Prerequisites

Applicants to the Master's program in Human Centered Design & Engineering must have a Bachelor's degree by the time the program begins in autumn quarter to be considered. Because we place great value on a variety of different perspectives, there is no specific type of Bachelor's degree (or previous course-work) that we require applicants to have. Our admitted student cohort is typically comprised of applicants divided equally between engineering/technical science, social science, and design backgrounds. The department does not collect GRE scores for the Master's program. International applicants whose native language is not English and were educated in a language other than English must meet certain language requirements. More for International Applicants »

Application Materials

The HCDE application materials include three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, an academic transcript, and a resume. Applicants submit materials to the University of Washington's Graduate School online application. See all application materials »

Application fee waiver for pipeline program students: The Department is covering the application fee for students who participated in a pipeline program that aligns with our diversity mission. Find a list of eligible pipeline programs here.

Deadlines

HCDE admits Master's students to begin autumn quarter only. Students are encouraged to begin collecting application materials at least two months before the deadline to ensure submission is complete on or before the due date. Please note, however, that we do not begin the review of applications until after the deadline, so there is no special incentive to apply early.

Next Application Deadline: January 15, 2025 at 11:59pm PST. 

The 2025 application will be made available on September 1, 2024. Applications are due January 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. All materials (including unofficial transcripts and recommendations) must be received by this deadline in order to be considered for the 2024 Autumn cycle. Please submit your application before 4pm Pacific Time if you require assistance from the HCDE advising staff or UW Graduate School.