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Academics FAQ

QUESTIONS

  1. How can I get a UW Catalog?
  2. Is the UW on the quarter or semester system?
  3. How can I get more information about majors and academic programs?
  4. Does the UW have a pre-med major? Pre-law? Pre-vet?
  5. Can I create my own major at the UW?
  6. Does the UW offer marine biology?
  7. Is pharmacy an undergraduate or graduate program?
  8. I want to become a teacher. Can I do that at the UW?
  9. What options are there for students who want to study animation?

1. How can I get a UW Catalog?

The University of Washington catalog is no longer printed; it is published exclusively on the Web.

2. Is the UW on the quarter or semester system?

The University of Washington operates on the quarter system. Most students attend three, 10-week quarters. Advantages of the quarter system include:

  • The opportunity to sample a greater number of classes during one’s academic career
  • Shorter classes – 10 weeks in length
  • The ability to focus on a select number of classes (usually 3) each term

Useful links: UW Academic calendar

3. How can I get more information about majors and academic programs?

With more than 140 majors, 90 minors, and 1800 undergraduate courses, there’s something for just about everyone at the UW. The best place to start exploring is at Undergraduate Majors, Minors, and Pre-professional Programs, which includes links to all University majors.

4. Does the UW have a pre-med major? Pre-law? Pre-vet?

Pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-optometry, pre-veterinary medicine and pre-law are not undergraduate majors at the UW, but rather recommended programs of study that prepare you to apply to professional programs. Your choice of major does not affect your chances of admission to a professional program; we recommend choosing a major that you love, with coursework that you enjoy.

At the UW, academic advisers are available to help you plan by selecting courses and majors appropriate to your long-term goals. Here is helpful information for:

There are also numerous student organizations to connect you with other Huskies who share your career interests. Here is a sample of such student organizations:

5. Can I create my own major at the UW?

Yes. General Studies is an interdisciplinary, individually designed major option for students who wish to create a program of study by combining selected courses from two or more departments. Students are required to identify a central organizing theme for their major and design it under the guidance and supervision of at least two faculty members and a General Studies adviser. There are also faculty-designed general studies programs in American Indian Studies, Ethnomusicology, Public Health, and Technical Writing.

6. Does the UW offer marine biology?

Undergraduate students interested in studying marine biology at the UW can get a degree from the School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, Oceanography, or the Department of Biology. The UW has many opportunities for students to explore the marine environment in traditional courses and through experiential learning programs at our Friday Harbor Laboratories and Alaska Field Station.

For students interested in this subject, the Marine Biology Webpage is a great starting place.

7. Is pharmacy an undergraduate or graduate program?

The UW’s School of Pharmacy offers a Pharm.D. degree rather than a bachelor’s degree. Students pursuing prepharmacy complete two college years of prerequisites and then apply to the program, which is four years long.

8. I want to become a teacher. Can I do that at the UW?

Elementary and secondary teacher certification is a master’s degree program at the UW. Students planning on applying to the elementary certification program may complete almost any undergraduate major. Students planning on secondary teaching normally major in the subjects they plan to teach in high school, and are strongly encouraged to complete minors as well. For both programs, some specific undergraduate courses and some teaching experience are required before application to the master’s programs.
Useful links:

9. What options are there for students who want to study animation?

While Washington does not offer a degree granting program in animation, we offer some excellent course work in computer animation through the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, consistently rated among the top 10 programs in the nation. These are generally open to UW students only, and are usually made up of CSE, art, music and architecture majors who are admitted by application.

  • Another related area is the Digital Arts & Experimental Media major. The DXARTS program (unique in the nation) embraces an expansive range of arts practice, theory, and research across multiple disciplines.
  • The UW’s Extension office also offers a certification in game animation.

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