Undergraduate Education

Most undergraduates arrive at the UW with only a vague understanding of various academic disciplines and the distinct perspective that each provides. A&S hopes to increase students' awareness of various disciplines through Academic Learning Links, a pilot project for freshmen. 

Students in the course ”Fashion, Nation, and Culture” may never look at a three-piece suit the same way again. Or stilettos. Or any other article of clothing. The course explores Italian culture from the late medieval period through the present day through the study of clothing. 

Working closely with a Seattle artist with a prosthetic left arm, undergraduates majoring in industrial design tackled an unusual challenge in class last quarter, developing innovative designs for prosthetics.

How's this for a course assignment? Fall in love with a novel and three poems. The assignment hints at what's to come in Writers on Writing, a lecture course designed to remind students that "literature is a joy." 

Wanting more discussion of mixed-race and mixed-identity issues in their classes, an ambitious group of undergraduates created and taught their own course on the subject. 

Using GIS technology, geography students collaborate with community partners on projects ranging from siting Pea Patch gardens to analyzing K-12 student philanthropy. 

A bachelor of arts in Finnish has been approved, providing a new option for students without additional cost to the University. 

While A&S advisers guide students through the UW's myriad offerings, they also work with faculty on curriculum planning, create opportunities for alums to talk with current students, and more. Related stories: Career Discovery Week | Advisory Group of A&S Advisers 

The College has seen a dramatic increase in film-related courses and programs in the past decade, ranging from classes on film genres and directors to courses on digital cinema production. 

In the Classics course "Classic Mythology Through Film," students study cinematic versions of ancient myths.

Though the Native Voices program, students create film documentaries involving Indigenous research.

Students in the Jackson School's Responsible Apparel Purchasing task force explored labor issues related to the production of apparel that bears a University of Washington logo. Related stories: The President as Evaluator

The Jackson School’s Task Force Program celebrates 25 years.

The UW's aging freshman chemistry laboratories have been described as "something out of Dickens." With renovations, they are now ready for the 21st century. 

The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge includes artworks created by UW students enrolled in a UW public art course.