University of Washington offers psychology programs at the undergraduate, doctoral, and specialized graduate levels, including a BA and BS in Psychology, a PhD in Psychology, and an online Master of Education in Special Education with an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) specialization. UW is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and is a member of the Association of American Universities, located in Seattle, WA.
The University of Washington is a public research university in Seattle serving about 54,000 students across 16 colleges. Founded in 1861 and established as a state institution after Washington achieved statehood in 1889, UW is now one of the largest public research universities in the country. Its psychology offerings span the Department of Psychology’s undergraduate and doctoral programs, as well as a separate online graduate program in applied behavior analysis run through the College of Education.
University of Washington Accreditation Details
UW is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), a status that covers the institution as a whole. UW is also a member of the Association of American Universities. Some professional programs also carry specialized accreditation or verification beyond the university’s institutional accreditation. The online Applied Behavior Analysis program’s curriculum, for example, is verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and is designed to meet current educational requirements for BCBA certification, subject to BACB policies.
University of Washington Application Requirements
Requirements differ by program. Applicants to the Department of Psychology’s PhD program apply to a specific research area and are expected to identify faculty members whose work aligns with their interests, as the program is mentor-based. Applicants to the online Applied Behavior Analysis program need a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a current resume. Both paths require a completed online application through the UW Graduate School and a nonrefundable application fee.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees vary by program and residency status, so check the specific program page for current rates before applying. The online Applied Behavior Analysis program is fee-based rather than tied to standard resident and non-resident tuition: it charges a flat per-credit rate that is the same regardless of where a student lives, spread across 38 credits over two to three years.
Students can apply for federal aid by filing the FAFSA through UW’s Office of Student Financial Aid. Graduate students should also check with their specific program, as some, including the ABA Online program, offer their own merit- and need-based scholarships in addition to federal aid options.
Psychology Programs at the University of Washington
Department of Psychology
UW’s Department of Psychology offers a BA and a BS in Psychology, with the BS placing more emphasis on laboratory research and statistics. At the doctoral level, the department runs a PhD in Psychology across several areas of study, including clinical psychology, child clinical psychology, developmental psychology, cognition and perception, social and personality psychology, and behavioral neuroscience. (For background on what a clinical psychologist does day to day, see our FAQ on the role.) The department’s Clinical Psychology Graduate Training Program has repeatedly ranked among the top programs nationally. Most master’s degrees in the department are earned along the way to the PhD rather than through a standalone terminal master’s admission path. To see how UW’s offerings compare to other schools in the state, check out psychology doctoral programs in Washington state.
Online Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis
Through the College of Education, UW also offers an online Master of Education with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis, designed for students pursuing Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification. Coursework covers behavior analytic principles, evidence-based practices for individuals with developmental disabilities, single-case research design, and ethics. Students complete a yearlong internship and capstone project using single-case research methodology, and the coursework satisfies the BACB’s education requirements to sit for the certification exam. The program runs on a cohort model with synchronous evening classes, completed over two or three years depending on pace.
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