Graduate Studies
Applying | Deadlines | FAQs | Graduate Nonmatriculated | MS degree | PhD degree | Financial Aid | Contact
General Application Information
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington welcomes applications for both master’s and Ph.D. level study. In order to apply to the PhD program, the applicant must have, or expect to receive, their Master’s degree before beginning the program. It is possible to continue on to the PhD degree after earning a master’s degree in the program.
The application is available online (details below). Please read the instructions carefully, making note of important deadlines.
Application Fees: The Graduate School online application requires a $50 (USD) application fee. Please Note: On July 1, 2009, the application fee will increase to $65 US. Please refer to the Graduate School website for more information regarding acceptable forms of payment, etc.:
https://www.grad.washington.edu/applForAdmiss/. Graduate Nonmatriculated (GNM – Seattle campus) and Visiting Graduate Student applications do not require an application fee.
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Application Deadlines
For required application materials, see Applying below.
International Applicants
International applicants are those who currently hold or expect temporary U.S. visas. This includes holders of H1-B, J-1 exchange visitors, or any other non-immigrant classifications. U.S. Permanent Residents (i.e. Green Card holders or immigrants) are not considered international applicants; please see “US Citizens and Permanent Residents with Overseas Degree” (below), for application deadlines.
Graduate Admissions Deadline: November 1*
Department Deadline: January 15
*The Graduate School Nov. 1 deadline requires submission of the online application (submission of the statement of purpose is required at that time) and receipt of official transcripts by the Graduate Admissions Office. The Nov. 1 deadline is to allow Graduate Admissions sufficient time to evaluate international transcripts before the department's Jan. 15 deadline. All other application materials should to be submitted prior to the department's Jan. 15 deadline.
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US Citizens and Permanent Residents with Overseas Degree
Graduate Admissions Deadline: November 1*
Department Deadline: January 15
*The Graduate School application deadline requires submission of the online application (submission of the statement of purpose is required at that time) and receipt of official transcripts by the Graduate Admissions Office by the Nov. 1 deadline. This earlier deadline is to allow the Graduate Admissions sufficient time to evaluate international transcripts before the department's Jan. 15 deadline. All other application materials should to be submitted prior to the department's Jan. 15 deadline.
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US Citizens and Legal Immigrants with Degree from US (Domestic Applicants)
Graduate Admissions Deadline: February 1
Department Deadline: January 15
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Criteria for Admission
The primary criterion for admission is the applicant's apparent ability to progress satisfactorily in a graduate degree program. Applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
Grades: A 3.0 minimum GPA (based on 4.0 scale) from the last 60 graded semester hours or last 90 graded quarter hours of the applicant’s study is required to be considered for graduate level study. In practice, substantially higher grades may be necessary for study areas within the department. The average GPA of admitted students is 3.5.
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Statistics on CEE Graduate Applications for 2008
318 applications were received for Autumn 2008. From those, 225 were offered admission. 83 entered the department (74 MS / 9 PhD).
Average Scores |
Master's |
PhD |
GPA: |
3.4 |
3.6 |
|
482 |
502 |
|
710 |
745 |
GRE Analytical: |
4.0 |
3.8 |
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Required Application Materials
- Official transcripts from each college or university attended, sent in a sealed envelope. NOTE: If you are mailing your transcripts, they must be in the original sealed envelope they came in from the institution. If the envelope has been opened, it will not be considered an official transcript. Unofficial transcripts may be downloaded during the online application process and will be used during preliminary application review only.
- Official GRE scores must be less than five years old from exam date. The department requires the “General GRE” exam. Request GRE scores from Educational Testing Services (ETS) to be sent to Institution Code 4854, Dept. Code 1102. To request scores by phone from ETS, call 1-888-473-7267. You will be asked to self-report GRE scores during the online application. If you have not taken the GRE exam yet, you may still submit the online application. Enter the date you are scheduled to take the exam. After you have taken the exam, you can go back into your application and enter the scores.
- Letters of recommendation (two required for master’s applicants, three for PhD).
While completing the Graduate School Application, you will enter the email addresses of the individuals who will write your letters of recommendation. We strongly encourage you to use this online process. Immediately after you enter your recommender contact information online, they will be sent an email directing them to a secure website. From there they can choose to submit their letter online, or via postal mail. At least one letter should be from a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student (unless you have been out of school for more than five years). Substitutions for faculty recommendations may include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate work. You will be notified if any of your letters are not received.
If a recommender chooses to submit the recommendation letter via postal mail, it is your responsibility to provide them with the Report on Graduate Applicant form, which needs to be submitted with the letter in a signed, sealed envelope.
