Petitions and Forms

The following resources are for School of IAS undergraduate students only. Graduate students should see their program advisor for support with petitions and forms. Other undergraduate students at UW Bothell should reach out to their Academic school for support.

Summary of Petitions

Major Requirement Petition

Students may submit an online Major Petition form to request that alternate coursework satisfy a School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences (IAS) major requirement. Students wishing to petition a School of IAS Minor requirement should complete the Major Petition form and select the “Minor” requirement option on the form.

The form requires students to write a petition reasoning statement that explains why the alternate course should satisfy major or School of IAS requirements. This statement should be a thoughtful reflection on how assignments, readings, and activities completed in the alternate course align with one or more learning objectives of the IAS major. Learning objectives for each major can be found on the major webpages.

Important notes for Major petitions:

  • Students must be admitted or declared in an IAS major in order for the online petition to be reviewed. Access the Major Petition form online.
  • If students are petitioning more than one School or major requirement, the online form must be filled out for each individual requirement.
  • The Major Petition form is not complete until the student emails a copy of the alternate course syllabus to iasadv@uw.edu. The email should include the student’s name and UW student ID number. Once the syllabus is received, petition materials will be forwarded to the Faculty Coordinator of the student’s major for review. Reviews can take up to two weeks before a decision is made and communicated to the student, and may be longer over the summer quarters or over breaks.
  • The School of IAS will not accept any petitions for Area of Inquiry requirements (AOIs) or other General Education requirements. If a course was taken at the University of Washington (any of the 3 campuses) then it was already reviewed for AOIs and General Education requirements. If a transfer course did not transfer as a UW equivalent course (UW 1XX or AES 4XX- for example) we will review the course for AOIs or General Education requirements. Email IASAPPLY@uw.edu with your name, UW Student ID number, and the course to review.

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Diversity Requirement Petition

The petition process to approve an alternate course toward the UW Diversity requirement requires a review of the student’s learning experience as measured against a specific set of evaluation criteria. If the Diversity Requirement Petition is approved, it is because the student has successfully acquired the competencies expected of general education in Diversity at the University of Washington.

Important notes for Diversity petitions:

  • Students must be admitted or declared in an IAS major in order for the diversity petition to be reviewed. Access the Diversity Requirements petition online. Non-IAS students should work with their assigned Academic Advisor to review petition options for their major.
  • Courses that are completed at other institutions will still need to be petitioned at UW Bothell, even if they are categorized as meeting the Diversity requirements (or equivalent) at the other institution. Courses that transfer as an equivalent UW Course will not need to be petitioned if they already meet the Diversity requirement.
  • An individual petition will not also assign Diversity credit to other students who completed the same alternate course, unless they are also able to demonstrate that their individual learning met these competencies as well. Each student must submit their own individual petition form for credit.

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Interdisciplinary Practice & Reflection (IPR) Petition

Many courses offered in the School of IAS are purposefully designed to satisfy the Interdisciplinary Practice & Reflection (IPR) requirement, but students may also request that IAS evaluate other learning opportunities to count as IPR. Courses that may be approved as alternates generally include graduate level courses taken after admission to an IAS major or 400-level Independent Study courses taken outside of IAS.

Additionally, upper division courses taken while studying abroad and 400-level courses taken elsewhere can be approved toward the IPR requirement if one of the below conditions are met:

  • The course required students to complete an independent research project, and the instructor reviewed the quality of the student’s work leading up to and through completion of the project. Students must have received frequent, timely, and constructive feedback from the instructor at various points to discuss progress, next steps, and problems encountered.
  • The course provided opportunities to discover relevance of learning through real-world applications such as an internship, practicum, or field placement. Course activities must have allowed students to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their program of study; or included mediated discussions that encouraged students to reflect on and see the connections between their studies and experiences in a practical setting.

Important notes for IPR petitions:

  • Students in IAS majors can complete the IPR Petition online.
  • To gain approval for an alternate course or activity, students should submit evidence indicating that at least 60% of the alternate course and/or learning content meets or exceeds one or a combination of criteria listed above. Evidence can include a syllabus that lists readings, lectures, course description, learning objectives/goals, learning activities, and/or assessments; or completed student assignments.
  • Evidence should be submitted with the petition and be accompanied by a written reflection statement describing how the learning activity connects to the student’s educational goals in IAS. The reflection should demonstrate linkages to IAS learning objectives, available for review on the IAS website. Please limit the reflection statement to 250 words maximum and include with your course evidence. Students may consult with their academic advisor for assistance in understanding the IPR requirement and the petition process.

