|
An ariel view of Kaiser Borsari Hall, Western’s newest Bellingham campus building, located next to E. College Way. Kaiser Borsari Hall is connected to the Communication Facilities building by a skybridge. The new building opened winter quarter 2025 and is the home for electrical and computer engineering, energy science, and computer science.
2025-2026 University Catalog Highlights
Biology department overhauls bachelor’s of science curriculum
 The Biology Department is launching a newly designed curriculum in the 2025/26 academic year that is the result of a multiyear process. The new curriculum accounts for the revolution in interdisciplinarity that biology as a science has undergone. As the knowledge with which we understand living systems begins to overlap more and more, and as technology with which to study living systems evolves, the strict divisions into different biological disciplines promoted by the old curriculum needed to change. The past decade also saw major shifts in our teaching of biology to student centered approaches and the department made strategic hires to increase our ability to teach, integrate, and promote quantitative and molecular skills and content – congruent with the current landscape in biology. The new biology curriculum consists of a strong structured core with a logical progression of classes that build upon and integrate with one another followed by concentrations. These concentrations have a consistent structure that can adapt and change easily, thus safeguarding our curriculum against stagnation. Course requirements within the concentrations are flexible instead of rigid, allowing students build their curriculum according to interest and removing barriers to speedy graduation.
Biology Department
Biology, BS
Electrical and Computer Engineering new department, Accelarated BS/MS Program
Beginning in 2025-2026, a new Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (EECE) has been established, reflecting the continued growth and success of its engineering programs. Formerly part of the Engineering and Design department, EECE has moved into the state-of-the-art Kaiser Borsari Hall and will soon become WWU’s first engineering department with a graduate program. The new department structure enhances student and faculty support, improves visibility for the EECE program, and begins to align WWU’s engineering organization with national norms. This milestone marks an exciting next step in the long-term vision of expanding engineering and computing to meet the needs of the region and beyond.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Non-Thesis, MS
Catalog reorganization and new home for GURs
Strategic reorganization at Western Washington University during the 2024-2025 academic year had a significant impact on the University Catalog. Some impacts to the 2025-2026 University Catalog are:
- New Academic Affairs and Student Affairs divisions and the elimination of Enrollment and Student Services division
- Updates to the University Personnel section
- Removal of About WWU and All-University Programs navigation links. These sections are now included in an expanded The University section.
- Student Services navigation link removed (no longer needed as content has shifted to either Student Affairs or The University).
General University Requirements (GURs) are now in the University Catalog and replace the webpage that existed on the Registrar’s Office website. The new GURs catalog section includes information about Western’s requirements and GUR category course lists.
Progams of Study format redesign
The program of study format has been resdesigned for the 2025-2026 academic year with a focus on more helpful information for students. A new “Student Resources” section was added that includes the following:
- Department (or academic program) website link
- Contact information
- Department advising information (either website link or best contact)
- Degree Works information and website link
- Career Services Center “connect major to a career” website link
- Sample careers
Total credits for undergraduate programs of study (majors, minors, certificates, etc.) are now located in the “Requirements” core which is above all course requirements.
2025-2026 Curriculum Highlights
Communication Sciences and Disorders changes name to Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences
The Communication Sciences and Disorders Department proposed to change its name to Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences for several reasons. “Disorders” has been dropped from many speech, language, and hearing programs in the recent years. The terms disability and disorder have roots in the medical model, which perpetuates systemic ableism. Some of our courses retain these terms in their course name. However, we have the opportunity within a course to have discussions regarding this terminology, whereas we do not have that opportunity with prospective students and community partners. Additionally, “Communication Sciences and Disorders” failed to recognize the science and research components of our disciplines. Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences more clearly communicates to prospective students the teaching and research focus of our department.
Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences Department
Entrepreneurship and Innovation moves to College of Business and Economics
The Entrepreneurship & Innovation (E&I) Academic Program has officially joined the Department of Management in the College of Business and Economics. This strategic move strengthens the program’s foundation while preserving its interdisciplinary spirit and continued accessibility to students across all colleges at Western. E&I remains committed to offering hands-on, impact-driven learning experiences that empower students to become changemakers in business, society, and the environment. The transition also enhances alignment with CBE’s mission and resources, supporting continued program growth and innovation.
Management Department
Updates to program locations at Western campus sites
Visit Programs by Location for an updated list of Western Washington University programs of study offered at other WWU campus locations.
New programs of study
New certificates
Programs of study with title changes
- English, MA (was English, Non-Thesis, MA)
- General Science — Grades 4-9, BAE (was General Science — Middle Level, BAE)
- Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences, BA (was Communication Sciences and Disorders, BA)
- Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences Minor (was Communication Sciences and Disorders Minor)
- Professional Writing and Rhetoric Minor (was Professional Writing, Literacies, and Rhetoric Minor)
- TESOL: Foundations for Teaching and Supporting English Learners Certificate (was TESOL: Supporting English Language Learners Certificate)
New course prefixes
- DATP (Data Analytics)
- ISEP (Industrial and Systems Engineering)
- SLHS (Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences)
New courses
List of new courses approved for the 2025-2026 academic year
WWU study abroad courses
List of permanent active courses approved to be offered abroad
University Catalog Policy Updates
Policies effective fall 2025
Policies effective fall 2024
- Crosslisting: University-approved definition and examples for more clarity in scheduling.
Policies effective fall 2023
- Grades and Grade Reporting: University-approved updates to the Incomplete (K) grade.
- Honors: University-approved updates to the Outstanding Graduate award that recognizes excellence among Western’s students.
- Prerequisites: University-approved updates to satisfying prerequisites for registration.
Policies effective fall 2022
|
