WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE
2013-2014
Western at a glance student community 14,833 94% undergraduates 2,800 freshman 1,300 transfer students 42 countries and almost all 50 states total enrollment:
represented
academics and beyond 160+ academic programs 200+ student clubs and organizations 21:1 student-to-faculty ratio 90% of western’s faculty hold the highest degree in their field 30 average class size
everything within reach 10 minute walk across campus 0.8 miles to downtown bellingham 52 miles to mount baker ski area 55 miles to vancouver, bc 89 miles to seattle, wa 180 acres of forest and 6 miles of trails adjacent to campus
Why Western? The premier public liberal arts and sciences university in Washington State, Western Washington University combines exceptional academic quality with affordable tuition in a natural setting of spectacular beauty. Ours is a diverse community of scholars with a deep appreciation for the role international students play in enriching our campus culture and expanding our global understanding. With just under 15,000 students, Western is large enough to offer tremendous choice, yet small enough that you won’t get lost in the crowd. Western provides the welcoming community, personal faculty relationships and individual attention you might expect from a small liberal arts college along with the lab and field research opportunities and vast resources you would expect from the third largest public university in Washington State. 2
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WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE
Top 9 reasons to study at Western 1. For the past 15 years, U.S. News and World Report has ranked Western #1 among public master’s granting universities in the Pacific Northwest, and among the top two in the western United States.
2. Learn from award-winning professors: More than 98% of our classes are taught by distinguished faculty, not graduate teaching assistants, and 90% of our faculty hold the highest degrees in their fields.
3. Located 90 miles north of Seattle, Washington and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia, Western is the perfect location for those who want the safety and community of a smaller city along with access to big city life. A beautiful West Coast city of 80,000, Bellingham blends urban offerings – food, shopping, music and art – with a friendly, small-town feel.
4. Forbes, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, and Washington Monthly magazines rank Western as a top value in higher education. 5. Western offers more than 160 degree programs in seven distinct colleges. Choose any program at Western and you’ll find excellence in academic offerings, faculty, student experience, and student outcomes.
6. We provide both undergraduates and graduate students ample opportunities to engage in world-class research. We conduct more than 10 million dollars in funded research. Western is ranked in the top 2% in the nation – 13th among 560 similar master-granting institutions – for the number of students who go on to earn research doctorates (The Survey of Earned Doctorates).
7. With an average class size of approximately 30 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 21:1, you will form lifelong connections with other students and your professors.
8. With easy access to snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, sailing and hiking, our beautiful location near mountains, lakes, and a bay ensures you’ll never lack for things to see and do.
9. Join a diverse and friendly community of students.
More than 40 countries and almost all 50 states are represented at Western.
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE
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Academic Excellence Outstanding Options
We involve undergraduates in research, scholarship, and creative endeavors across a wide range of disciplines. With more than 160 distinctive academic programs, Western will prepare you for rewarding careers in business, science, engineering, technology, education, environmental studies, the arts, and more.
Examples of Majors College of Humanities and Social Sciences: American Cultural Studies, CanadianAmerican Studies, Communication Studies, English, Psychology
College of Science and Technology: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Technology, Mathematics
College of Business and Economics: Accounting, Finance, International Business, Management, Marketing
4% Huxley College of
the Environment
11% College of Sciences and Technology
1% General Studies
18% College of Business and Economics
4% Woodring College of Education 3% Fairhaven
College of Interdisciplinary Studies
2% College of Fine and Performing Arts
Degrees Awarded by College 4
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57% College of Humanities and Social Sciences
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE
Woodring College of Education: Elementary Education, Human Services, Secondary Education, Special Education, TESOL Huxley College of the Environment:
Environmental Policy, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, Urban Planning
College of Fine and Performing Arts: Art Studio, Art History, Dance, Design, Music, Theatre Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies: The Fairhaven interdisciplinary
concentration is an individually-designed major. Innovation, self-direction, strong advising and student-faculty collaboration distinguish a Fairhaven education.