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Cross-Campus Registration Petition

A maximum of 15 credits per academic year (autumn through summer) may be taken on another UW campus. IAS students wishing to complete additional credits through cross-campus registration during an academic year may submit a Registration Transaction form through the Office of the Registrar. In this form, students must explain in writing why they are petitioning to take beyond the 15 credits allotted them in an academic year.

Important notes for Cross-Campus Registration petitions:

  • Specific course numbers and credit amounts should be included in this petition. The additional credits to petition are calculated by the student, based on what additional courses they want/need to take, and the credit amount of those courses.
  • Students within 60 credits of their graduation date may also need to petition the Final Year Residency requirement (see Graduation Petition below).
  • Submit the completed form to your Academic Advisor for recommendation. Even with recommendation, there is no guarantee that the UW Bothell Registrar will approve a petition.
  • More information on cross-campus registration eligibility is available through the Office of the Registrar. Schedule an appointment with your Academic Advisor to discuss cross-campus registration petition and registration transaction form.

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Graduation Petition

A student must complete 45 of their final 60 credits as a matriculated student in residence at the University of Washington campus where the degree is being earned. This means that students pursuing majors through the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (IAS) may complete up to 15 credits of their final 60 credits in coursework outside of UW Bothell.

Students may petition this Final Year Residency Requirement by asking their Academic Advisor for access to the online Graduation Petition form available through the Office of the Registrar. Once submitted, the form will be automatically routed to the School of IAS for approval. Even if the School of IAS recommends approving the student’s petition, there is no guarantee that the UW Bothell Registrar will approve a petition.

Important notes for Graduation petitions:

  • Graduation Petitions are generally completed while the student is within their final 60 credits. For example, a student completing a study abroad trip toward the end of their degree may need to petition the Final Year Residency Policy. Such a petition is typically completed upon the student’s return and in an appointment with an academic advisor. The credit amount to petition is often calculated in the appointment with your advisor.
  • If an exception to the final year residency requirement is granted, the student must still complete a minimum of 45 credits taken at UW Bothell as a UW matriculated student to be awarded a UW degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Academic Advisor to discuss a graduation petition and access the online form.

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Returning Student Process

Returning to UW Bothell after two consecutive quarters off (excluding summer quarter)? See the UW Bothell Office of the Registrar website for information and to submit the Returning Student Request Form.

If you were academically dismissed for low scholarship/academic warning, see the reinstatement process below.

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Reinstatement

If you were placed on Academic Warning and dropped from UW Bothell for not maintaining a 2.00 GPA, you will need to submit a Reinstatement Petition to your major department. If you are in a School of IAS major and wish to return to the same major, or another IAS major, you must submit your petition via email to IASAPPLY@uw.edu.

Submitting a reinstatement petition will not impact a student’s academic record. Information submitted to the Reinstatement Petition will be treated as confidential and will be retained in the student’s advising file once the petition is processed. 

Important notes for Reinstatement petitions:

  • Submission Deadline: No later than two months before the start of the quarter in which the student intends to enroll. For example, if a student intends to return to UW Bothell for Spring Quarter, then the reinstatement petition must be submitted two months before the first day of Spring Quarter. 
  • Statement must be at least 1 page, single spaced, 12 pt font, and saved as .PDF or .DOCX
  • Unofficial transcripts must be included if courses have been completed after leaving UW Bothell. The student must submit official transcripts to UW Bothell Admissions if reinstated. 
  • The statement should meet the following prompt:
    • How have you prepared to return to your academic program?
    • What are the circumstances and/or behaviors that you have already changed or that you plan to change so that your academic success improves?
    • What support from IAS, UW Bothell, and/or community resources will you need and seek out (you can find a list of UW Bothell and Cascadia College resources here)? Please be as specific as possible. 
    • Any additional information you would like to share with the IAS Admissions Committee.
  • Submit your petition and any supporting documents via email to IASAPPLY@uw.edu.
  • This Reinstatement Policy is aligned with UW Bothell policies on reinstatement. 

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