UW Degrees – SAMlink
This cheat sheet is a quick reference for comparing Science And Math options at UW Seattle. For in-depth info, contact the department directly.
Astronomy
Degrees
Offered
B.S Astronomy
Email: office@astro.washington.edu or sterrs@astro.washington.edu
ADMISSION
PROCESS
PROGRAM
FEATURES
See Sarah Garner in
the PhysicsAstronomy Bldg,
room C319 to
declare;
Open Admission;
No prereqs required.
Easy to double major with
Physics
Lots of research
opportunities (paid or for
credit)
Students get to travel for
research and presenting
their research
MATH, SCIENCE, VLPA,
I&S, FOREIGN LANGUAGE
(number of credits)
 Astronomy (20)
 Physics (52)
 Math Calculus (15), Math 308
(3), Math 324 (3)
 Foreign Language: Yes
 VLPA (20)
 I&S (20)
LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
 Research
 Internships
 Capstone sequence
(Analyze Data, Telescope
Observing, Scientific
Writing)
 Outreach opportunities
(observatory nights,
planetarium shows)
Astro-Student computer
lab
Access to several
observatory telescopes
COMMON CAREER PATHS
 PhD. ~50% of students pursue a PhD. 55% of
astronomers are faculty or affiliated with
Universities that have observatories.
 Science Education. Includes teaching in 8-12,
science centers, museums or public planetariums.
 Instrumentation. Design and build telescope
equipment for observatories or space telescopes like
Hubble.
 National Research Labs (NASA, STScI, NOAO,
NRAO). Jobs can range from working the Space
Shuttle command center to being an observatory
assistant.
 Industry (computer programming, engineering,
financial modeling). Students pursuing industry
positions often rely on computer programming and
physics unless working for an aerospace company.
Atmospheric Sciences Email: advise@atmos.washington.edu
Degrees
Offered
BS in
Atmospheric
Sciences
ADMISSION
PROCESS
Open
PROGRAM FEATURES
Study in one of three track
options: Meteorology, Climate, or
Atmospheric Chemistry & Air
Quality

Many opportunities to participate
in research and internships
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Easy to minor in AMATH or
MATH; many majors choose to
double major in ACMS
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MATH, SCIENCE, VLPA, I&S,
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
(number of credits)
Calculus (18; incl MATH 124-126 &
324)
Physics (15)
AMath (10; incl AMATH 301, 351,
353)
VLPA (10)
I&S (20)
Foreign Language: No
LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
 Research
 Internships
 Senior-level Capstone
Course
COMMON CAREER PATHS
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National Weather Service
Forecaster
TV Meteorologist
U.S. Air Force Weather
Officer
Graduate Student
Military or Commercial
Aviator
Air Quality Meteorologist
Environmental Consultant
Chemistry & Biochemistry Email: advisers@chem.washington.edu
Degrees
Offered
ADMISSION PROCESS
PROGRAM
FEATURES
BA Chemistry
Five degree options
BS Chemistry-ACS
Open admission through winter
2010. Effective spring quarter
2010, admission will become
competitive and by application
only.
BA Biochemistry
Go to dept. website for details.
BS Biochemistry
http://depts.washington.edu/chem/u
ndergrad/admission.html
Departmental
scholarships and book
awards available.
BS Chemistry
Many opportunities to
participate in
undergraduate research
MATH, SCIENCE, VLPA, I&S,
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
(number of credits)
BA & BS Biochemistry
 Calculus (15)
 Physics (15 or 13)
 Biology (10)
BA Chemistry
 Calculus (15)
 Physics (15 or 13)
BS Chemistry
 Calculus (15)
 Math 308 (3)
 Physics (15 or 13)
BS Chemistry-ACS Certified
 Calculus (15)
 Math 307 & 308 (6)
 Physics (15 or 13)
LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
COMMON CAREER PATHS
 Research
 Internships
 Study abroad opportunities
via TransAtlantic Science
Student Exchange
Program (TASSEP)
 AXE Fraternity, Free
Radicals Student Club,
PLU Honors
Health professions, Veterinary
School, Pharmacy, Biotech
industry, Graduate studies,
Forensic science, Biomedical
research, Teaching,
Pharmaceutical sales, Entry
level positions with state and
federal agencies requiring
background in the biological
sciences.
All degrees:
 VLPA & I&S (20 each)
 Foreign Language: yes
Computer Science & Engineering Email:ugrad-advisor@cs.washington.edu
Degrees
Offered
ADMISSION PROCESS
PROGRAM
FEATURES
BS in Computer
Science (in the
College of A&S),
BS in Computer
Engineering
(College of
Engineering)
Competitive. College of Engineering
app available for Autumn or Spring
admission.
Two degree options. CE
offers a choice of
Hardware or Software
track. CS is more flexible
(good for double majors).
Admit fewer than 50% of applicants.
Grades typically between 3.3 and 4.0
overall and in prereqs:
Prereqs, CS & CE: Math 124-126;
CSE 142 + 143; English Comp;
Science prereq for CS: Physics 121
OR Chem 142 OR Bio 180
Science prereq for CE: Phys 121+122
Active student
organizations. Tons of
career-planning resources
available. CSE-specific
scholarships.
