BA Sociology at University of Washington

Programme overview

Sociology is the scientific study of people in groups -- from friendship networks to communities to entire nations. Sociologists describe the characteristics of social groups and consider explanations for social stability and social change. They promote critical thinking on issues such as social inequality, racial and ethnic conflict, law and justice, social and political movements, immigration, education, health, the family, and the role of gender and sexuality.

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Sociology | Duration: 50 credits | Location: Seattle, WA, United States

What you will study

50 credits; Introductory courses (10 credits): SOC 300 and any additional 5 credit sociology course; Statistics and theory (10 credits):; one of STAT 220, STAT 221/SOC 221/CS&SS 221, or STAT 290 (5 credits); SOC 316 (5 credits); Upper-division sociology electives (20 credits): Any 300-level or 400-level sociology courses, excluding SOC 300, SOC 316, SOC 395, SOC 399 and SOC 499.; Sociology electives (10 credits): Any additional sociology courses, with a maximum 5 credits of either SOC 399 or SOC 499.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Introductory courses (10 credits): SOC 300 (may be in progress at time of application). Any additional 5 credit sociology course. Minimum 2.0 grade for completed course(s) required for admission. Minimum 2.00 cumulative UW GPA. See department website for information about declaring the sociology major. All applicants who meet the qualifications stated above may declare the major at any time.

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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