BA Social Welfare at University of Washington

Programme overview

The School of Social Work seeks individuals interested in tackling complex social problems, building skills to help individuals, families, and communities, and are committed to becoming social change agents. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare (BASW) serves as an excellent foundation for aspiring leaders, helpers, innovators, community organizers, and social service professionals, giving students skills to work with clients individually, with groups and families, or on a macro policy level.

Faculty: School of Social Work | Department: School of Social Work | 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: 10 credits; Reasoning (RSN): 4 or 5 credits; Foreign Language: 0-15 credits, depending on placement or high school background; Diversity (DIV): 5 credits.; Of Special Note:; For students admitted to the University prior to autumn quarter 2023, the DIV requirement is 3 credits.; Areas of Inquiry; Arts and Humanities (A&H): 20 credits; Social Sciences (SSc): 20 credits

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission occurs once a year for autumn quarter. Applications open by February 1st and are due by April 15th. Applicants must meet the following prerequisite requirements by the end of summer quarter before starting the program in autumn quarter: Minimum 65 transferable college-level credits completed One introductory course in sociology and one introductory course in psychology. Minimum 2.0 grade in each course. See School's website for approved courses. Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA Completed online application found on the School's website Admission is capacity constrained, and applications are holistically evaluated based on the following criteria: Academic preparation Reasoned interest in the field Relevant experience Diverse contributions Application forms and a detailed description of the social welfare major are available at the School's website. A student may discuss the program ...

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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