Undergraduate Admissions

Admissions

Rob Findtner, Director
wou.edu/admission/
503-838-8211 (TTY)
Toll free: 877-877-1593, ext. 1

To attend classes at WOU, students must apply for and receive formal admission. WOU’s admission process reflects the institution’s strong commitment to providing an excellent student-centered education.

Freshmen Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission and to be admitted to freshman standing, students need to fulfill each of the following requirements:

1. Graduate from an accredited high school.
2. Have at least a 3.00 cumulative high school grade-point average.
3. Applicants with a cumulative grade-point average below 3.00 are also required to provide a letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher who can objectively evaluate their academic preparation and future success at WOU. Applicants have the option to provide a personal statement addressing their academic deficiencies and the specific steps they are pursuing to meet WOU’s admission requirements in lieu of a letter of recommendation. 
4. Submission of ACT or SAT scores is optional for freshman applicants. Freshman applicants who do not meet the 3.00 grade-point average are encouraged, but not required, to submit ACT or SAT scores.
5. Satisfactorily complete, with a grade of C- or better, 15 subject requirements: (four in English, three in math culminating in algebra II or higher, three in science, three in social science and two in second language (two years of the same second language required).

Advanced Placement

Students who receive qualifying scores in College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams may, upon admission to WOU, be granted credit and/or advanced placement in courses counting toward a bachelor’s degree. The amount of credit allowed can be determined by viewing the WOU AP table. Copies of test scores taken through the high school should be sent to the Office of the Registrar at WOU. Upon WOU’s receipt of the scores and enrollment of the student, the appropriate units will be credited toward the total hours required for graduation.

AP credit will be withdrawn if work later is duplicated in a college-level course. No letter grades (A, B, C, D) will be assigned to AP scores. WOU will allow credit and placement of exam scores of 3, 4 and 5. The amount of credit will vary from subject to subject.

Application Procedures

Freshmen are encouraged to apply beginning their senior year of high school to receive priority consideration for WOU scholarships. The application procedure for entering freshmen (students with no preparation beyond high school) consists of the following steps:

1. Complete and return an application for admission and the required $60 non-refundable application fee, WOU Request for Deferral of Application Fee Form, College Board Application Fee Waiver or NACAC Request for Application Fee Waiver. Students can apply for admission online at wou.edu/admission/.
2. Have an official high school transcript sent to Admissions documenting all coursework completed to date. 
3. Applicants with a cumulative grade-point average below 3.00 are required to provide a letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher who can objectively evaluate their academic preparation and future success at WOU. Applicants have the option to provide a personal statement addressing their academic deficiencies and the specific steps they are pursuing to meet WOU’s admission requirements in lieu of a letter of recommendation.
4. Submission of ACT or SAT scores is optional for freshman applicants. Freshman applicants who do not meet the 3.00 grade-point average are encouraged, but not required, to submit ACT or SAT scores.
5. Upon graduation, submit a final official transcript documenting all high school coursework and date of graduation. Freshmen earning college credit are required to submit an official transcript from each college or university attended.

First-year students who attend WOU within one year of their high school graduation are required to live on campus (see University Housing policy). Admissions reserves the right to rescind the admission of any student who fails to meet the conditions of his or her admission to WOU.

Comprehensive Admission Review

WOU conducts comprehensive reviews of applicants who do not meet the minimum admission requirements. Reviews include additional factors such as standardized test scores, rigor of courses taken, a personal statement, letters of recommendation from educators, noncognitive factors and other indicators that predict success in college.  Academic performance is not the sole criterion for admission to WOU.

WOU may evaluate a person’s behavior and background to determine their ability to maintain the standards of academic and professional conduct expected at the university. An evaluation may take into consideration current behavior and performance as well as past experiences and actions. For information, go to wou.edu/admission/.

General Educational Development (GED)

For information, go online to wou.edu/admission/.

International Baccalaureate

WOU recognizes and awards International Baccalaureate (IB) achievement by awarding credit to students who score 4 or above on higher-level IB exams. Students completing the full IB Diploma with a score of 30 or higher receive the following:

• Guaranteed admission to WOU.
• Sophomore standing. Students with a full IB Diploma and a score of 30 or higher will be granted sophomore standing.
• Honors Program. The WOU Honors Program will automatically accept students with a full IB Diploma.

Second Language Requirement

WOU requires two years of the same high school-level second language with a grade of C- or above or acceptable performance on proficiency-assessment options. The second language requirement applies to students graduating from high school or earning their GED in 1997 and thereafter.

Unaccredited High Schools or Home-Schooled Students

For information, visit our website at wou.edu/admission/.

