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Undergraduate Education

About Our Undergraduate Program

The Allen School offers a rigorous and engaging curriculum that prepares students to build successful careers and make an impact — wherever their degree takes them next.

The Allen School serves over 2,300 undergraduates across our two majors, and we serve as an entry point to explore computing for thousands more students across the UW through our introductory and non-major courses. Our students benefit from the ability to collaborate with and learn from not only our world-class faculty, but also partners across the campus and in the region’s thriving technology sector. Along the way, our students have a variety of opportunities to develop their leadership skills, serve their communities and make the most of their Husky Experience.

Computer Science or Computer Engineering?

The Allen School offers two undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (CS) and the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (CE). The CS degree, which is awarded through the College of Arts & Sciences, has broader liberal arts and general education requirements as well as more flexibility in its upper-division requirements. The CE degree, which is awarded through the College of Engineering and is accredited by ABET, puts greater emphasis on math and science along with computing hardware. Students in both majors can tailor their course of study to their interests, and either is appropriate for most employment opportunities.

Explore Our Undergraduate Program

Admissions

The Allen School offers multiple pathways into our majors, including first-year student direct-to-major, transfer, and current UW students who discover a passion for computing.


Explore our Admission Pathways »

Student Services

Our Student Services team provides accurate, compassionate guidance to students so they can make the most informed decision about their academic path.


Advising & Student Services »

Degree Planning

Students in the Allen School take a mix of required and elective courses designed to provide a well-rounded foundation while allowing for exploration based on their interests.


Degree Planning & Requirements »

Non-Major Options

We offer a wide range of courses that are designed to enable students from across the UW campus, regardless of major, to explore the world of computing.


Explore Non-Major Course Options »

Career Resources

Whether the next step is graduate school, employment or yet to be decided, we have resources to assist you with planning your career journey.


Explore Our Career Resources »

Student Life

From hands-on research, to study abroad, to student groups — and more! — students can enhance their time in the Allen School outside the classroom in a variety of ways.


Explore Allen School Student Life »

AI Education in the Allen School

Photo of a robotic arm with two computer screens featuring code in front of it.

There is a lot of conversation around artificial intelligence (AI), as well as a lot of confusion. What is it? What can it do? What can’t it do? And what can students do to prepare for its impact on society — and on their career?

 

Whether you intend to carve a career path in AI, want to develop your understanding of tools you can apply in other areas of computing (or other disciplines beyond computing), or are simply AI-curious, we have a course for that.



Explore AI Education in the Allen School »

Student Services


Undergraduate Advising


The Allen School Advising team strives to provide relationship-focused advising and holistic support to solve problems, navigate barriers, & empower Allen School students in their journey through higher education.



Meet the team »


Student Engagement & Access


The Student Engagement & Access team aims to attract and educate the next generation of computer scientists and engineers who reflect the population of Washington state and the needs, backgrounds and experiences of technology users globally.



Meet the team »


Administrative Support


Our Program Operations Specialist serves as the primary individual responsible for curriculum management and coordination of filling more than 300 teaching assistant (TA) positions per quarter. 



Meet the team »

Research Opportunities

Research is an exciting, and sometimes challenging, process of discovering something completely new. It involves many tasks, such as investigating prior work, inventing, system-building, experimenting, reasoning (proofs), collaboration, writing, and speaking. It is essential to tell the world about your discovery for others to apply or build upon.

 

On the following page you can learn how to discover research opportunities, how to apply, the types of credit, get answers to frequently asked questions and more.



Learn more about Research Opportunities »

Highlights

GeekWire

UW’s upcoming AI minor will reach beyond the computer science school


Magda Balazinska speaks at a podium

As students, teachers and employers wrestle with the demands of an increasingly AI-powered world, the UW has a new proposition: an interdisciplinary AI minor set for launch in Spring 2027. It’s the latest move in the university’s push toward global leadership in AI education and research.



Read the story »

Allen School News

Allen School honors David Dawson (B.S., ‘06), Nodira Khoussainova (Ph.D., ‘12)


On the left is a headshot of David Dawson, on the right is a headshot of Nodira Khoussainova.

Dawson and Khoussainova, the 2026 Alumni Impact Award recipients, have combined their computing skillset with their entrepreneurial spirit to build companies that are making a positive impact in people’s lives.



Read the story »

Allen School News

Professor emeritus Ed Lazowska receives Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award


Ed Lazowska standing in front of an old university building that resembles a castle with turrets and stained glass

The award, which is based on nominations from University of Washington alumni, honors “UW educators whose profound influence continues to shape the lives of their students long after they’ve left the classroom.”



Read the story »

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