Western Washington University

Western Washington University (WWU) is a public university in Bellingham, Washington. The northernmost university in the contiguous United States, WWU was founded in 1893 as the state-funded New Whatcom Normal School, succeeding a private school of teaching for women founded in 1886. In 1977, the university adopted its present name.

WWU offers a variety of bachelor's and master's degrees. In 2019, there were 16,142 students, 15,240 of whom were undergraduate students, and 664 full time faculties. Its athletic teams are known as the Vikings, which compete in division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The main campus is located on 215 acres in Bellingham, Washington. Branch campuses are located in Anacortes and Lakewood, Washington.

Faculties

• Accounting
• Economics
• Finance and Marketing
• Management
• Supply Chain Management

• Dance
• Design
• Music
• Theatre Arts
• Visual Arts

• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Anthropology
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Community Health
• Physical Education, Health and Recreation
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Humanities
• Communication
• English
• History
• Journalism
• Liberal Studies
• Linguistics
• Modern and Classical Languages
• Philosophy

• Advanced Materials Science and Engineering
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Engineering and Design
• Geology
• Mathematics
• Physics and Astronomy
• Science, Math and Technology Education

• American Cultural Studies
• Law, Diversity and Justice

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Studies

• Educational Leadership
• Elementary and Secondary Education
• Human Services and Rehabilitation

Accreditation and Rankings

The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; National Association of Schools of Music; National Recreation and Parks Association; American Speech and Hearing Association; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education; Computing Sciences Accreditation Board; Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology; American Chemical Society; Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

In 2013, US News ranked Western Washington University as the top public master's granting university in the Pacific Northwest, while placing 21st overall in the West (both public and private). Western was one of only two public schools ranked among the top 25 Master's-Granting Universities (West) category. It has a 72% acceptance rate.

Western Washington University ranked first among the top medium-sized colleges and universities with alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers in 2013 and 2014.

Athletics

WWU is an official member of NCAA Division II, having joined in September 1998. In 2011–12, approximately 350 students are participating in 15 varsity sports at Western, six for men and nine for women.

In addition to its varsity sports programs, WWU also has a number of student-run club sports teams:

• Baseball
• Climbing
• Cycling
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Figure Skating
• Golf
• Hockey
• Judo
• Rugby
• Sailing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Water Polo
• Water Skiing
• Wrestling