BioEngineering

Applying to the BS BIOE Program

General Information

Students can apply to the Department of Bioengineering using the College of Engineering web-based application, available at www.engr.washington.edu/uapp/. We no longer accept paper applications. Admission is competitive and is based on prerequisite course work, a minimum overall GPA of 2.50, a personal statement describing interest in bioengineering, and work/research experience (especially if related to the field). Satisfying minimum requirements guarantees consideration but not acceptance. Students who do not meet the minimum requirements may petition for special consideration. Please see the application materials page for more information.

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Upper Admission

The deadline for Upper Admission is February 1 for Spring quarter. (The Upper Admission deadline of July 1 for Autumn quarter is limited to selected students only.) Upper Admission is appropriate for students who wish to apply during their sophomore year. To be eligible, applicants are required to complete 59 prerequisite credits (please see note*, **). Students may apply with credits in progress, but CHEM 162, MATH 126, and English Composition are expected to be completed.

CHEM 142, 152, 162 (or honors equivalent)

15

MATH 124, 125, 126 (or honors equivalent)

15

5 credits of English Composition

5

CSE 142

4

PHYS 121/121Z, 122/122Z

10

BIOL 180, 200 (please see note***)

10

TOTAL

59

BIOEN 201 (please see note*)

2
E E 215 (please see note**)
4

* BIOEN 201 is an important prerequisite for the first course in our core series, BIOEN 301; it should be taken during the Winter Quarter directly preceding 301. For spring Upper Admission applicants, BIOEN 201 will be in progress at the time of application. If BIOEN 201 is not taken as a sophomore, progress through our curriculum will be delayed by a year.

** While not a prerequisite course for Upper Admission, EE 215 must be taken during the sophomore year (NO exceptions). EE 215 is a prerequisite to BIOEN 302 in Autumn quarter of the junior year. Please also note that PHYS 122 is a prerequisite to EE 215.

*** Upper admission applicants who are unable to register for BIOL 180 by Autumn quarter of their sophomore year due to space limitations should see the Bioengineering Academic Counselor for more information.

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Early Admission

The deadline for Early Admission is July 1 for Autumn Q uarter. Early Admission is appropriate for current UW students who wish to apply at the end of their freshman year. Students with Running Start, AP or IB credits are also considered part of this group. To be eligible for Early Admission, applicants are required to have completed 35 prerequisite credits (please see note +).

CHEM 142, 152, 162 (or honors equivalent)

15

MATH 124, 125, 126 (or honors equivalent)

15

5 credits of English Composition

5

TOTAL

35


+ A minimum of 15 prerequisite credits must be taken at the UW. Students who have fulfilled the listed requirements with Running Start, AP, or IB credits should consult the Bioengineering Academic Counselor.

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Early Transfer Admission

Transfer students who are clear about their intention to study bioengineering and who have exceptional academic records in the freshman year are encouraged to transfer to UW as a sophomore. This plan allows you to graduate in 4 years and gives you the research experience, guidance, and other resources of the department available to you in your second year of college. This also makes it possible for a very high achieving student to complete the 5-year BS/MS option. Successful transferring requires advance planning! If you are interested in transferring after your freshman year, we encourage you to contact the Bioengineering Academic Counselor to discuss its appropriateness for you.

The following timeline can be used as a general guide to Early Transfer Admission:

*Freshman Year: Enroll at your transfer institution. You will spend 4 quarters at this institution (five if you attend summer). During this time (Autumn-Winter-Spring-Summer-Autumn), complete one year of college calculus, one year of college chemistry, one quarter of English composition, one or two quarters of calculus-based physics, one quarter of biology (the pre-med biology sequence), and one quarter of computer programming in C++ or Java (Java preferred). NOTE: The UW equivalents of these courses are listed below. The UW offers all of these courses in the summer and allows non-matriculated enrollment during summer quarters; if a required course isn't available at your school, you may be able to find it here!

CHEM 142, 152, 162

15

MATH 124, 125, 126

15

5 credits of English Composition

5

PHYS 121, 122 (both quarters, if possible)

10

BIOL 180 (or BIOL 200)

5

CSE 142

5

TOTAL

55


*June 1 of Freshman Year: To allow time for processing, apply to the University of Washington by June 1 for admission the following Winter Quarter, using the transfer application available through the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Submission of the UW application results in the assignment of a system key code, which is sent to you by mail after applying, and which allows you to subsequently proceed with the next step - your application to the department. NOTE: The University of Washington application deadline for Winter Quarter is September 15. However, if you wait until this date to apply for Winter Quarter admission to UW, you will have missed the deadline for applying for Early Transfer Admission to the Department of Bioengineering.

*July 1: Apply to the Department of Bioengineering by July 1, using the College of Engineering web-based application. Note on the application that you are applying for "Early Admission" to the Department of Bioengineering. Submit all relevant application materials including personal statement, transcripts, etc.

*August 1: Admission decisions are made by the Department of Bioengineering by August 1. If we admit you, we will send you a letter offering provisional Early Admission, pending transfer admission by the University of Washington for Winter Quarter. Admission to the University of Washington is also competitive. NOTE: The UW will always require prior completion of the high school core subject requirements. Refer to the Undergraduate Admissions Office website linked above for more information.

*November-December: Winter Quarter applicants are notified of UW admission decisions. If admitted, complete required autumn courses at your transfer institution. Register for Winter Quarter at UW during December. In Winter Quarter, you must take BIOEN 201 and other courses chosen after consulting with the academic counselor.

*January 1: Begin as a matriculated UW student in the Department of Bioengineering.

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Direct Admission From High School

The department encourages any incoming freshman with a strong interest in bioengineering to apply for Direct Admission. When applying to the University of Washington, students are able to indicate their interest in bioengineering on their general admission application. Priority consideration is given to those who apply to the University of Washington by December 1. (Students applying for Direct Admission do not need to fill out the College of Engineering web-based application).

Direct admission into the bioengineering undergraduate program is highly selective and we are only able to admit a small number of students each year. Admission is based on coursework taken in high school, GPA, college entrance exam scores, motivation, commitment to the field and other factors. Students are eligible for review by the department only after being accepted to the University. Please see the Bioengineering Academic Counselor for more information.

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Transfer Students

If you are a transfer student, you must gain admission to the University of Washington before you can be considered for the BS BIOE Program. Application to the University can be done through the Undergraduate Admissions Office. The Undergraduate Admissions Office can help you determine the best course of action. Please begin your University application early since there are strict rules and deadlines that must be followed.

After gaining admission to the University of Washington, transfer students may apply for early or upper admission (depending on your situation) and are subject to the procedures and deadlines described above.

The Early Transfer Admission process is described above and requires careful planning. Most transfer students, however, choose to complete two full years at a community college, then transfer to UW for Autumn Quarter. These students spend Autumn and Winter Quarters completing prerequisites, including BIOEN 201, and other required courses and apply for Upper Admission during the winter (by February 1) for Spring Quarter admission to the department. This approach extends time to degree by a quarter or two but allows for a slightly more relaxed schedule. Either approach can lead to a successful transfer into our program. Please consult the Bioengineering Academic Counselor to discuss how these options may work with your particular case.

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International Students

If you are an international student, you must gain admission to the University of Washington before you can be considered for the BS BIOE program. Application to the University can be done through the Undergraduate Admissions Office. The Undergraduate Admissions Office can help you determine the best course of action. Please begin your University application early since there are strict rules and deadlines that must be followed.

After gaining admission to the University of Washington, international students may apply for direct, early, or upper admission to the Department of Bioengineering and are subject to the procedures and deadlines described above.

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