Admissions
As a cohort program, the Policy Studies program admits students only for Autumn Quarter of each year.
Applicants may begin the application process at any time, and the program will review applications on a rolling basis beginning February 1st. Admitted students are asked to return their acceptance of offers by April 15th (or request an extension).
The program will continue to accept and review applications if space remains open in the program after April 15th, and prospective students may contact the IAS Graduate Office to inquire about space availability after this date.
See the How to Apply webpage for more details about the application process and admissions requirements.
Priority Deadline
The priority deadline is February 1st annually, or the following Monday if February 1st lands on a weekend.
- Applicants who apply by the priority deadline are given first consideration for admission to the program and for competitive merit-based funding.
- Priority deadline applicants can expect to receive notification regarding admissions decisions the first week of March.
Want to learn more?
Opportunity for Early Admission
The School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences offers a unique pathway to graduate school for current undergraduate students who want to continue their studies in a graduate program at UW Bothell.
What is Early Admission?
Pathways to Policy Studies is an early admission program that allows undergraduate students to begin earning credits that apply to a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in the School of IAS. Specifically, the program allows an undergraduate course to count double, which means that students can save time and money on a master’s degree. Participants in the Pathways program will satisfy the elective course requirement for the MA in Policy Studies program upon completing their undergraduate degree.
The early admission program also eases the transition from a bachelor’s to master’s program by reducing graduate school application requirements like letters of recommendation, application fees, and other conditions for admissions.
Eligibility
Students interested in participation must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Current or Prospective student in a School of IAS major or minor
- Completed, or be in the process of completing, 90 credits toward a bachelor’s degree
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Earn a minimum 2.7 grade in one of the following approved courses while enrolled during senior year:
- BIS 403 Washington D.C. Human Rights Seminar
- BIS 406 Urban Planning & Geography
- BIS 414 Topics in Human Rights
- BIS 421 Technology Policy
- BIS 448 Social Policy
- BIS 483 Community Organizing
- BIS 490 Advanced Seminar: Gender and the Politics of Numbers
- BIS 490 Advanced Seminar: Gender, Law, and Policy
- BIS 490 Advanced Seminar: Sex Work, Human Trafficking, and Social Justice aka Regulating Sexuality: Activism, Policy and Everyday Life?
Are you interested in Early Admission?
The new Pathways to Policy Studies program is a perfect choice for students who want to continue studying at UW Bothell alongside faculty they already know. Participation in the program means undergraduate credits earned as an undergraduate in the School of IAS will count toward the Master of Arts in Policy Studies (MAPS) program.
Students interested in reducing the time it takes to earn a graduate degree can contact the School of IAS Graduate Programs Advisor to learn more about this opportunity and how to apply.
Did you already receive pre-approval for Early Admission?
Congratulations on receiving an offer of early admission to the MA in Policy Studies program! Follow these steps to reserve your spot in the next cohort of graduate students:
- Submit the Pathways to Policy Studies program enrollment form no later than May 15, 2023.
- Attend an info session to learn more about the Pathways program and the benefits of earning a graduate degree.
- Participate in Pathways program monthly meetings as scheduled.
- Meet with the Graduate Programs Advisor to build a Senior Year registration plan and determine a timeline for graduate school admission.
Students pre-approved for Early Admission will receive an email with more information about next steps. Please contact the Graduate Programs Advisor if you have any questions about the Pathways program in the meantime.