BS Atmospheric and Climate Science at University of Washington

Programme overview

Atmospheric and climate science is a wide-ranging discipline that includes topics as diverse as weather forecasting, global warming, air quality, Pacific Northwest weather and climate, mountain weather, marine weather, El Nino, the ozone hole, ice ages, and the weather of Mars. It considers problems that are both scientifically challenging and critical for the welfare of modern society. These problems are addressed with theory, measurements, and computer simulations.

Faculty: College of the Environment | Department: Atmospheric and Climate Science | Location: Seattle, WA, United States

What you will study

Minimum 85-98 credits, depending on credential/option; Foundation requirements; (30 credits): MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126 (or MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136); PHYS 121, PHYS 122, PHYS 123 (or PHYS 141, PHYS 142, PHYS 143); Core requirements; (27-28 credits): STAT 390 (or Q SCI 381 for options in meteorology, climate, chemistry); ATMOS 220 (1 credit), ATMOS 301, ATMOS 321, ATMOS 340, ATMOS 341, ATMOS 370, ATMOS 431.; Additional requirements specified below; Minimum 2.0 grade in courses applied to the major

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Minimum course requirements: English composition; MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126 (or MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136); PHYS 121, PHYS 122, PHYS 123 (or PHYS 141, PHYS 142, PHYS 143) Grade requirements: Minimum 2.0 grade for each course required for admission; minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA in courses required for admission

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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