BA Public Service and Policy at University of Washington

Programme overview

Public Service and Policy is an interdisciplinary major designed to bring students to a deeper understanding of their roles in public service and the creation and implementation of public policy. Learning is organized around three broad outcomes including understanding the context in which policy is created and implemented; cultivating a methodological toolkit that brings diverse evidence into public service and policymaking; and expanding communication, management, and leadership skills for public service impact.

Faculty: Evans School of Public Policy and Governance | Department: Evans School of Public Policy and Governance | Location: Seattle, WA, United States

What you will study

General Education Requirements; Basic Skills; English Composition (C) (5 credits; minimum 2.0 grade); Additional Writing (W) (10 credits); Reasoning (RSN) (4 or 5 credits); Diversity (DIV) (5 credits).; Of Special Note:; For students admitted to the University prior to autumn quarter 2023, the DIV requirement is 3 credits.; Foreign Language (1st year proficiency): 0-15 credits, depending on placement or high school background; Areas of Inquiry; Arts and Humanities (A&H) (10 credits)

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

45 college credits Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA Minimum 2.0 grade in PUBPOL 201. There is not an equivalent course for PUBPOL 201. Students who will transfer to the UW can indicate an intention to enroll in the program and be admitted with the provision that they complete PUBPOL 201 with a minimum of 2.0 grade in their first quarter. Visit school website for instructions to declare the public service and policy major Continuation Policy All students must make satisfactory academic progress in the major. Failure to do so results in major-level academic notification, major-level warning, and major-level alerts, which can lead to dismissal from the major and being precluded from subsequently declaring the major in a future quarter. For the complete continuation policy, contact the departmental adviser or refer to the department website.

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/

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities