Admissions

Applying to the Program

Applicants submit all materials through the UW Graduate School Application. More about the application requirements »

Application fee waiver for pipeline program students: The Department is covering the application fee for students who participated in a pipeline program that aligns with our diversity mission. Find a list of eligible pipeline programs here.

Prior Academic Backgrounds

Students may be admitted to the HCDE PhD program after completing either an undergraduate degree or a master's degree. A maximum of 30 credits of master's work may be applied toward the program's 90-credit requirement. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of HCDE, applicants can be expected to represent a wide range of backgrounds.

International Applications

International applicants who hold an appropriate undergraduate degree from an accredited university are eligible to apply to the PhD program. Applicants admitted as full-time, on-campus students will be eligible for a visa, issued through the UW Graduate School, subject to certain restrictions and requirements. Please contact the Graduate School directly for visa information at uwgrad@uw.edu.

When preparing their applications, international students must be certain to provide legible, fully translated copies of their undergraduate transcripts.

• English Language Proficiency Documentation
• UW Grad School for International Applicants

Admissions Committee

The HCDE Admissions Committee is composed of the full HCDE graduate faculty. Each application will be reviewed by at least three of the Admissions Committee members, each of whom will rate the applicant on their apparent aptitude for the field, ability to think theoretically, and strength of interest in and ability to do research.