Main Content
Sarah Young
Academic Advisor
Pinkerton Building, 221
Campus Box 358437
(253) 692-5879
youngsm@uw.edu
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
REQUEST A COURSE CODE (School of Urban Studies courses only: T GIS, T SUD, T UDE, T URB, TCMP)
STUDENT RESOURCES
General Information
- Registration information
- How to register
- Find courses in the Time Schedule or using Time Schedule Quick Search
- Why can't I register?
- Request an add code for School of Urban Studies courses (T GIS, T SUD, T UDE, T URB, TCMP)
- Request an add code for other courses
URBAN-STUDENTS is an email list for current Urban Studies students. This email list will provide you with reminders of upcoming deadlines, registration information, job and internship opportunities, special events, graduation information and more.
Expanding your horizons beyond the classroom can help you make the most of your UW Tacoma experience.
- Join one of our student organizations or find opportunities to volunteer, show up at community events, network, and more.
UW Tacoma Commencement
Undergraduate and graduate students receiving their degree in may choose to participate in UW Tacoma Commencement for the academic year in which they graduate. This is an annual campus-level celebration of the completion of your degree. To participate, you will register in May (specific dates TBA). This registration process will include purchase of your cap, gown, and masters hood; as well as reserving tickets for family and friends. Read more about Commencement at UW Tacoma, and register at www.tacoma.uw.edu/commencement.
Graduation processes and requirements are different for undergraduate and graduate students. See the relevant section for details, and read more below and from the Office of the Registrar at www.tacoma.uw.edu/registrar/graduation-procedures.
Undergraduate Information
You are encouraged to use the online Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) to check on progress toward your degree. DARS is a useful tool but it should not replace one-on-one degree planning with the Urban Studies advisor. Meet with the SUS academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan.
The following grade standards apply to all students in School of Urban Studies majors. These standards may be in addition to other academic standards at UW Tacoma.
- You must complete all core and core elective coursework by achieving a minimum 2.0 grade in each class. If a grade below 2.0 is received, you must repeat the course. Course credit will only be awarded once, and both grades will be computed into the grade point average.
- Courses taken to fulfill core degree requirements may not be taken S/NS (satisfactory/not satisfactory).
- Upper-division core courses completed at other regionally accredited four-year institutions may be applied toward the general elective requirement. Adviser transcript evaluation is available upon request.
- Upper-division courses considered for transfer credit will apply toward the general elective requirement.
- Read more about specific major requirements in the UW Tacoma General Catalog
Under exceptional circumstances, a student may petition for a substitution to the Urban Studies core or major curriculum. The petition is reviewed by the Curriculum Committee. You will be required to describe the circumstances of the course being petitioned. The decision generally has no applicability beyond the petitioner and is considered on a case-by-case basis. The decision does not automatically apply to other petitioners.
Before submitting a course petition:
- Consult with your academic advisor.
- Check your degree audit through MyPlan to see how your transfer and/or UW credit is currently being applied toward graduation and major requirements.
- Review degree planning worksheet(s) for your major(s)
After consultation with the academic advisor and it is determined that a course petition is appropriate, submit the online petition.
The review process can take up to 3 weeks to process. You will be notified of the decision by email. If you have any technical problems submitting the petition, contact us at 253.692.5880 or by email at uwturban@uw.edu.
Students wishing to graduate with a degree from the School of Urban Studies must meet the following requirements:
- Satisfy University undergraduate graduation requirements. Read more in the General Catalog.
- Be a matriculated School of Urban Studies major in good academic standing with the University of Washington Tacoma.
- Complete at least 45 of last 60 credits in residence at the University of Washington Tacoma.
- Complete at least 50 credits at the upper division level (e.g. 300 or higher).
- Complete a minimum of 180 credits.
- Earn a minimum grade of 2.0 in each required course.
- Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 for all coursework.
- Apply for graduation with a program advisor by the deadline posted by the University for the expected quarter of graduation.
Graduation is not automatic. In order to officially graduate and receive your diploma, you must submit a graduation application. Graduation applications are completed during an appointment with the School of Urban Studies academic advisor, and are due by the second Friday of the quarter in which you wish to graduate. It is recommended that you apply for graduation two quarters before your planned date of graduation.
The School of Urban Studies is excellent preparation for those interested in graduate study in such fields as public administration, law, or urban planning/design.
University of Washington Tacoma
University of Washington Seattle
- Architecture
- Construction Management
- Landscape Architecture
- Urban Design and Planning
- UW Graduate School
Portland State University
Other graduate school resources
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM INFORMATION
MASTER'S PROGRAM INFORMATION
In order to graduate, every master's student must make a master’s degree request through their MyGrad account during their final quarter. Requests may be submitted between the first and last day of instruction of the quarter of expected graduation. If a student misses the deadline to request their degree, they must pay a $250 late fee within 2 weeks of the end of the quarter.
After a request is submitted, the School of Urban Studies will run a degree audit to verify satisfactory completion of all required course work to date, and check with faculty to verify that the student is on track to complete their final quarter successfully. If the student is on track to completing all degree requirements, a recommendation is made to the graduate school that they be awarded the degree, pending completion of your final classes.
The degree request is solely the responsibility of the student. To request your degree, complete the degree request by logging in to your Student MyGrad Page. and click on “Submit a Master’s Degree Request Now.” Select the “non-thesis” option, and submit your request.
Graduation/Induction Ceremony
Each masters program celebrates its graduates with a program-specific celebration called “Induction.” In this ceremony you will be awarded a masters hood for completion of your program by your faculty, with family and friends in attendance. This will be a chance for your family and friends to learn a bit more about your accomplishment in completing your degree, and for personal recognition from the Urban Studies program. In order to participate in the induction ceremony, you will need to order your cap, gown, and hood through the UW Tacoma Commencement registration process, even if you do not intend to attend UW Tacoma's Commencement.
You may choose to participate in UW Tacoma Commencement, Hooding, both, or neither. We hope you will choose to celebrate the accomplishment of completing your degree with us at both, especially at the more intimate program Hooding Ceremony.
MA in Community Planning - 2024 date and location TBA
MA in Community Planning
Program Coordinator
Anaid Yerena, Ph.D.
yerena@uw.edu
(253) 692-4910
MACP Graduate Student Handbook
- Appendix 1: Required Coursework (PDF)
- Appendix 2: Policy on Student Performance and Academic Probation (PDF)