Admissions Office
Seattle Pacific University
3307 Third Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119-1922
206-281-2021
800-366-3344 (toll-free)
E-mail: admissions@spu.edu
COSTS:
Tuition:
$28,100
Room and Board:
$8,454
Fees, books, misc.:
$1,000
Seattle, Washington
Overview
Seattle Pacific University (SPU) is a flourishing Christian university of the arts, sciences, and professions serving nearly 3,800 students. Founded in 1891 by the Free Methodist Church of North America, it is recognized for both academic excellence and the efforts of its graduates to engage the culture in order to bring about positive change in the world. SPU has been designated one of “America's Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report and has been acknowledged as one of the country's character-building institutions.
Seattle Pacific University is fully accredited by the Washington State Board of Education and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and is on the approved list of the American Council on Education and Board of Regents of the State of New York. SPU is a charter member of the Christian College Consortium and is also a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Seattle Pacific meets the requirements of the Commission on Christian Education of the Free Methodist Church and those of other denominations for the collegiate preparation of ministers. The University's programs are accredited for business by the AACSB International–The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; for dietetics by the Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association; for education by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) at both the graduate and undergraduate levels and the Association of American Colleges, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and the Washington State Board of Education for preparation of elementary and secondary school teachers; for electrical engineering by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc.; for music by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); and for nursing by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for both undergraduate and graduate programs and the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission for the undergraduate nursing curriculum. The University also offers, as approved by the U.S. government, the education of veterans and their dependents under applicable public laws.
Students come to SPU from forty-seven states and eighteen countries, representing more than fifty different Christian denominations. More than half of Seattle Pacific's undergraduate students live on campus in four residence halls and several apartment complexes. All Seattle Pacific residence facilities are wired to allow students dedicated online connections to e-mail, the Internet, and the campus computer network.
In addition to its bachelor's degrees, SPU awards M.A., M.B.A., M.Ed., M.F.A., M.S., M.A. (TESOL), M.S.N., Ed.D., and Ph.D. degrees.
Location and Community
Seattle Pacific's beautiful 43-acre, tree-lined city campus lies in a residential area just 10 minutes from downtown Seattle, the business and cultural heart of the Pacific Northwest. A gateway to Canada and the Pacific Rim, Seattle offers easy access to a wide variety of outdoor recreation such as sailing, skiing, hiking, and camping. The city also offers world-class fine arts, including opera, theater, symphony, and ballet. Seattle Pacific takes advantage of its urban setting by providing hundreds of internship and service experiences in the city's hospitals, schools, businesses, and churches.
Academic Life
Seattle Pacific's academic disciplines set high standards for students. Undergraduate students are taught not by graduate assistants but by experienced professors recognized locally and nationally for the quality of their scholarship. Small classes mean students actively participate in their own education, gaining the confidence to achieve their goals. In addition, SPU's clear Christian commitment gives depth and perspective to classroom learning, balancing knowledge with values.
The Common Curriculum, which includes seven required courses spread out over four years, is at the heart of an undergraduate liberal arts education at Seattle Pacific. Only 5 percent of four-year institutions in the United States, most of them very small and homogenous, offer such a curriculum. Until now, no comprehensive university in an urban setting with an equal mix of residential and commuter students requires participation in common learning over four years.
SPU students begin in the first quarter of their freshman year with University Seminar, a focused exploration of a special interdisciplinary topic. The fewer than 25 students enrolled in each course form a “cohort” and attend other freshman classes in the Common Curriculum together, with their University Seminar professor serving as their academic adviser. In their freshman, sophomore, and junior years, students participate in two parallel sequences of required courses that address key human questions from the perspective of various disciplines and the foundations of Christian faith. Cumulative and developmental in nature, these classes are designed to support and enhance students' learning in the majors.
Seattle Pacific students have many opportunities to enhance their education with off-campus study. The Pacific Northwest itself provides a living laboratory for academic pursuits in all disciplines. SPU's own campuses on Whidbey Island and Blakely Island in Puget Sound are ideal for research and field study in areas such as marine biology and environmental science.
Each year, approximately 65 Seattle Pacific students participate in overseas study programs: the European Quarter, the Normandy (France) Studies Program, and the Salamanca (Spain) Program. Biennially, 30 to 35 students travel and study in Britain during British Isles Quarter. During quarter and summer breaks, students have the opportunity to join Seattle Pacific Reachout International (SPRINT) teams that travel to countries like Northern Ireland, Russia, Nicaragua, Uganda, and Romania for a short-term mission experience.
The University maintains exchange agreements with institutions in Kenya, Japan, and Korea. Students may also apply to take one or two quarters of study at one of the twelve other Christian College Consortium campuses, or they may enroll in one of three programs sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities: American Studies in Washington, D.C.; Latin American Studies in Costa Rica; Film Studies in Los Angeles. Programs in the Middle East and China are also available.
