BS Aquatic Conservation and Ecology at University of Washington

Programme overview

The Aquatic Conservation and Ecology (ACE) degree program is about the ecology of aquatic organisms, the rivers, lakes, and oceans in which they live, and how we conserve them for the benefit of people and the planet. This degree integrates the disciplines of ecology, evolution, and quantitative sciences and applies these principles to contemporary conservation and natural resource management issues.

Faculty: College of the Environment | Department: School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences | Duration: 93-105 credits | Location: Seattle, WA, United States

What you will study

93-105 credits; Foundation Courses (39-47 credits); Quantitative (15 credits):; one of the following options: (1) MATH 124, MATH 125; (2) MATH 134, MATH 135; (3) Q SCI 291, Q SCI 292; Q SCI 381 or STAT 311; Chemistry (9-17 credits):; one of the following options: (1) CHEM 120; (2) CHEM 142, CHEM 152; (3) CHEM 145, CHEM 155; (4) CHEM 143, CHEM 153; one of the following: OCEAN 295, CHEM 220, CHEM 223, CHEM 237, CHEM 257; Biology (15 credits):; BIOL 180, BIOL 200; BIOL 220 or FISH 270/OCEAN 270/MARBIO 270

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students in good academic standing may declare this major at any time, including on their application for admission to the UW. After notification of admission and before registration, new students should visit or email the Student Services Office for help in planning their programs.

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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