The Upside-Down Program, BA

Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies

The Upside-Down Degree. The usual route to a BA degree calls for general education in the first two years and specialization in the last two years. Fairhaven’s Upside-Down BA gives selected students an option to reverse this process. Graduates of Washington state community colleges who hold the ATA, the AAS or other approved two-year technical degrees may apply to transfer their specializations to Fairhaven as the completed major. Stages 1 and 3 of the curriculum and a minimum of 90 credits are then required for graduation. Students are expected to complete as much as possible of their elective credit at the upper-division level (courses numbered 300 or above). Each application for this program is reviewed on an individual basis. Students are urged to contact Fairhaven College early in the admissions process.

Admission and Declaration Process

Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies has selective admission and enrolls first-year students, transfer students, and students from other WWU programs fall, winter, spring and summer quarters. New applicants to Fairhaven and to the University complete the WWU Undergraduate Application (available online or in print form). Indicate interest in Fairhaven College in your application. Send the standard application, transcripts, and required test scores to: Office of Admissions, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9009.

In addition to the WWU application, Fairhaven requests a personal statement, two letters of recommendation and an interview (in person or by telephone). For more information or to make an appointment, please call 360-650-6680.

Students currently enrolled in other University programs may apply to transfer to Fairhaven’s program by the quarterly application deadlines. Current WWU students applying to Fairhaven do not need to submit transcript test scores or the WWU Undergraduate Application.

Visitors are welcome and with advance notice, appointments can be arranged with Fairhaven advising and admissions staff, students or other WWU staff.

Fairhaven Grade Requirements

At Fairhaven, the A-to-F grading system is not used. Classes and studies are taken on a “Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory” basis. Academic credit is granted after requirements have been satisfactorily completed and the student has submitted a written self-evaluation of his or her work to faculty instructors. Faculty respond with a written evaluation of the student’s progress. The student-faculty evaluation becomes a part of the student’s academic file, and forms part of the student’s credentials for applying for employment and for graduate programs.

The official transcript, held in the University’s Registrar’s Office, lists all Fairhaven and other WWU classes (normally graded) and studies completed (A cumulative GPA is not displayed on the official transcript for Fairhaven Students). Fairhaven College follows the Student Records Policy of Western Washington University found elsewhere in this catalog. Fairhaven issues a separate official set of narrative evaluations to supplement the official transcript by request.