Sample a class

Attend an undergraduate class and get a feel for what it’s like to be a UW student. See the list of available classes below. Don’t forget to register for a guided tour and admission presentation.

Note: Classes start Sept 25.

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Appreciation of Architecture I

Historical survey of global architecture and built environments with reference to environmental, technological, and socio-cultural contexts, from prehistory to 1400

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Biopsychology

Examines the biological basis of behavior, the nervous system, how it works to control behavior and sense the world, and what happens when it malfunctions. Topics include learning and memory, development, sex, drugs, sleep, the senses, emotions, and mental disorders.

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Climate and Climate Change

The nature of the global climate system. Factors influencing climate including interactions among the atmosphere, oceans, solid earth, and biosphere. Stability and sensitivity of climate system. Global warming, ozone depletion, and other human influences.

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Data Programming

Introduction to computer programming. Assignments solve real data manipulation tasks from science, engineering, business, and the humanities. Concepts of computational thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, Python programming, control and data abstraction, file processing, and data visualization.

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Dinosaurs

Biology, behavior, ecology, evolution, and extinction of dinosaurs, and a history of their exploration. With dinosaurs as focal point, course also introduces the student to how hypotheses in geological and palaeobiological science are formulated and tested.

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Environmental Design and Sustainability

Foundational survey of contemporary practices of environmental design and sustainability in the built environments. Builds on knowledge generated from the concepts, principles, and methods of the natural sciences. Explores, examines, and proposes practical applications for engaging with the complex and multifaceted environmental, social, and political issues of urban areas.

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First-Year Japanese

Elementary speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in modern Japanese. First in a sequence of three.

Please note: Can only accommodate one or two prospective students per lecture

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Global Warming: Understanding the Issues

Presents a broad overview of the science of global warming. Includes the causes, evidence, and societal and environmental impacts from the last century. Recounts future climate projections and societal decisions that influence greenhouse gas emission scenarios and our ability to adapt to climate change. Presents ways to identify disinformation versus correct science. 

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Heats, Fluids and Electricity and Magnetism

Principles of heat, fluids, and electromagnetism using algebra-based modeling with an emphasis on applications in life sciences.

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Human Biological Diversity: Sports, Movement, and Activity

Exploration of human biological variation with particular emphasis on physical activities. Introduction to the theory of evolution through natural selection and to basic data science techniques including data collection, analysis, and interpretation 

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In-Justice for All: Intersection of Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in the United States

Focusing on pre-Columbus era to 1970, students develop an understanding of how race, ethnicity, nationality, class, and gender impact all Americans - especially those viewed as racial ethnic minorities. 

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Integrative Oceans

Presents fundamentals of ocean science through regional case studies that illustrate the relationship between interdependent physical, chemical, biological, and geological process. Students apply tools from these scientific disciplines to understand major changes predicted for future oceanic environments.

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Introduction of Mechanics of Materials

Introduction to the concepts of stress, deformation, and strain in solid materials. Development of basic relationships among loads, stresses, and deflections of structural and machine elements such as rods, shafts, and beams. Load-carrying capacity of these elements under tension, compression, torsion, bending, and shear forces.

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Introduction to Bioengineering Problem Solving

Introduces bioengineering through a problem-solving approach. Topics include: creative problem-solving techniques, self-directed inquiry, engineering ethics, social constraints, and engineering design process.

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Introduction to Classical Music

Studies in listening, with emphasis on the changing components of Western art music. Illustrated lectures, laboratory section meetings, and presentations by guest artists. Intended for non-majors.

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Introduction to Computer Programming I

Introduction to computer programming for students without previous programming experience. Students write programs to express algorithmic thinking and solve computational problems motivated by modern societal and scientific needs. Includes procedural programming constructs (methods), control structures (loops, conditionals), and standard data types, including arrays.

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Introduction to Computer Programming II

Computer programming for students with some previous programming experience. Emphasizes program design, style, and decomposition. Uses data structures (e.g., lists, dictionaries, sets) to solve computational problems motivated by modern societal and scientific needs. Introduces data abstraction and interface versus implementation.

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Introduction to Environmental Studies

Examines the ethical, political, social, and scientific dimensions of environmental issues. Integrates knowledge from different disciplines while evaluating environmental problems at various scales. Uses an environmental justice lens to examine the ways problems are concentrated in some communities while providing opportunities to practice environmental communication and collaboration across disciplines.

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Introduction to Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies

Major conversations in the field of gender, women, and sexuality studies. Examines how difference and inequality are produced and enforced along lines of gender, sexuality, race, class, ability, citizenship status, and more. How queer and feminist theories and practices have shaped conversations about identity and power in the United States and transnational contexts.

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Introduction to Geology and Societal Impacts

Introduction to the processes, materials and structures that shape Earth. Emphasizes the dynamic nature of the earth's tectonic system and its relationship to physical features, volcanism, earthquakes, minerals and rocks and geologic structures. The course emphasizes the intrinsic relationship between human societies and geologic processes, hazards and resources.

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Introduction to International Relations

The world community, its politics, and government.

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Introduction to Law, Societies, and Justice

Explores the central role of law in social processes; investigates the primary types of legal regimes and compares them across different national and international contexts; contrasts legal with non-legal forms of social ordering; investigates the structure and practice of human rights law.

