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Undergraduate applicants must meet minimum course requirements, called College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs), which are set by the Washington Student Achievement Council and the faculty of the University of Washington. Most applicants will have met these requirements through high school coursework, which generally is defined as those completed in grades 9 through 12. Typically, students earn one credit by completing one full academic year of coursework.
Note: These requirements are not the same as high school graduation requirements. Students should consult with their local high school to obtain complete information about minimum college admission standards, and to be aware of which courses at their high school meet CADR guidelines, as determined by the local school district.
If the course requirements were not met in high school, there are several ways to satisfy CADRs at the college level. In general, five quarter credits (or three semester credits) at the college level equals one credit of high-school study. If you completed a portion of these requirements in high school, you can pick up in college where you left off in high school. For example, if you completed three credits of English in high school, you can use one college English composition or literature course to bring your total to four credits.
College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs)
If earned in high school |
If earned through college coursework |
Four credits of study are required, at least three of which must be in college-preparatory composition or literature.
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College course work must be at the 100-level or higher. For the composition/literature component, generally any course with an English or Writing prefix is acceptable.
English courses completed outside the U.S. are considered equivalent to ESL unless taken in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the U.S. |
If earned in high school | If earned through college coursework |
Exception: Completion of higher-level math prior to the senior year exempts students from the senior-year quantitative course requirement (e.g., pre-calculus, math analysis, or calculus.
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Students without a third high school mathematics credit may earn that credit by completing one of the following:
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If earned in high school | If earned through college coursework |
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College science courses taken with a lab will count toward the laboratory science portion of the requirement. Any course in astronomy, atmospheric science, biological structure, biology, botany, chemistry, environmental science (but not environmental studies), genetics, geology, oceanography, physical anthropology, physical geography, physics or zoology will count toward the second-year requirement, as will introductory courses in biological or physical science. |
If earned in high school | If earned through college coursework |
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Each quarter of language in college is considered equivalent to one year in high school. If you have never studied a world language, you will need to complete 10 quarter credits of a single world language. However, if you studied French for one year in high school, you need to complete only the second quarter (e.g., FRENCH 102) or the second semester of a first-year language sequence. Of course, you may prefer to begin with 101 to refresh your memory. |
These credits must be earned in history or any of the social sciences.
If earned in high school | If earned through college coursework |
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Courses in the social sciences (e.g., anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology) will count toward this requirement. |
If earned in high school
One-half year of study is required in the fine, visual or performing arts, to be chosen from art appreciation, band, ceramics, choir, dance, dramatic performance and production, drawing, fiber arts, graphic arts, metal design, music appreciation, music theory, orchestra, painting, photography, print making or sculpture.
Courses generally not acceptable for this requirement include architecture, color guard, creative writing, drafting, drill team, fashion design, foreign languages, interior design, sewing, speech, web design or graphics, woodworking and yearbook.
If earned in high school | If earned through college coursework |
Academic electives are courses in any of the six subject areas above, beyond the minimum number of years specified for each subject area. One additional half-credit of study is required. |
Three quarter credits (two semester credits) chosen from any of the six subject areas above would count toward this requirement. |
Grading restrictions
To satisfy these CADR requirements, a passing grade, including a 'D,' is acceptable in high school work. Also acceptable is a grade of 'Pass' in a course taken on a 'Pass/Not Pass' basis. If you complete intermediate algebra at the college level, you must earn a 'C' (2.0) or better.