SBSE Admission – Transfer Students

Overview of SBSE Admission

Sustainable Bioresource Systems Engineering (SBSE) adopted its new name and became a Minimum Requirements major in Autumn Quarter 2025.  This means that all current UW students who meet the Course and GPA Minimum Requirements for SBSE Admission are admitted to the major.

As a prospective transfer student admit to the UW, or someone who was recently admitted to the UW, you want to be sure that you are completing / have completed the correct courses required for the SBSE major, as well as the other courses normally completed in the first two years of college. Advice specific to transfer students is featured here.

Incoming UW Students who wish to declare the SBSE major can do so as soon as your new student orientation. See below for details.

Sustainable Bioresource Systems Engineering (SBSE) Minimum Admission Requirements

To be able to declare the SBSE major, students must have completed all of the minimum course requirements with the minimum grade requirements as listed below.

Minimum course requirements:

  • MATH 124, 125, and 126 (or MATH 134, 135, and 136) (First Year Calculus);
  • CHEM 142, CHEM 152, and CHEM 162 (or CHEM 143, 153; or CHEM 145, 155, 165) (First Year General Chemistry);
  • PHYS 121 (or PHYS 141) (first quarter Physics);
  • 5 credits of English Composition (C) credit.

If you are completing any of these courses at a Washington State Community College, please be sure to consult the UW Equivalency Guide to make sure you are completing or have completed the correct courses. If you have completed any of these topics. Out-of-state transfer courses, or in-state 4-year school courses do not have an available equivalency guide. Please meet with us if you have questions about your courses.

Minimum grade requirements:

  • Minimum 2.5 Cumulative GPA in the courses required for admission
  • A minimum of a 2.0 in each course required for admission

These courses must be completed, and all the grades must be listed on your UW Transcript, including any transfer credit or UW credits earned from AP/IB/A Level/AS Level exams.

Transfer Course Advice for Completing the Correct Courses

  • If you are completing these courses at a Washington State Community College, please be sure to consult the UW Equivalency Guide to make sure you are completing or have completed the correct courses.
  • Out-of-state transfer courses, or in-state 4-year school courses do not have an available equivalency guide. Please make a a SEFS Admissions Advising appointment if you have questions about your courses.

Planning the Completion of your Minimum Admission Requirements so you Can Start the Major On Time

  • In order to be on track for a 4-year on-time graduation in SBSE, it is very important to be completing all of the Minimum Admission Requirements in your first two years of study, plus all additional courses normally completed in year 1 and year 2, which are detailed on the 4-year academic plan found at this link.
    • The SBSE Major Core courses start in Autumn quarter of year 3, and the Core cannot be joined in the middle of the year.   Please consult with SEFS Advising to make an academic plan to join the major by Autumn of year 3 or earlier with all necessary courses completed.
    • While not required for major admission, please note that there are three course prerequisites for the Autumn quarter year 3 SBSE Major courses that should be completed during year 2, as listed in the 4-year academic plan.  If you need to complete these, all of these courses have been available in the Summer at the UW if your Transfer School does not offer them, so applying to the  UW for a Summer quarter start is an option. SEFS has no control over the future schedule for other UW departments. These courses are:
      • A A 260: Engineering Thermodynamics.
      • CHEM 223 or CHEM 237: Organic Chemistry.
      • MATH 207: Differential Equations.

Declaration Dates and Declaration Form: Please apply as soon as you are eligible

When incoming transfer students can apply to the SBSE major

Incoming UW students will be eligible to declare this major if they completed all the credits elsewhere once their transcripts/exam results are received by UW Admissions and recorded to the student’s UW Transcript, which first happens right before an incoming student’s New Student Orientation.

When it is time: How to declare the major

The declaration form is open all year!  We review declaration forms as they are submitted, and students should hear back from us within 10-14 business days.

SBSE Declaration Form is Found Here

A student whose declaration form is reviewed before Day 10 of Autumn, Winter, or Spring quarter will be added to the major effective the same quarter.  After day 10, the student will be added to the major effective the following quarter.

Students must be enrolled as a student at the UW in a given quarter in order to be added to the major for the quarter; this is mainly an issue for Summer quarter.  Students who are reviewed before day 10 of Summer quarter but are not enrolled in Summer quarter will be added to the major effective for Autumn quarter.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

The University of Washington prohibits discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns, make complaints, or direct inquiries to the Civil Rights Compliance Office. The statement of nondiscrimination is located on the Civil Rights Compliance Office web site.

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