Admissions Office
Seattle University
901 12th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122-1090
206-296-2000
800-426-7123 (toll-free)
2006-2007 COSTS:
Tuition:
$22,285
Room and Board:
$8,038
Fees, books, misc.:
$3,000
Seattle, Washington
Overview
Seattle University (SU) provides an ideal environment for motivated students interested in self-reliance, awareness of different cultures, social justice, and the fulfillment that comes from making a difference. Its location in the center of one of the nation's most diverse and progressive cities attracts a varied student body, faculty, and staff. Its urban setting promotes the development of leadership skills and independence and provides a variety of opportunities for students to apply what they learn through internships, clinical experiences, and volunteer work.
As a Jesuit institution, Seattle University is part of a network of twenty-eight colleges and universities and forty-six high schools noted for academic strength across the United States. Academic offerings are designed to provide leadership opportunities, develop global awareness, and enable graduates to serve society through a demanding liberal arts and sciences foundation. In the Jesuit educational tradition, students are taught how to think, not what to think. Professional undergraduate offerings include highly respected Schools of Business, Nursing, and Science and Engineering and career-oriented liberal arts programs such as communication, creative writing, criminal justice, and journalism. The University's Schools of Education, Law, and Theology and Ministry offer graduate-level opportunities.
Seattle University is noted for its focus on the individual through small, faculty-taught classes and excellent service. The result is mirrored by graduates who lead fulfilling and economically successful lives. SU leads the Pacific Northwest in producing Truman and Wilson scholars.
The fall quarter has a freshman class of 722, and 45 percent are from outside Washington State. The 3,911 undergraduate students represent forty-seven states and seventy-six nations. Approximately 9 percent are international students. The ethnic breakdown for the fall 2004 freshman class was 56 percent white, 22 percent Asian American, and 15 percent African American, Latino, and American Indian.
Seattle University receives the highest professional accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.; AACSB International–The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; American Bar Association; American Chemical Society; Association of Theological Schools; Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Council on Social Work Education; and Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.
Location and Community
Seattle University is located on First Hill in a port city of unsurpassed natural beauty. As the Pacific Northwest's largest city, Seattle is a scenic and cultural center in a setting that includes breathtaking mountain views of the Cascades to the east and the Olympics to the west; skiing is within 60 minutes of campus. In addition to being situated along Puget Sound, Seattle also contains Lakes Union and Washington; both provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Seattle's residents love the outdoors, and areas for hiking, backpacking, and climbing are minutes from campus. Biking is also popular and special trails for cycling and running are located throughout the city.
Seattle's sights and sounds, rich ethnic diversity, celebrated restaurants, first–run entertainment, major-league athletics, theater, opera, and ballet are within walking distance and enhance campus life.
Academic Life
The Core Curriculum is known for its strength and has several distinguishing characteristics in keeping with the Jesuit tradition: it provides an integrated freshman year; it gives order and sequence to student learning; it provides experience in the methods and content of the range of liberal arts, sciences, philosophy, and theology; it calls for active learning in all classes for practice in writing and thinking, and for an awareness of values; and it fosters a global perspective and a sense of social and personal responsibility.
Seattle University offers two honors program options for students seeking the greatest possible challenge. The University Honors Program is a small, select two-year-long learning community. It is humanities focused, and its fully integrated curriculum examines the most significant texts and ideas of Western culture. The Core Honors Program involves seminar sections of nine required courses in English, history, philosophy, social science, and theology/religious studies. This option is particularly suited to students in profession-oriented majors where participation in University Honors is less feasible due to specific major requirements and scheduling conflicts.
SU operates on a quarter calendar. The fall quarter begins in mid-September; the winter quarter in early January; the spring quarter in late March; and the summer quarter in mid-June. Undergraduates typically take 15 hours each during the fall, winter, and spring quarters.
SU offers international study programs—one for French in France, one for Latin American studies in Mexico, and two reciprocal exchange programs with the University of Graz in Austria and Sophia University in Japan. These are open to all students in all majors and emphasize appreciation of the language and culture. This is accomplished through the total immersion concept. Other programs include Campus Ministry missions in Nicaragua and Belize and Albers School of Business and Economics tours in Mexico, Italy, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Seattle University maintains the only Calcutta Club in which students volunteer annually on behalf of Mother Teresa's ministry. Additional study-abroad programs in other nations, in conjunction with other colleges' overseas programs, are also offered. Arrangements are made through SU's Study Abroad Office.
There are 565 faculty members; 87 percent of full-time faculty members possess doctoral or terminal degrees. Like the University, the mission of faculty members who choose Seattle University is teaching. Most classes average 20; the faculty-student ratio is 1:13. All classes are taught by faculty members. The involvement of faculty members extends beyond the classroom. Faculty members are available to provide extra assistance, to help students with their research, and to assist in the arranging of internships. Faculty advisers provide guidance, direction, and encouragement throughout the year. New students are assigned faculty advisers according to major prior to registration.
