an example. You may need to adjust based on what quarter you start and where you start in the math series, and our advisers are ready to help! Just use the links for appointment scheduling in the side bar.

Transfer students from Washington State Community colleges can use the Equivalency Guide to determine equivalency. Items listed in bold are requirements for admission - up to two can be in progress winter quarter when applying. Items listed in italics are recommended - they should be completed before the first autumn quarter at UW, so finishing them before transferring if possible is advantageous but not required. 

This sample plan of study uses Green River College course numbers, but it provides a guide for any student starting in a community college as an example. This sample uses three years to show that even students who are not ready for calculus can and should pursue engineering if they like! However, many students complete in fewer than three years.

Year One

Autumn Qtr- GRC Winter Qtr - GRC Spring Qtr - GRC
MATH 97 (5)* MATH& 141 (5)* MATH& 142 (5)*
CHEM& 140  CHEM& 161 (6)* with lab CHEM& 162 (6)* with lab
ENGL 101 (5) Other credits (5)** PHYS& 114 

Year Two

Autumn Qtr  - GRC Winter Qtr - GRC Spring Qtr  - GRC
MATH& 151 (5) MATH& 152 (5) MATH& 153 (5)
CHEM& 163 (6)* with lab CS 120 (2) ENGR 250 (5)
PHYS& 221 (5)* with lab PHYS& 222 (5)* with lab PHYS& 223 (5)

Year Three 

Autumn Qtr  - GRC
Winter Qtr  - GRC
Spring Qtr - UW
MATH 238 (5) MATH&254  (4)
CHEM E 310 (4)
CHEM& 261 (6)* CHEM& 262 (6) CHEM E 375 (3)

Technical Communication

Other credits (1-4)**
Other credits (1-4)**

 

 
MATH 208
UW Application Due Dec 15 ChemE Application Due Jan 15 Start at UW!

Year Four 

Autumn Qtr
Winter Qtr
Spring Qtr
CHEM E 325 (4) CHEM E 326 (4)
Option: CHEM E 436 (3) or CHEM E 455 (3) or
CHEM E 460 (3)***
CHEM E 330 (5) CHEM E 340 (4) CHEM E 457 (3)

CHEM 455 (3) OR 
CHEM E 456

MATH 209 (3)
Other credits (1-4)**

Other credits (2-3)** -
CHEM E 301 (1) very common

Other credits (1-4)**
Option: Engineering
Co-op

Year Five

Autumn Qtr (cr) Winter Qtr (cr) Spring Qtr (cr)
CHEM E 435 (4) CHEM E 437 (3) CHEM E 486 (5) OR CHEM E 497 (4)****
CHEM E 465 (4) CHEM E 480 (4)
Option: CHEM E 455 (3) or
CHEM E 460 (3)***
CHEM E 436 or CHEM E 455 (3)*** CHEM E 485 (4) Other credits **
Other credits (3-5)** Other credits (min 1 cr)** OR CHEM E 497 (3)****  

 

This sample plan of study uses Centralia College course numbers, but it provides a guide for any student starting in a community college as an example. You may need to adjust based on what quarter you start and where you start in the math series, and our advisers are ready to help! Just use the links for appointment scheduling in the side bar.

Transfer students from Washington State Community colleges can use the Equivalency Guide to determine equivalency. Items listed in bold are requirements for admission - up to two can be in progress winter quarter when applying. Items listed in italics are recommended - they should be completed before the first autumn quarter at UW, so finishing them before transferring if possible is advantageous but not required. 

Year One - CENTRALIA

Summer Qtr- Centralia  Autumn Qtr- Centralia Winter Qtr - Centralia Spring Qtr - Centralia
MATH& 151 (5) MATH& 152 (5) MATH& 153 (5) MATH 212 (5)
CHEM& 139 CHEM& 161 (6) CHEM& 162 (6) CHEM& 163 (6)
ENGL 101 (5) PHYS& 221 (5) PHYS& 222 (5) PHYS& 223 (5)
      MATH 264  (3)

Year Two

Autumn Qtr  - Centralia
Winter Qtr  - Centralia
Spring Qtr - UW
Summer Qtr - UW
MATH 118 ENGR 203
CHEM E 310 (4)
CHEM 223
Other credits** Other credits** CHEM E 375 (3) CHEM 224

 

 
 
 
UW Application Due Dec 15 ChemE Application Due Jan 15 Start at UW!  

Year Three

Autumn Qtr
Winter Qtr
Spring Qtr
CHEM E 325 (4) CHEM E 326 (4)
Option: CHEM E 436 (3) or CHEM E 455 (3) or
CHEM E 460 (3)***
CHEM E 330 (5) CHEM E 340 (4) CHEM E 457 (3)

CHEM 455 (3) OR 
CHEM E 456

MATH 209 (3)
Other credits (1-4)**

Other credits (2-3)** -
CHEM E 301 (1) very common

Other credits (1-4)**
Option: Engineering
Co-op

Year Four

Autumn Qtr (cr) Winter Qtr (cr) Spring Qtr (cr)
CHEM E 435 (4) CHEM E 437 (3) CHEM E 486 (5) OR CHEM E 497 (4)****
CHEM E 465 (4) CHEM E 480 (4)
Option: CHEM E 455 (3) or
CHEM E 460 (3)***
CHEM E 436 or CHEM E 455 (3)*** CHEM E 485 (4) Other credits **
Other credits (3-5)** Other credits (min 1 cr)** OR CHEM E 497 (3)****