Skip to content

Computer Science

College of Arts & Sciences

The Computer Science major is appropriate for students who are primarily interested in the design of software systems and applications, or who want to earn a double major with another College of Arts and Sciences program.

Major category: Capacity-constrained

Topic(s): Computing

website
Degree requirements

Applicant type

Applicant type

Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)

Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).

The primary pathway to Computer Science is through direct admission as a freshman. If you want to major in computer science, be sure to list it as your first-choice major on the freshman application.

Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring / summer

Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.

  • Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
  • Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
  • Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
  • UW college and school graduation requirements

Department admission information

Departmental application deadline: April 5 for Autumn, January 15 for Spring
Please contact the department for details about the application process.

This major is capacity-constrained. Completion of prerequisites does not guarantee admission.
  • Admission is for autumn and spring quarter only. Transfer applicants are considered based on their University transfer application and supplemental material provided to the Allen School.
  • Applicants must identify Computer Science as their intended major, and indicate they will begin the major immediately upon transferring.
  • Applicants interested in transferring from an institution that does not offer equivalent coursework should reach out to the Allen School advising team before applying.
  • Entering transfer applicants must meet requirements by the Allen School supplemental application deadline.

 

Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.

Courses required for the major:

  • CSE 123 NSc RSN – Introduction to Computer Programming III or CSE 143 NSc RSN – Computer Programming II
  • MATH 124 NSc RSN – Calculus Analytic Geometry I
  • MATH 125 NSc – Calculus Analytic Geometry II
  • MATH 126 NSc – Calculus Analytic Geometry III
  • At least 5 credits of natural science from the list of approved natural science courses on the Allen School website
  • 5 credits of English Composition C

Entering transfer information:

Total undergraduates: 1731
Total from Washington community colleges: 128

Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):

3.75 – 4.00: 88
3.50 – 3.74: 17
3.25 – 3.49: 10
3.00 – 3.24: <5
2.75 – 2.99: 9
2.50 – 2.74: <5
2.49 and below: <5

Career outcomes

«
»

See list of all majors