If you’d like, you may join the 4,200 students who choose to call our residence halls home. We offer a strong residential experience with 16 residence halls (dorms) and one apartment complex. Many international students elect to live alongside both domestic and other international students in one of two International Communities on campus. We also offer a credit-bearing academic Bridge Program to support international student’s transition to the academic rigors of Western. Designed specifically for international students, topics range from academic resources, professor expectations, and student rights and responsibilities, to reading and writing. Western’s high-caliber Intensive English Program (IEP) is also an option for international students who want to study at Western but may need some additional studies in English first: www.wwu.edu/iep.
Committed to International Student Success
Western believes the international student experience should be both academically rewarding and personally enriching. Our International Student and Scholars Office supports international students on a variety of matters, from advising about immigration status, to assisting with academic, cultural, financial and personal concerns in coordination with faculty and other university resources.
For more information about what Western offers both inside and outside the classroom, please request a freshman viewbook or transfer guide. Or, better yet, come visit us to find out for yourself why international students from more than 40 countries choose to call Western home. Schedule your visit online at admissions.wwu.edu/visit or contact Jeanne Gaffney at Jeanne.Gaffney@wwu.edu.
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Estimated Cost of Attendance
NON RESIDENT
TUITION $ 18,392
2,088
BOOKS & SUPPLIES**
1,080
$
In today’s global economy, earning a college degree is one of the smartest decisions you can make. At thousands less than private colleges and large research universities, you will find that Western is a great value and very competitive in terms of cost and quality. In addition to improving your future earning potential, the education and experiences you receive and the connection you make at Western will establish a foundation for future success in all aspects of your life. Scholarship information is available online at www.finaid.wwu.edu/scholarships.
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING/MEALS**
9,656
$
NON RESIDENT
34,288
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE
1,806
$
** not fixed costs; varies depending on student. Housing and meals expenses can be reduced with room type.
$
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PERSONAL EXPENSES**
* fees include mandatory emergency health insurance, technology, health services, student recreation center, public transportation, etc.
ANNUAL TOTAL
6
FEES* $
TRANSPORTATION**
1,266
$
To apply for admission, submit:
Application Deadlines Transfer and Post-Baccalaureate (from U.S. or Canadian Institutions)* Fall/Summer
March 1
Winter
October 1
Spring
January 15
Freshman and Transfers from out of country* Fall/Summer
January 31
* Transfer and post-baccalaureate students currently living outside the U.S. or Canada may apply for Fall Quarter only.
Academic Calendar An academic year at Western consists of three quarters and runs from late September to mid-June. There is an optional summer quarter as well.
Admission Requirements & Deadlines
• An Application for Admission and $55 fee • Official transcripts from your college, university or high school • Evidence of English proficiency (“B” or better grades in two English composition courses if earning a transferable associate degree from a Washington State Community College; TOEFL score of 80 iBT/550 paper; or IELTS score of 6.5) • SAT or ACT test scores (required only for freshman and transfer applicants residing in the U.S. or Canada with fewer than 45 quarter [30 semester] credits) • Statement of Financial Responsibility, signed and dated, as well as verification of funds, signed by a bank official
Fall Quarter: Late September to mid-December Winter Quarter: Early January to late March Spring Quarter: Early April to mid-June Summer Quarter: Late June to late August Western Washington University (WWU), in compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Providing Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination. Inquiries may be directed to the Vice Provost for Equal Opportunity & Employment Diversity, Title IX Coordinator, Equal Opportunity Office, Western Washington University, Old Main 345, MS 9021, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); eoo@wwu.edu. WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request an accommodation, please contact disAbility Resources for Students, Old Main 120, 360.650.3083 (voice) or 360.650.7175 (VP), drs@wwu.edu. One week advance notice appreciated. To request this document in an alternate format, please contact the Associate Director of Admissions, Office of Admissions, 360.650.3440, admit@wwu.edu.
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE
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Office of Admissions Old Main 200, MS 9009 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225