- Resumé
A resumé is required for PhD applicants. Your resumé will be submitted online during the online application. Submission of a resumé is optional for Master’s applicants. If desired, a resumé may be submitted along with the Statement of Purpose.
- Official TOEFL scores
International applicants and Permanent Residents (i.e. green card holders or immigrants) who have a degree from outside the US, must submit a satisfactory TOEFL score (less than 2 years from the test date). TOEFL scores are not required of applicants who have or expect to receive a bachelor’s or higher degree from a US institution before beginning graduate study at UW, or are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom, or have received a degree from a country listed above. Information on the TOEFL Examination may be obtained from http://www.toefl.org/. Request that ETS send scores to Institution Code 4854 (contact information below). You will be asked to self-report your TOEFL scores during the online application. The online application even if you have not taken the TOEFL exam yet. Enter the date you have it scheduled and after you take the exam, log back into the online application and enter the scores you received. See Graduate School website for additional information on English proficiency requirements: http://www.grad.washington.edu/admissions/adminfo.html#scores.
Minimum TOEFL scores:
70 (TOEFLiBT (internet based)
237 (TOEFLC (computer based)
580 TOEFL (paper based)
Educational Testing Service (ETS)
PO Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
Phone (609) 734-1105
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Applying:
Online Graduate School Application
Steps to complete electronically in the online application: |
|
Application Deadline Jan. 15 |
Submit Online Graduate School Application and pay fee ($50) Please Note: On July 1, 2009, the application fee will increase to $65 US. |
(see * below) |
X |
Statement of Purpose
|
X |
X |
Designate Recommenders
|
X |
X |
Self report GRE scores
|
X |
X |
Submit unofficial transcripts online (optional). For preliminary review only. Official transcripts are also required.
|
|
|
Resumé (required for PhD, optional for Master’s) |
X |
X |
Self report TOEFL scores |
X (see ** below) |
|
*International applicants are those who currently hold or expect temporary U.S. visas. This includes holders of H1-B, J-1 exchange visitors or any other non-immigrant classifications. Note: The international applicant deadline must be adhered to by Permanent Residents (i.e. Green Card holders or Immigrants) if previous degree is from outside the U.S., requiring submission of Online Graduate School Application and receipt of official transcripts by Graduate Admissions by the Nov. 1 deadline.
**English language proficiency test scores are also required from Permanent Residents and Immigrants whose previous degree is from a Non-U.S. institution (exceptions are: citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom, or whose previous degree is from a country listed above).
Application materials to be mailed to: Graduate Program |
International |
Domestic |
Official transcripts from each college and university attended, sent in a sealed envelope from the institution. |
X |
X |
Application materials to be mailed to: University of Washington |
International* |
Domestic |
Copy of Graduate School online application.
Note: This also applies to Domestic applicants who have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a Non-U.S. institution and requires that you adhere to the Graduate School application deadline for international applicants.
|
X
|
|
Official transcripts from each college and university attended, sent in a sealed envelope from the institution. Note: This also applies to Domestic applicants (including Permanent Residents and Immigrants) who have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a Non-U.S. institution and requires that you adhere to the Graduate School application deadline for international applicants.
|
X
|
|
Additional steps to complete the application: |
International |
Domestic |
Official GRE scores (less than five years old from exam date). Request Educational Testing Service forward your GRE score report using institution code 4854. To request scores by phone from ETS, call 1-888-473-7267. |
X |
X |
Official TOEFL/TSE/IELTS score (less than two years old from exam date). Request Educational Testing Service, PO Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151 to forward your TOEFL score report using institution code 4854. Note: Includes Permanent Residents and Immigrants whose previous degree is from a Non-U.S. institution (exceptions are: citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom, or whose previous degree is from a country listed above).
|
X |
|
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Visiting Graduate Status
Students actively pursuing a graduate degree at another accredited academic institution may apply to the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department as a visiting graduate student for a period of up to one year. For information on applying as a visiting graduate student, go to the Graduate School website.
Department Requirements
Please send a short statement of educational objectives, including your area of interest and courses you are interested in taking while at the University of Washington to the following address:
Graduate Program
Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Washington
201 More Hall
Box 352700
Seattle, WA 98195-2700
USA
TOEFL Requirement
International visiting graduate applicants must include a TOEFL score of at least 580 paper-based; 237 computer version; 70 internet based, (less than 2 years from the exam date). Request that ETS send scores to Institution Code 4854. Information regarding the TOEFL examination may be obtained at http://www.toefl.org/.