Space is extremely limited in our majors-only classes and we often do not have space for students outside of the Allen School. Highly qualified non-majors can request space in these classes on a quarterly basis through our non-major enrollment request form (formerly referred to as a "petition"). Unfortunately, most requests cannot be accommodated due to capacity constraints. The Allen School has an extensive set of upper-division non-major course offerings for Non-Major students in Computer Science or Computer Engineering degree programs. These courses are open to all matriculated students at UW who meet the course prerequisites.
The most up-to-date information on courses is found on our Time Schedule page which includes links to the time schedules and our internal teaching schedule that outlines when and what courses will be taught each academic year.
Undergraduate Courses (up to CSE 400 level)
A student may be eligible for a majors-only course if:
- There is sufficient course staff available
- The student is qualified for the course and has taken the prerequisites or appropriate alternatives
- The student clearly articulates why learning the course material will directly benefit them
- The student is able to attend the first day of school and all subsequent classes
- The following restrictions apply for undergraduate CSE courses:
- 2 undergraduate majors only CSE courses maximum allowed per quarter (excludes support courses)
- 5 total undergraduate majors only CSE courses allowed (excluding support courses like CSE 391 and CSE 390Z). If you officially audit a course, that is counted as one of the 5.
The enrollment request form for the upcoming quarters will be available on this page as follows:
| Quarter | Petition Opens | Priority Deadline | Petition Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn 2024 | May 13th | August 30th | September 24th |
| Winter 2025 | November 5th | December 9th | January 3rd |
| Spring 2025 | February 14th | March 14th | April 4th |
| Summer 2025 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Ph.D./Doctoral Courses (CSE 500 level)
The Allen School allows for people outside the Ph.D. program (otherwise known as a 'non-major') to take 500-level courses. Matriculated students should complete the enrollment petition linked below. The petition is updated every quarter, so be sure the title reflects the correct term. Non-matriculated students can use the same enrollment petition.
This petition is only for 500-level classes, and students who petition are not guaranteed to be approved. Students may not receive an add code for several reasons, including but not limited to, lack of seating in the class, instructor preference to keep their course to Allen School Ph.D. students, or not having background skill suitable for the course. Our goal is to send out add codes, if available, the first week of the term. Current CSE Ph.D. students are given priority in these course offerings.
CSE Doctoral Course Enrollment Petition
| Quarter | Petition Opens | Priority Deadline | Petition Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn 2024 | June 1 by 14:00 (2 pm) | September 2 | October 1 by 12:00 pm |
| Winter 2025 | November 1 by 14:00 (2 pm) | December 13 | January 10 by 12:00 pm |
| Spring 2025 | February 14 by 14:00 (2 pm) | March 14 | April 4 by 12:00 pm |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Do Allen School undergraduate majors need to fill in the enrollment petition if they wish to take a graduate-level course?
- Yes! By default the majority of graduate-level CSE courses are restricted to CSE graduate students. Interested Allen School undergraduates should fill in the form, ideally after speaking with an undergraduate staff adviser about whether a graduate-level course is appropriate for them or the course instructor to determine an appropriate fit.
- Can a non-matriculated (non-UW) student request enrollment in an Allen School 500-level course?
- Yes! Here's how:
- Fill out the NM Student Registration Form. Save this PDF for later.
- Fill out the CSE Doctoral Course Enrollment Petition.
- Email grad-advising@cs.washington.edu with:
- Your intention to enroll as a non-matriculated student.
- The course name and number of the course you'd like to take.
- The Grad Advising team will then email you a digital copy of the NM Student Registration Approval Form via Docusign. Sign and complete the document. We will manage contact with the faculty member on your behalf.
- We will return the completed NM Student Registration Approval Form when approval is granted. If approved, your course add code will be included in the returned form. This may not occur until the deadlines listed above. Save this signed and completed PDF for the next step.
- Send the two completed, saved PDFs to the registrar via email at c2reg@uw.edu
- When will I receive an add code for 500-level courses?
- We make every effort to open the enrollment petition when Registration Period I begins. If it is not open, check back the following week. Add codes will begin being issued two (2) weeks before the start of the quarter. However, in many cases students will not hear about the result of the petition until the first week of the quarter. Note that the graduate course enrollment petition does not include "CSE M" or "CSE P" courses as these courses are typically not available for non-major registration.
- Can I register for CSE 519 or CSE 520?
- In order to enroll in CSE 519 or 520 students need to be engaged in research with a CSE faculty member. The talks featured in CSE 519 and 520 are open to the public, so students do not need to be registered in order to attend. Complete viewing information on the CSE Colloquia and Distinguished Lecturer Series can be found on the event webpage.
- Can I take a CSE 590 or 591 course?
- Maybe. All courses listed under CSE 590 and CSE 591 are seminars or group meetings offered by Allen School research groups and are designed for current doctoral students engaged in academic research. Typically offerings are not confirmed until the first week of the quarter. Students interested in any of these seminars should check the current time schedule and contact the listed instructor for permission. Email permission can then be forwarded to grad-advising@cs.washington.edu at which time an add code can be issued. Detailed information about each 590 and 591, if/when we have it, is posted on the Graduate Special Topics page.
BSMS Graduate Courses (CSE M courses)
CSE M classes are typically jointly offered with CSE undergraduate courses. During the first week of class, a student enrolled in the undergraduate version of the class may switch to the CSE M version if they have instructor permission and space is available. If a CSE M course is not jointly offered with an undergraduate course, students can email vgrad-advisor@cs.washington.edu. There is often limited or no space for non-majors in CSE M courses. CSE undergraduates not (yet) admitted to BS/MS can similarly switch into CSE M courses the first week of class if space is available and they have instructor permission (or the instructor is ok with any student switching). CSE undergraduates that have been admitted to BS/MS may register at any time for CSE M classes while still an undergraduate, but need to email vgrad-advisor@cs.washington.edu to get registered.