Declaring a major: Environmental Science
Admission prerequisites
Admission to the Environmental Science major is open to students who have completed 40 or more college-level credits including English composition. However, there are several required lower-division courses (100-200 level) that could be taken in your first or second year of college—before admission to the major—that will allow you to complete the degree in a timely manner.
The following preparatory courses should be taken before the upper-division science core courses:
- 15 credits college biology (majors sequence with lab) — TESC 120, 130, 140
- 15 credits general chemistry (majors sequence with lab) — TESC 141, 151, 161
- 5 credits physical geology (with lab) — TESC 117
- 5 credits college physics (mechanics with lab) — TESC 121
- 5 credits college calculus overview course — TQS 124 or 211
- 5 credits statistics — TQS 110
A minimum grade of 2.0 is required for each preparatory course and they must have been completed within the last five years. If they were completed before that timeframe, please consult an Environmental Science adviser. For community college transfer students, please use this table of local community college equivalents for specific transfer courses that are acceptable.
Supplemental application materials
In addition to the Request to Declare/Change Major form 
, you must submit:
- Write a one-page personal statement discussing your educational and career goals and how study with Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington Tacoma will help you achieve your goals. Attention to content and expression in your personal statement will be considered along with mechanics of writing. This is an opportunity to communicate personal strengths and challenges to the admissions committee. Personal statements must be typed in at least 10-point font. Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and the name of the concentration to which you are applying on your personal statement. Personal statements can be submitted on paper or e-mailed to iasgoals@u.washington.edu.
