BA History at University of Washington

Programme overview

Dynamic, diverse, and intellectually challenging, the Department of History cultivates in undergraduates a lasting curiosity about the world, and imparts useful tools for understanding and participating in it responsibly. With an emphasis on critical reading and writing, discriminating research skills, and persuasive presentation, the history major prepares students for a variety of occupations in the fields of business, government, non-profit, education, and many more.

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: History | Duration: 60 credits | Location: Seattle, WA, United States

What you will study

60 credits; At least one 5-credit course in four of the following six fields: Asia; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; Middle East and Africa; United States and Canada; and Comparative and Trans-Regional; At least 10 credits in pre-modern history and 10 credits in modern history (as designated by the department); At least 30 upper-division history credits completed in residence at the UW; 5 credits of HSTRY 388, to be completed no later than within two quarters of declaring the major

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Minimum college/university GPA of 2.00 Completion of 10 credits of college history with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 Completion of 10 credits of composition/writing courses with a minimum 2.0 grade for each course. The requirement may be met by a freshman English composition course or a "W" course. Students may apply to the major at any time in the quarter. Transfer students must be enrolled at the UW before applying.

Domestic applicants: USD 12,664 a year (2026-27). Resident rate. Seattle campus, full-time, Autumn+Winter+Spring quarters, rate band "Undergraduate" Undergraduate rate for tuition-based programs. Tuition only (operating + building fee); excludes technology fee, services & activities fee, IMA bond and fac Source

International applicants: USD 44,580 a year (2026-27). Non-Resident rate. Seattle campus, full-time, Autumn+Winter+Spring quarters, rate band "Undergraduate" Undergraduate rate for tuition-based programs. Tuition only (operating + building fee); excludes technology fee, services & activities fee, IMA bond and Source

First-year entry quarters: Autumn (begins late September), Winter (begins early January; not open to international first-year applicants), Summer (begins mid-June; most degree-seeking students apply for Autumn). Spring quarter is not open to first-year applicants.

Transfer entry: Autumn and Summer quarters; Spring quarter transfer admission is open only to applicants to specific departments in engineering and computer science.

First-year applications for Autumn (and Summer) open August 15 and close November 15; notification March 1-15. Winter applications open August 1 and close September 1, with notification in November and December. The UW does not offer early decision or early action. Apply through the Common App.

First-year application fee is $85 for U.S. students (fee waivers available) and $95 for international students (no fee waivers). Application requires a Common App essay and a self-reported academic record in STARS. SAT/ACT scores are not required for most applicants; homeschooled applicants and applicants from schools without letter or numeric grades must submit SAT or ACT scores. International applicants submit TOEFL or IELTS scores meeting the minimum English proficiency requirement.

Transfer applications for Autumn and Summer open December 15 and close February 28; notification May 1 to June 30. Transfer application fee is $85 (U.S., fee waivers available) or $95 (international, no fee waivers). SAT/ACT scores are not required for transfer applicants.

Apply through the official page: https://admit.washington.edu/apply/

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