Admission Requirements
The Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) admits only undergraduate students who have completed significant coursework; if you have not yet been admitted to the University or have not completed this coursework, you must do so before applying to the program. The undergraduate advisor can help you plan your prerequisites.
The following worksheets may be helpful in planning your application:
Entrance to the BS in HCDE program requires at least 35 credits; look below for details about which courses you should take:
Math or Statistics (10 credits)
To apply for admission, students must complete 10 credits from the courses below:
- MATH 111, 112, 120, 124, 125, 126, 144, 145, 146, 170, 171 or any course numbered 200 or any 300-or 400-level courses
- STAT 220 or 311, or any 300-or 400-level courses
- (STAT 220 and 311 cannot both be taken for credit)
- Or other approved courses: EDPSY 490, QMETH 201, QSCI 190, 291, 292, 293, 381, 392
Natural Science (15 credits)
To apply for admission, students must complete 15 credits from the courses below:
- ASTR 211, 301, 321, 322, 323, 423, 480, 481
- ATM S 211, 301, 321, 358, 370, 451, 452, 458, 460, 480
- BIOL 118, 119, 180, 200, 220, 250 or any 300-or 400-level courses
- BIOL STR 300- or 400-level courses
- CHEM 120, 141, 142, 144, 145, 152, 154, l55, 162, 164, 165, 220, 221, 223, 224, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, or any 300-or 400-level courses
- ENVIR 200, 210, 300, or any 300-or 400-level courses
- ESS 210, 212, 213, 313,or any courses numbered 400 and above
- (ESS 101 and 210 cannot both be taken for credit)
- GENOME 371
- GEOG 205
- MICROM 300- or 400-level courses
- PHYS 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, or any course numbered 224 or above
- (PHYS 114 and 121 cannot both be taken for credit)
- PSYCH 202
Written and Oral Communication (8–10 credits)
To apply for admission, students must complete 8-10 credits from the courses below and maintain an average GPA of 3.0 or higher in these courses:
- One 5-credit Freshman Composition course: ENGL 110, 111, 121, 131, 182, 197, 198, 199, 281, CLIT 240
- One Additional Writing course, either from the freshman composition list above or from the following list: ENGL 283, 284, 297, 298, 299, 381, 383, 384, 481, 483, 484, 485, 486, Honors 205, 345, B CMU 301, COM 220, 251, 270
- Introduction to Technical Writing: HCDE 231 (not required for 2012–2013 admissions; however, the course remains a graduation requirement until further notice.)
Technical and Analytical (4 credits)
To apply for admission, students must complete 4 credits from the courses below:
- CSE 140 or CSE 142
Applicants must have an overall GPA of 2.0.
Other relatable courses include ART 190, 191, 166; CSE 154; M E 123; and Psych 101.
After reviewing these admission requirements, learn how to apply for admission.
Prospective HCDE and Non-Major Student Note: Students may take up to two upper-division (300-level or greater) courses on a space available basis. An add code request form must be completed to be eligible to take any HCDE courses.
Beginning Period 3 registration if space is available and with instructor permission, add codes will be distributed accordingly. Non-matriculated students are considered non-major.
For more information on registration periods, see the UW Academic Calendar.
I Chose Human Centered Design & Engineering
"HCDE equips us with the tools to be on the forefront of a technology's development process. The research that we perform and the designs that we create are the leading influences for the technologies that we use today."
—Julius Magsino,
BS Class of 2012,
MS Class of 2014