When to Apply

High school students can apply for admission after completion of their junior year. Applications will be accepted through the end of the first week of classes. Students who wish to apply for financial aid, scholarships or university housing are advised to consult Admissions regarding deadlines.

International Student Admissions

International Education and Development
wou.edu/international/
503-838-8425
 

WOU offers full admission and conditional admission to eligible international students. International students must complete all of the following in order to be considered for admission.

1. Complete and return the application form along with the application fee of U.S. $50. The application is available online at wou.edu/international/. You may submit this electronic application and then mail original documents to the International Education and Development office to complete your application file. You are advised to send the non-refundable fee in the form of an international money order or check in U.S. dollars. Prospective applicants may request an application form at wou.edu/international/.
2. Submit official transcripts or exit exam results of previous school work including secondary and middle schools, other colleges and universities and professional schools. Original documents are preferred, but certified copies are acceptable. Certified copies of exact English translations of these records are required.
3. Provide proof of proficiency in the English language unless native language is English. Prospective students must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 500 (paper-based), 61 (Internet-based); or an IELTS score of 5.0 for undergraduate admission. Graduate admission requires a TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 79 (Internet-based); or an IELTS score of 6.0. Students who are citizens of or who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher from a university in the following countries are exempt from the English proficiency requirement: Australia, the British Caribbean and British West Indies (Bahamas, Jamaica, etc.), Canada (except Quebec), Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States.
4. Submit personal or parents’ bank statement showing a balance of at least $33,000. Also complete a Financial Affidavit Form. The current tuition at Western Oregon University is approximately $17,200 per academic year. The tuition amount is subject to change at the beginning of each academic year.

College Level Equivalency (CLEP) Scoring Table

General Certificate of Education (GCE) Examinations

Transfer Students

Admission Requirements

1. Students with 36 or more transferable, college-level quarter hour credits (24 semester hours) must have a cumulative 2.25 grade point average or higher in all college-level work attempted and be in good academic standing, disciplinary/student conduct and financial standing at all prior institutions attended.
2. Students with fewer than 36 transferable, college-level quarter hours are required to provide an official high school transcript or GED scores and must meet freshman admission requirements.
3. Transfer applicants who obtain an Oregon Transfer Module (OTM) or an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree (AAOT) from an Oregon community college are admissible with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00.

A transfer student who does not meet the regular admission requirements may be considered for admission by the Comprehensive Admission Review Committee. Refer to section on comprehensive admission review or contact Admissions.

Application Procedures

1. Complete and return an application for admissions and the required $60 non-refundable application fee or WOU Request for Deferral of Application Fee form.
2. Have an official, complete transcript sent from each college or university attended. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to Admissions from the issuing institution. Unofficial or student copies are not acceptable. Omitting an institutional record from your application may result in disciplinary action. The director of admissions reserves the right to rescind the admission of any student who falsifies information on their application for admission.

Admissions reserves the right to rescind the admission of any student who fails to meet the conditions of his or her admission to WOU.

Credit from Accredited Institutions

Acceptable records from accredited post-secondary institutions are evaluated by Admissions to determine the student’s eligibility for admission to WOU. The amount of credit granted depends on the nature and quality of the applicant’s previous work. A student’s grade-point average will be computed on the transfer credits attempted and will be used as the basis for admission. WOU does not recognize other institutions’ academic forgiveness policies.

Credit from Two-year Institutions

WOU accepts all college-level transfer work completed up to 124 hours. A maximum of 24 quarter hours of vocational-technical coursework applicable in an associate degree or a certificate program at an accredited institution may be accepted as elective credit toward part of the 124 hours.

Credit from Unaccredited Institutions

No advanced standing is granted at entrance for work at unaccredited institutions. After completing a successful year at WOU, work earned at unaccredited institutions may be reviewed to determine what work, if any, will be allowed for credit by petition through the Office of the Registrar. Students with coursework from unaccredited institutions must meet freshman admission requirements if they do not have at least 36 college-level credits from any accredited institutions.

Degree Partnership Program (DPP)

Dual Enrollment Partnerships at Designated Community Colleges

• Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR
• Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
• Linn-Benton Community College, Albany, OR
• Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR

Interstate Passport

Western Oregon University is an Interstate Passport network member. Upon completion of university identified passport requirements, the university records completion of the Passport on the student record.

The Interstate Passport enables successful transfer of a block of lower-level general education learning to other institutions participating in the Interstate Passport Network. Students who complete their Passport at Western Oregon University will not be required to repeat or take additional course work to meet general education requirements in the Passport’s nine areas when they transfer to any other Passport institution. Students with an interest in achieving the Passport should contact Dr. Kristin Mauro at maurok@wou.edu.

