The Department of Communication offers the following programs of study for undergraduates:
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Communication (COM)
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Communication: Journalism and Public Interest Communication (JPIC)
Application Information for COM and JPIC
The Department of Communication accepts applications during autumn, winter, and spring quarters. Applications are always due by 5 p.m. exactly two weeks (14 calendar days) after the first day of the quarter. The application is in a Catalyst survey – you must be logged into your UW account to access the application. Admission decisions are sent out the fifth week of the application quarter.
- Basic Information. This includes name, address, email, student number, COM courses taken, and grades. Please note: all applications must be submitted using UW emails. Applications will not be considered if the email used in the application is a personal email address.
- Transcripts. Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended, including the UW are required to be uploaded via DropBox as part of the application.
- Program Interests. If you are interested in the Departmental Honors Program, student organizations, minors, and/or additional majors, please indicate so when applying so that we can help you plan out your time at the UW.
- Personal Statement. All personal statements must be 2,500 characters long and written about why students want to study Communication and what they would like to learn that would affect their personal, professional, or community life.
- Writing Sample. Communication: Journalism and Public Interest Communication applicants only. Applicants are to provide any previously published work, creative writing, or previous essays exemplify their writing capabilities.
- Additional Comments. If you would like to further explain any parts of your application, please use this section.
APPLICATIONS (click on links below)
Applications for the Communication and Journalism and Public Interest Communication majors are online and available the first two weeks of autumn, winter, and spring quarters. Winter 2021 applications are due Monday, January 18, at 5:00 p.m.
Please note that starting Spring 2021, applications will be due after the first week of the quarter.
All applicants must make note of the confirmation number that will be provided to them after they submit their application. If no confirmation number is provided, this may mean that the application was not successfully submitted. No confirmation emails will be sent.
Appeals procedure
To appeal an admissions decision from the Department of Communication, email a statement of no more than 300 words that outlines why you are appealing. Appeals should be received no more than one week after the initial decisions are delivered and you will receive a response within 10 days. These statements are reviewed by the undergraduate program coordinator and the Department chair (or her appointee), who make a final decision about admission. In the appeal review, the Department considers only a) additional information that was not available at the time of the initial application, or b) correction of material error in the original application. Please be as specific as possible about why we should reverse our admissions decision. Appeals can be emailed to Undergraduate Program Coordinator Caley Cook at ckcook@uw.edu.