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An architect’s rendering for the Student Development & Success Center (SDSC). Construction of the SDSC began in March 2026 and will be located at the south end of the academic core of Western Washington University’s campus. The new building, expected to be completed fall 2027, will serve as a welcoming front door for Western and a hub for student services.
2026-2027 University Catalog Highlights
Categorizing undergraduate majors
Western Washington University undergraduate majors are now identified under three categories effective 2026-2027 academic year. These new categories will assist perspective and current students to know if there are any admission barries into majors they may be interested in. The three categories are:
- Open majors: Open majors can be declared by new and continuing students in good standing without additional requirements.
- Majors with minimum requirements: Majors with minimum requirements can be declared by new and continuing students who complete prerequisites and/or meet minimum GPA requirements. All new or continuing students who meet the minimum requirements are admitted to the major.
- Capacity-constrained majors: Capacity-constrained majors are selective and have extra requirements, which may include an additional application process. These majors are not available for Direct Admit to Major at the time of admission to the university. Students interested in capacity-constrained majors should contact an academic department advisor to discuss appropriate preparation for the major soon after beginning their studies at Western. Completing the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee entry, as space is limited.
Each undergraduate degree is identified as one of the three categories in its How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process) section. For more information visit Category of Major .
To see which category an undergraduate major is identified as visit Programs by Major Category .
Academic department changes
The Finance & Marketing department will be two separate departments for 2026-27: one department named Finance and the other named Marketing.
While the two shared an academic home for several years and collegiality remains strong, Finance and Marketing are two fundamentally distinct academic enterprises, including: disciplinary foundations, missions and focus areas, and curricular and assessment practices.
Since Finance and Marketing will be unique academic units both expect improvements in curricular innovation, industry engagement, and student recuitment, retention, and readiness.
Finance
Marketing
The Journalism department renamed its department to Journalism, Public Relations and Multimedia. There were several reasons for the academic department name change:
- Students often don’t realize that the Journalism department offers public relations and therefore end up in other programs that are not as good of a fit.
- Adding Public Relations and Multimedia to the department’s name communicates that the Public Relations and Visual Journalism sequences are on equal footing with News/Editorial.
- The mass communication industries are increasingly multimedia in nature, foregrounding the kinds of advanced production skills taught in the department.
- Retaining Journalism in the department’s name shows the department’s commitment the civic role of journalism endures.
Journalism, Public Relations and Multimedia
New Science Education degree to replace several BAE programs
The new Science Education, Secondary, BAE will consolidate several science BAE programs into a single degree housed within SMATE. This program will include core coursework in both science and education, with concentrations aligned to the science endorsements offered at WWU. Feedback from students, along with graduation and endorsement data, highlighted the need for a centralized, accessible, and navigable structure for undergraduate science teacher preparation.
By consolidating the major into SMATE, a unit that includes faculty from both science and education departments, this new structure will clarify roles and responsibilities, streamline program delivery, and better support students pursuing careers in science education.
This major will take the place of the following BAEs: Chemistry/Physics, Chemistry/Mathematics, Chemistry/Biology, Physics/Mathematics, Earth Science secondary, Earth Science/General Science secondary.
Western’s first Master of Social Work degrees
Western Washington University’s new Master of Social Work (MSW) program represents a significant expansion of graduate education in the state. Directly mandated and funded by the Washington State Legislature to address Washington’s shortage of qualified social workers, the program is designed as a fully online, statewide initiative that removes geographic and economic barriers for working professionals across Washington.
The curriculum is aligned with the 2022 CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) and grounded in an integrative competency model that centers anti-racist, anti-oppressive, decolonial, trauma-responsive, and community-engaged practice and prepares practitioners to serve their community. Both Regular and Advanced Standing pathways are available, preparing graduates for advanced clinical and macro roles in behavioral health, child and youth services, school social work, community organizing, and policy leadership.
The program is anchored by statewide agency partnerships spanning schools, hospitals, community mental health providers, and nonprofit organizations from across the region. These collaborations strengthen local service capacity, create pathways toward licensure, and ensure graduates develop the skills needed to lead systems change and promote the well-being of Washington’s diverse communities.
Note: Western’s MSW programs will not be accepting students until Fall 2027.
Master of Social Work (Regular Standing), Non-Thesis, MSW
Master of Social Work (Advanced Standing), Non-Thesis, MSW
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 academic programs of study
Undergraduate major
Industrial and Systems Engineering, BS
Linguistics and English — Multilingual Education, BA, with Teaching Endorsement Option
Science Education, Secondary, BAE
Special Education plus Multilingual Education Dual Endorsement, BAE
Undergraduate minor
Latinx Studies Minor
Mechanical Engineering Minor
Graduate
Master of Social Work (Advanced Standing), Non-Thesis, MSW
Master of Social Work (Regular Standing), Non-Thesis, MSW
Certificate
Advocacy Writing Certificate
Geographic Information Science Fundamentals Certificate
Technical Writing Certificate
Academic programs moratorium removal
Inclusive Teaching, Non-Thesis, MEd (was Special Education, Non-Thesis, MEd)
Academic programs of study with title changes
Environmental Policy & Governance Minor (was Environmental Policy Minor)
Materials Science & Engineering, BS (was Polymer Materials Engineering, BS)
Recreation and Tourism Management, BA (was Recreation Management and Leadership, BA)
Advanced Geographic Information Science Certificate (was Geographic Information Science Certificate)
New course prefixes
- MECH (Mechanical Engineering)
- MSE (Materials Science & Engineering)
- SWP (Social Work Peninsulas)
New courses
List of new courses approved for the 2026-2027 academic year
WWU study abroad courses
List of permanent active courses approved to be offered abroad
University Catalog Policy Updates
Policies effective fall 2026
- Declaring a Major: New Direct Admit to Major policy and descriptions of the three categories undergraduate majors will be identified under.
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
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