Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE)

For Students Admitted Starting Autumn 2024

While the University has general regulations governing academic satisfactory progress and scholastic eligibility for continuation, departments and programs in the College of Engineering have adopted additional requirements to ensure students make academic progress and connect with academic support. The following standards and procedures make up the Satisfactory Progress Policy for the Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE) degree program.

Basic Standards

1. The BSECE degree program is not intended for part-time students. As a BSECE student, you are expected to engage in full-time study. You must satisfactorily complete 12 or more credit-hours applicable toward your degree program each academic quarter in residence (except summer).
   • To complete the BSECE degree requirement of 180 credits in four years (12 quarters), you should plan on taking approximately 15 credits that apply toward your degree each quarter (the number of credits per quarter may vary by student – consult with your adviser).
   • Classes taken satisfactory/non-satisfactory (S/NS) do not count as satisfactory completion because S/NS graded courses do not count for degree or graduation requirements.
   • NC grades do not count as satisfactory completion.
   • X and I grades will be monitored to see if the grade posted counts for satisfactory completion.
2. In exceptional circumstances, you may request to take fewer than the 12-credit minimum requirement per quarter. If your request is granted, you must satisfactorily complete the approved number of credits outlined in your request (except summer). You must submit your part-time request no later than the first day of the applicable quarter. The Department reserves the right to approve or deny part-time requests. See your adviser for more information. Part-Time Request Form.
3. You must achieve a grade of 2.0 or higher in all courses included in the core and in the computer programming requirement (CSE 123 or CSE 143).
4. You must maintain a cumulative GPA and a quarterly GPA of at least 2.0. If you repeat a class, the original and second grade will be used in computing your quarterly and cumulative grade point averages.
5. You must file a graduation application with the UW ECE Advising Office in accordance with University regulations, to ensure that you graduate once you have satisfied all requirements.
6. If you plan to withdraw from the quarter or take time off from the University, you should meet with ECE Advising before taking time off to discuss how this will affect your academic plan. You are responsible for obtaining approval from any other relevant office (e.g., Financial Aid, International Student Services, etc.) prior to taking time off. If you take more than one quarter off (excluding summer quarter), a registration hold will be placed on your account by ECE Advising. To have the registration hold removed, you must petition the Department for approval to return to ECE. The first step in returning is to meet with ECE Advising. Students will also need to complete the University’s returning student process. If your petition to return to ECE is approved, you must fulfill all the requirements that are in effect when you return.
7. Lack of academic progress may be evidenced by excessive course repeats, course drops and/or University withdrawals.

Review and Notification of Progress

Your academic progress is reviewed at the end of each quarter. If you fail to meet the standards for satisfactory progress as described above, the Department will send you an email explaining that you are in violation of our satisfactory progress policy, and you will be placed on academic probation. A registration hold will be placed on your account and not removed until you complete an academic advising meeting. The goal of this meeting is to examine the circumstances that caused the lack of progress and connect you with resources to help with your academic success.

If you meet the standards for satisfactory progress in your next registered quarter, you are removed from academic probation.

If you do not meet the standards for satisfactory progress during your next registered quarter, the Department will send you an email explaining that you are dismissed from the Department.

Appeal Procedure

Appeals are not possible for academic probation. Appeals are only possible for dismissal.

You must submit your appeal within 15 days of your dismissal letter being sent to you by email. Your appeal should include the following:

• A statement that outlines the extenuating circumstances that you believe warrant reconsideration of your dismissal
• Any supporting documentation
• Steps you plan to take to address the extenuating circumstances and any other barriers that prevented you from making academic progress, along with any other steps you will take to ensure you make academic progress if your appeal is approved

The Department will review your appeal and give you a decision within 15 days of receiving your appeal. It is strongly recommended you work with ECE Advising on your appeal before submitting.

If the appeal is not approved or you do not appeal your dismissal, the Department will change your major to a pre-major or extended pre-major status, unless you have found another major to declare. The Department reserves the right to drop dismissed students from future registered EE coursework where it is required to be a declared major to be enrolled.

If the appeal is approved, you must make satisfactory progress until graduation. If you violate the satisfactory progress policy after your appeal, you will be up for dismissal. You may try to appeal this dismissal.

Removing Academic Probation or Dismissal Status

In some circumstances, a violation of this policy can be removed if a grade is changed or if a Former Quarter Drop petition is approved. It is the student’s responsibility to let ECE Undergraduate Advising know if their transcript changes, so the student’s status can be reviewed.