Majors Offered:
Seattle University offers the following undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Public Affairs, and the Bachelor of Arts in business administration.
The University offers programs in six major academic units. The Albers School of Business and Economics awards degrees in accounting, business economics, e-commerce, finance, general business, international business, management, and marketing. The College of Arts and Sciences grants degrees in art history, Asian studies, communication studies, criminal justice, drama, environmental studies, economics, English, fine arts, foreign languages, history, humanities, international studies, journalism, liberal studies, philosophy, political science, psychology, public affairs, social work, sociology, and theology and religious studies. The College of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The College of Science and Engineering offers degree programs in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, diagnostic ultrasound, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, environmental science, general science, mechanical engineering, mathematics, medical technology, and physics. Preprofessional programs include dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, and veterinary medicine.
Facilities and Resources
The University is located on 45 acres in the First Hill neighborhood in the center of Seattle. There are twenty-eight buildings recently enhanced by $157 million in additions, renovations, and new construction.
The residential campus has undergone $157 million in recent improvements. Although it is in the center of Seattle, the campus has been designated by Washington State as an Official Backyard Sanctuary for its distinctive landscaping and environmentally conscious practices.
There is a wide variety of on-campus housing that accommodates 1,596 students, including a new apartment complex, and 87 percent of freshmen live on campus. There is a two-year on-campus residence requirement.
Campus Life
Seattle University has more than eighty-five extracurricular clubs and organizations. The student life program includes sixty extracurricular clubs and organizations, including the Hawaiian Club, Associated Students of African Descent, Hiyu Coulee Hiking Club, Beta Alpha Psi (national accounting honorary), and other professional honoraries and clubs.
All undergraduates belong to the Associated Students of Seattle University (ASSU). This is the central student organization on campus. ASSU is organized around an elected president, an executive vice president, and an activities vice president. In addition, a 12-member representative council oversees every facet of the student body and is responsible for policymaking. Its primary responsibility is to provide a diverse activities program to meet the needs of SU's diverse student body. In addition, ASSU communicates student needs to the administration and faculty. ASSU oversees eighty-five clubs and organizations.
Sports / Varsity Athletics
The University has five varsity teams for men (basketball, cross-country, soccer, swimming, and track) and seven for women (basketball, cross-country, soccer, softball, swimming, track, and volleyball). SU is in NCAA Division II.
The Connolly Athletic Center serves as the major facility for varsity and intramural athletics and recreation. It features two swimming pools, two full-size gymnasiums, and locker room saunas. A 6-acre complex provides fields for outdoor sports.
Expenses
In 2004–05, tuition was $21,285; room and meals were $7038. The estimate for books, fees, and personal expenses is an additional $3060. Travel costs varies among students. Costs are subject to change.
Financial Aid / Scholarships
Seattle University awarded $5.6 million in its own financial aid to fall 2004 freshmen, including 155 scholarships ranging from $6000 to $28,413. Eighty-eight percent of freshmen received University aid. Students are required to apply for financial aid by February 1 as awards are made early each spring for the following fall quarter. Applications that are received after this deadline will be evaluated in order received for any remaining aid. Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be accepted for admission to be considered for financial assistance. There are also a number of scholarships for freshmen that are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and community service. Similar transfer scholarships are determined primarily on the basis of course selection and cumulative grade point average.
Admission Requirements / Application
Freshman applicants are required to have a college-preparatory program, including 4 years of English, 3 years of social studies/history, 3 years of mathematics, 2 years of laboratory science, and 2 years of a foreign language. ACT or SAT scores, two recommendations, and an essay are also required. The middle 50 percent of freshman GPAs are between 3.3 and 3.8 on a 4.0 scale. The average score on the ACT is between 22 and 27, and the average SAT I scores are between 510 and 630 (verbal) and 520 and 620 (math). Seattle University accepts the Common Application, the Uniform Application, Peterson's Universal Application, the Catholic College Admissions Association Application, and its own admission application.
Essays or personal statements are required for admission and are carefully considered during application review.
College credit is awarded to those who have successfully completed Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate examinations. Minimum scores can be obtained by contacting the Office of the Registrar.
Applications can be obtained by contacting the Admissions Office. Secondary school students who have completed at least six semesters are encouraged to apply by January of their senior year. Transfer students must submit official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended, regardless of whether course work was completed. For fall admission, freshmen should complete the process by February 1 to receive consideration for scholarships and other Seattle University financial aid; the recommended admissions deadline for transfers is March 1. Please note that applications will be accepted after these dates on a space available basis, but funds for financial aid may no longer be available. Campus visits can be scheduled Monday through Friday and most Saturdays. Guests can attend a class, meet with a faculty adviser, participate in a campus tour, and speak individually with representatives from admissions and financial aid.
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