Oregon Transfer Agreements

Transfer students entering WOU who have earned either an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree (AAOT) from an Oregon community college under the May 1988 transfer agreement or an Associate of Science in Business degree (ASOTB) from an Oregon community college under the April 2003 transfer agreement will be considered as having met WOU’s General Education requirements. For purposes of course registration only, students holding an AAOT or ASOTB will be considered to have junior standing.

Students who have earned the Oregon Transfer Module (OTM) will meet all WOU General Education requirements with the exception of Integrating Knowledge (2 courses, 6-8 credits).

A notation verifying that the associates degree meets the Oregon Transfer Degree requirements or Oregon Transfer Module requirements must be included on the student’s official transcript.

Other Transfer Agreements

WOU has approved major-specific articulation agreements with Oregon community colleges. In addition, WOU has Transfer Admission Guarantees (TAGs) with many California community colleges.  WOU also has a TAG agreement with Chemeketa Community College.

Transfer Degrees from Other States

Students from designated states who have earned specific transfer degrees will be considered as having met WOU’s General Education requirements. The transfer degrees are as follows:

• California: Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) and California State University General Education (CSU GE)
• Florida: General Education Associate of Arts from Florida State College Jacksonville, Hillsborough Community College and St. Petersburg College 
• Hawaii: Articulated Associates of Arts from University of Hawaii
• Idaho: Associate of Science from Idaho State University
• Washington: Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA)

Students with AA degrees not listed here may petition the General Education Committee to have their degree reviewed to determine completion of General Education requirements.  To submit a petition, go online to wou.edu/gened/petitions-form.

Transfer Policies

1. Only courses with a letter prefix and numbered 100-level or above may be used to meet General Education requirements, graduation requirements, major or minor requirements. Grading must be on an A-F basis as opposed to pass/no credit or satisfactory/no credit basis (with the exception of PE activity courses).
2. Students who have earned an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science in Business Oregon Transfer degree from an Oregon community college will be considered to have met WOU’s General Education requirements. The requirements of the Oregon Transfer degree are spelled out in the May 10, 1988 and April 18, 2003, transfer agreements. All students satisfying these requirements will have “Oregon Transfer” marked on their transcripts by the community college awarding the degree.
3. Students who have earned the California Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum, California State University Transfer Degree, Hawaii Articulated Associate of Arts degree or Washington Direct Transfer Degree will be considered to have met WOU’s General Education requirements.
4. The lower-division general education requirements included with the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree are 55 to 63 quarter credit hours. The lower-division general education requirements included with the Associate of Science in Business Oregon Transfer Degree are 62 to 65 quarter credit hours. These credit hours will be directly applied toward satisfying the General Education requirements. The remaining credit hours included within the degrees will be applied toward the satisfaction of basic graduation requirements, lower-division major, minor or elective requirements as noted in this catalog or in consultation with the appropriate division chair.
5. Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams with sufficiently high scores do satisfy specific General Education requirements. Contact the Office of the Registrar for more information.
6. These policies do not preclude case-by-case negotiation with appropriate division chairs, or in the case of General Education requirements, the General Education director. For example, although WOU does not offer journalism courses, a journalism course at another institution might count toward a writing (or other) major if the Humanities Division chair is convinced of sufficient overlap in course content and skill level.
7. Students who have completed a baccalaureate degree and are pursuing a second baccalaureate degree from WOU will be considered to have met WOU’s General Education requirements.

8. Students completing the Oregon Transfer Compass Core Transfer map will fulfill their Foundations: WR 121 , Foundations Mathematics, and Exploring Knowledge requirements for General Education.

9. Students transferring in with 30 or more credits of college-level coursework (not including Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate) will have their First Year Seminar requirement waived.

10. A course that is transferred in and articulates as a course in the WOU General Education program will meet the same General Education requirement as that course. Students may petition the General Education program to allow transfer courses that do not articulate as WOU courses to meet General Education requirements.  To submit a petition, go online to wou.edu/gened/petitions-form.

11. Students entering WOU who are lacking a single course needed to complete an approved Transfer Degree may petition the General Education committee to complete the transfer degree at WOU by taking an equivalent course or an Integrating Knowledge course. Students with more than one course remaining in a transfer degree are not eligible to request this exception.

12. Students entering WOU who are lacking a single requirement (more than one course) to complete an approved Transfer Degree may petition the General Education committee to complete the transfer degree at WOU by taking an equivalent course and an Integrating Knowledge course or both Integrating Knowledge courses. Students with more than one requirement remaining in a transfer degree are not eligible to request this exception.