MATH, SCIENCE, VLPA,
I&S, FOREIGN LANGUAGE
(number of credits)
Computer Science
 Calculus (15)
 Physics, Chem or Bio (10)
 VLPA (20)
 I&S (20)
 Foreign Language: Yes
Computer Engineeering
 Calculus (15)
 Physics (10)
 More Phys or other science (10)
 VLPA (10)
 I&S (10)
LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
 Research
 Internships
 Senior-level Capstone
COMMON CAREER PATHS
Most common CSE career paths:
Software Developer, Quality
Assurance, Program Manager.
Courses
 Direct exchanges to study
abroad in Sweden &
Switzerland
Other career paths pursued by CSE
majors:
Grad school or professional school
(law or medicine), teaching, animation,
business
Earth & Space Sciences
Degrees
Offered
ADMISSION
PROCESS
Open Major.
Students in good
academic standing
may declare this
major at any time.
B.S. in Earth
and Space
Sciences
B.A. in earth
and space
sciences
Email: advising@ess.washington.edu
PROGRAM FEATURES
B.S. degree offers options in
biology, physics, and
environmental earth sciences
MATH, SCIENCE, VLPA, I&S,
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
(number of credits)
 Foreign Language: Yes
 VLPA (20)
 I&S (20)
 BS: 20 credits Science Core,
minimum 55 credits ESS Options
(see tracks)
 BA: 35 credits Supporting
Science, 55 credits ESS Course
Minor
LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
COMMON CAREER PATHS
 Research facilities
 Honors
 Internships and Service
Learning
 Department scholarships
 Student organizations
Math and Applied & Computational Mathematical Sciences (ACMS)
Degrees
Offered
ADMISSION PROCESS
BS, BA in
Mathema
tics
Complete Math 124-5-6
with a 2.0 or better
PROGRAM FEATURES
Five degree options: BS
Standard, BS Comprehensive, BA
Teacher Preparation, BA
Standard, BA Math Phillosophy
MATH, SCIENCE,
VLPA, I&S, FOREIGN
LANGUAGE
(number of credits)
VLPA (20)
I&S (20)
NW (20)
LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
Research
Seminars
Foreign Language - One
year
Complete Math 124-5-6,
CSE 142, and any one of
Math 300, 307, 308, AMath
351, 352 with a 2.0 or
better and a 2.5 GPA in
those courses
BS in
ACMS
BS with eight different option
pathways
COMMON CAREER PATHS
Students in both Math and ACMS pursue careers as Actuaries,
Computer Programmers, Web Developers, Teachers, Research
Analysts, Systems Engineers, Market and Financial Analysts,
among many others.
Many students go on to graduate school, pursuing fields in
mathematics, statistics, engineering, computer science,
economics, as well as some of the professional programs like
medical school and law school.
Oceanography
Degrees
Offered
BA or BS in
Oceanography
ADMISSION
PROCESS
Open
PROGRAM FEATURES
Learn Biological, Chemical,
Geological and Physical
Oceanography.
Research opportunities on our
ship. Easy to double major with
other science degrees. Active
student organization, SOS.
OCEAN-specific scholarships.
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MATH, SCIENCE, VLPA, I&S,
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
(number of credits)
Calculus (15)
Physics (15)
Chemistry (10)
Biology (10)
Geology (5)
VLPA (10)
I&S (20)
Foreign Language: No
LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
 Research
 Internships
 Sophomore research
course
 Senior-level Capstone
Courses
 Direct exchanges to study
abroad in England
COMMON CAREER PATHS
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Environmental Consultant
Research Scientists
Science Teacher
Meteorologist
Forensic Scientist
Ocean Mapping
Physics
Degrees
Offered
B.S Physics
ADMISSION
PROCESS
PROGRAM FEATURES
See Margot Nims in
the PhysicsAstronomy Bldg,
room C139A to
declare;
Minimum 2.0
physics gpa and
UW cum. Required;
(Open Admission);
No prereqs.
Required.
Opportunity to do research with
physics faculty
Active student club: Society of
Physics Students.
Mary Gates Scholarship
opportunities;
Summer Research Experience for
Undergraduates (REU) sponsored
by the National Science
Foundation
MATH, SCIENCE, VLPA, I&S,
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
(number of credits)
Required Physics: (66)
(Minimum Math required: Calculus (15)
Math 308 (3)
Math 324 (3)
Total math/physics (87)
*Highly Recommended: earning a Math
Minor or a Math Major concurrently
*Foreign Language: Yes
*VLPA (20)
* I&S (20)
LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
COMMON CAREER PATHS
*Research
*Internships
* Dept Honors Program for
Seniors;
*Direct Exchange to study
abroad in Giessen, German
for a year (airfare &
monthly stipend provided)
3.0 physics gpa required +
3 Letters of
Recommendation
Problem solving skills, math skills,
analytical reasoning skills are very
strong so many employers in many
various fields like to hire UW Physics
majors. National Labs, private sector,
business sector; 50% of those awarded
the B.S Physics degree go on to
Advanced Study in various fields; 25%
go on to Advanced Study in Physics.