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Introduction to Linguistics

Language as the fundamental characteristic of the human species; diversity and complexity of human languages; phonological and grammatical analysis; dimensions of language use; and language acquisition and historical language change.

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Introduction to Logic

Elementary symbolic logic. The development, application, and theoretical properties of an artificial symbolic language designed to provide a clear representation of the logical structure of deductive arguments.

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Introduction to Philosophy

Major philosophical questions relating to such matters as the existence of God, the foundations of knowledge, the nature of reality, and the nature of morality. Approach may be either historical or topical.

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Introduction to Political Theory

Philosophical bases of politics and political activity. Provides an introduction to the study of politics by the reading of books in political philosophy. Organized around several key political concepts, such as liberty, equality, justice, authority, rights, and citizenship.

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Introduction to Psychology

Surveys major areas of psychological science. Core topics include human social behavior, personality, psychological disorders and treatment, learning, memory, human development, biological influences, and research methods. Related topics may include sensation, perception, states of consciousness, thinking, intelligence, language, motivation, emotion, stress and health, cross-cultural psychology, and applied psychology.

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Introduction to Visualization and Computer-Aided Design

Methods of depicting three-dimensional objects and communicating design information. Development of three-dimensional skills through freehand sketching and computer-aided design using parametric solid modeling.

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Introductory Biology

Mendelian genetics, evolution, biodiversity of life forms, ecology, and conservation biology. Open to all students interested in biology whether intending to major in the biological sciences, enroll in preprofessional programs, or fulfill a Natural World requirement.

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Marine Biology

Lecture-laboratory course in marine biology focusing on physical, biological, and social aspects of the marine environment. Topics include oceanography, ecology, physiology, behavior, conservation, fisheries, exploration, and activism. 

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Mechanics

Principles of mechanics using algebra-based modeling with an emphasis on applications in life sciences.

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Nutrition for Today

Examines the role of nutrition in health, wellness, and prevention of chronic disease. Topics include nutrients and nutritional needs across the lifespan, food safety, food security, wellness, body weight regulation, eating disorders, sports nutrition, and prevention of chronic disease.

*Note: course occasionally does not meet in the classroom due to exams or instructor absence.

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Organic Chemistry

First course for students planning to take three quarters of organic chemistry. Introduction to physical properties, structure, nomenclature, and stereochemistry of organic compounds. Reactions of alkenes and alkynes. No organic laboratory accompanies this course.

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Personal and Public Health

Provides an overview of the key components of health and wellness. Presents a balance between individual responsibility and social determinants of public health, emphasizing a holistic preventative model. Incorporates self-assessment and considers the impact of personal, family, social, cultural, and environmental factors on health.

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Perspectives on Film: Introduction (Crime Scenes)

Introduction to film form, style, and techniques. Examples from silent film and from contemporary film.

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Public Debate

Examines public debate in a democracy by developing a rhetorical perspective of public argument and skills to evaluate debates critically. Develops an understanding of rhetoric, values, audiences, tests of reasoning, and sources of information. Sharpens critical skills and applies them to contemporary controversies in the public sphere.

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Race and American History

Surveys United States history, by exploring how race has enabled conceptions of the American nation and shaped everyday practices and interactions among different peoples. How have racial concepts, representations, and practices fundamentally defined power dynamics in American culture? From slave revolts to the Black Lives Matter movement, how have organizations and individuals struggled to pursue racial justice?

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Race, Gender, and Class in Latin America and the Caribbean

(1400 to the present) in the forging of Latin America and the Caribbean. Examines how gender, race, sex, and class became crucial means to sustain, navigate, and challenge domination as well as to imagine alternative futures.

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States and Capitalism: The Origins of the Modern Global

Origins of the modern world system in the sixteenth century and its history until World War I. Interacting forces of politics and economics around the globe, with particular attention to key periods of expansion and crisis.

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Survey of Sociology

Human interaction, social institutions, social stratification, socialization, deviance, social control, social and cultural change. Course content may vary, depending upon instructor.

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The Ancient World

Origins of Western civilization to the fall of Rome.

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The Diversity of Human Sexuality

Considers biological, psychological, and socio-cultural determinants of human sexuality and sexual behavior, and how their interaction leads to diverse expressions of sexuality, sexual bonding, gender orientation, reproductive strategies, and physical and psychological sexual development. Topics include cultural appraisal of sexuality, sexual health and reproduction (pregnancy, contraception, abortion), and sexual abuse and assault.

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The Ethics and Psychology of Persuasion

Examines the psychology of persuasion through an ethical lens. Answers questions such as: When is persuasion effective? When is it respectful versus immoral? Is using psychological insight manipulative or just good people skills? How do biases shape persuasion, and how should we navigate them? Assessments focus on real-world applications, helping students improve as persuaders.

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The Planets

For liberal arts and beginning science students. Survey of the planets of the solar system, with emphasis on recent space exploration of the planets and on the comparative evolution of the Earth and the other planets.

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Wildlife in the Modern World

Covers major wildlife conservation issues in North America. Some global issues are also treated. Examples of topics include the conservation of large predators, effects of toxic chemicals on wildlife, old-growth wildlife, conservation of marine wildlife, recovery of the bald eagle, and gray wolf.

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