SBSE Admission – Current UW 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.

The information on this page is directly applicable for current UW students at any point during or after your New Student Orientation session.

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 (Mechanics));
  • 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 the correct 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 AP/IB/A Level/AS Level exams.

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

  • In order to be on track for 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 SBSE 4-year academic plan.
    • 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 in Autumn of year 3 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.  These courses are:
      • A A 260: Engineering Thermodynamics
      • CHEM 223 or CHEM 237: Organic Chemistry
      • MATH 207: Differential Equations
  • If you are not able to start the major Core course requirements in Autumn quarter of year 3, please consult with SEFS Advising to make an academic plan to have you take other UW course requirements until you can start the SBSE Core.
  • If you are planning to take any admission requirements at another college/university, please also consult our planning advice for transfer students and consult with SEFS Advising.

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

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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