Double Degree Policy

Any second major that is declared in addition to ECE constitutes a double degree (requiring a minimum of 225 credits). Due to similarities in content and capacity constraints, certain double degree pairings are not permitted. Specifically, students pursuing the BSECE degree may not earn a double degree with another major from the College of Engineering or the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering. 

Students interested in pursuing a double degree must receive approval for a double degree from the Department, wherein students must outline a degree plan for simultaneous completion of both majors within ECE Satisfactory Progress Policy, UW Satisfactory Progress Policy, and the other department’s satisfactory progress/continuation policy limits, which requires meeting with advisers in both departments. Meet with ECE Advising to learn more about the requirements for this approval process.

For Students Admitted Prior to Autumn 2024

Because of limited resources and the need to maintain a high-quality program, the University of Washington Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering cannot accommodate all students wishing to study Electrical and Computer Engineering. Therefore, UW ECE has instituted a Satisfactory Progress Policy in order to optimally allocate its available resources.

The Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE) degree program is not intended for part-time students. As a BSECE student, you are expected to engage in full-time study. To complete the BSECE degree requirement of 180 credits in four years (12 quarters), you should plan on taking approximately 15 credits that apply toward your degree each quarter. This aligns with the University of Washington’s Satisfactory Progress Policy.

Additionally, you are required to maintain certain levels of academic performance to continue in the program. The following standards and procedures make up the Satisfactory Progress Policy for the BSECE degree program. These are in addition to the policies of the University and the College of Engineering.

Basic Standards

1. You must satisfactorily complete 12 or more credit-hours applicable toward your degree program each academic quarter in residence (except summer). If you have not met the UW English Language Proficiency Requirement, you will be held to the requirements of the Academic English Program.
2. In exceptional circumstances, you may request to take fewer than the 12 credit minimum requirement per quarter. If your request is granted, you must satisfactorily complete at least two courses that apply to your degree every quarter in residence (except summer). You must submit your part-time request no later than the first day of the applicable quarter. The Department reserves the right to limit the number of students who are allowed to take fewer than 12 credits. See your adviser for more information. Part-Time Request Form.
3. You must take courses in the appropriate sequence. You must complete all prerequisites before you register for a course unless you obtain permission from the instructor.
4. Students must achieve a grade of 2.0 or higher in all courses included in the core.
5. You must maintain a cumulative GPA and a quarterly GPA of at least 2.0. If you take a course more than once, each grade will be used in computing your quarterly and cumulative grade point averages.
6. You must file a graduation application with the UW ECE Advising Office in accordance with University regulations, to ensure that you graduate once you have satisfied all requirements.
7. If you withdraw from the University without prior written approval of the Department, or are dropped because of non-payment of fees, you lose your place in the program. You must petition for readmission to the program; if you are readmitted, you must fulfill all the requirements that are in effect when you are readmitted.

Review of Progress / Academic Warning, Probation, and Dismissal

Your academic progress is reviewed at the end of each quarter. If you fail to meet the standards for satisfactory progress as described above, the Department will send you an email explaining that you are in violation of our Satisfactory Progress Policy and you will be placed on either academic warning or probation during your next quarter in residence. You will also be asked to contact the UW ECE Advising Office (undergradece@uw.edu) within 10 days.

If you fail to meet the standards for satisfactory progress for two consecutive quarters in residence, or for three quarters in total, you may be dismissed from the program. If this occurs, we will send you an email informing you that you will be dismissed from the program.

Appealing Academic Warning, Probation, or Dismissal

If you are placed on academic warning or probation, or you are dismissed under this policy, you may file a written appeal with the Department. You must submit your appeal within 15 days of the warning, probation or dismissal letter being sent to you by email. Your appeal should include a statement that outlines all of the facts that you believe justify reconsideration and include all supporting documentation. The UW ECE chair (or a designated faculty representative) will review the facts and give you a decision within 15 days of receiving your appeal. See your adviser for more information.

Double Degree Policy

Any second major that is declared in addition to ECE constitutes a double degree (requiring a minimum of 225 credits). Due to similarities in content and capacity constraints, certain double degree pairings are not permitted. Specifically, students pursuing the BSECE degree may not earn a double degree with another major from the College of Engineering or the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering. 

Students interested in pursuing a double degree must receive approval for a double degree from the Department, wherein students must outline a degree plan for simultaneous completion of both majors within ECE Satisfactory Progress Policy, UW Satisfactory Progress Policy, and the other department’s satisfactory progress/continuation policy limits, which requires meeting with advisers in both departments. Meet with ECE Advising to learn more about the requirements for this approval process.