The full-time faculty at Seattle Pacific is composed of 197 full-time faculty members who are committed to the highest academic standards. Ninty percent of SPU's full-time faculty members hold the Ph.D. or an equivalent terminal degree. Seattle Pacific professors are experts in their fields: they publish, speak, and conduct research throughout the world. Their first priority, however, is teaching. SPU faculty members also make themselves available to students outside the classroom and act as models of compassionate, educated Christians.
Majors Offered:
An array of academic options in the arts, sciences, and professions allows Seattle Pacific students to specialize in one discipline while exploring many others. The University awards B.A. and B.S. degrees and offers fifty-three undergraduate majors.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers the following undergraduate majors: art; biochemistry; biology; biology education; biotechnology; chemistry; classics; communication; computational mathematics; computer engineering; computer science; electrical engineering; engineering and applied science; English; European studies (Europe, French, German, Latin, Russian, and Spanish); exercise science; family and consumer sciences; fine and applied arts education; food and nutritional sciences; general studies; history; language arts education; Latin American studies (Spanish); mathematics; mathematics education; music; music education; philosophy; physical education; physics; political science; science education; social science education; sociology; textiles, clothing, and interiors; theater; and visual communication.
The School of Business and Economics offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business administration, and economics. The School of Education offers elementary certification with any major of the University, secondary certification with endorsements in most Washington state–approved areas, and a major in special education. The School of Health Sciences offers an undergraduate nursing degree. The School of Psychology, Family and Community offers undergraduate majors in organizational behavior and psychology. The School of Theology offers undergraduate majors in Christian theology, Christian scriptures, global and urban ministry, youth ministry, and educational ministries. Preprofessional programs are available in dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, and physical therapy.
Facilities and Resources
At the heart of the Seattle Pacific campus is the 62,000-square-foot library. This spacious, four-level facility serves as the center for academic endeavors outside the classroom. It provides learning resource services, the latest technology, space for study and research, and approximately 190,000 volumes arranged on open shelves for easy access. The collection grows by some 6,000 new titles each year, including more than 1,300 current print periodical titles and an ever-expanding microfiche collection numbering 500,000 items. The library collection is accessible online in the library and through the campus computer network via its automated catalog. Students also have access to 2.2 million items held in twenty-six Washington and Oregon academic libraries through the Orbis Cascade Alliance and Summit. The library's Instructional Technology Services Department offers media production, satellite downlink, and duplication services.
Among the other educational facilities at SPU is the Otto Miller Hall, which houses computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, and physics. A $24-million science facility for biology, chemistry, and related sciences was opened recently. The University's flexible-forestage performing arts facility, E.E. Bach Theatre, is one of the city's finest, and the Royal Brougham Pavilion is one of the premier sports and recreation arenas in the Puget Sound area.
Campus Life
The University's unique leadership program encourages students to cultivate their individual talents by putting them to work in student government, ministries, performing groups, publications, clubs, and organizations.
All full-time students are members of the Associated Students of Seattle Pacific (ASSP). Each spring, students elect 5 ASSP executive officers along with representatives to the ASSP Senate, the student governing body. ASSP provides services to students in the areas of campus activities, campus ministries, leadership development, and student publications.
Sports / Varsity Athletics
Seattle Pacific's intercollegiate athletic program fields NCAA Division II teams in men's and women's basketball, crew, cross-country, soccer, and track and field, and women's gymnastics and volleyball. All students have access to forty-seven intramural sports as well as extramurals, special events, and health and fitness activities.
Expenses
Tuition and fees for the academic year are $28.100; annual room and board is $8,454 (based on 2 people in a room, full-meal plan). Individualized meal plans are available. Book costs and personal expenses vary, depending on personal needs.
Financial Aid / Scholarships
Seattle Pacific awards more than $35 million in scholarships and financial aid each year. Need-based financial aid is available in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and employment. To be considered for maximum aid, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1 and be admitted to the University by March 1. SPU participates in various federal aid programs, including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Stafford Student Loan programs.
Merit-based University scholarships are given annually to students who exhibit academic excellence and exemplify the ideals of the institution. Merit scholarships are available in amounts ranging from $1500 to $10,000. The Division of Fine Arts offers renewable scholarships (up to $3000) regardless of major. The Athletic Department awards scholarship aid to qualified athletes.
Admission Requirements / Application
Admission to Seattle Pacific is offered on the basis of academic credentials and personal qualifications. SPU selects those students who will benefit most from a Christian university education. Factors in the admission decision include high school or college grades, academic and personal recommendations, the application essays, and scores on the SAT or the ACT. An applicant is also evaluated in terms of leadership potential, church and community activities, special talents, and personal responsibility. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the campus at any time.
Prospective students may visit the Seattle Pacific University Web site to request application materials. High school students should request these materials early in the senior year. While applications for Autumn Quarter are accepted until June 1, prospective students must be admitted by March 1 in order to be considered for scholarships and the best financial aid, housing, and course registration opportunities.
Applications are reviewed in the order they are received in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Beginning December 1, decisions regarding admission are announced after all application materials have been received. If an interview is required, students are contacted by telephone.
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