Undergraduate Foundation
We designed our Undergraduate Foundation program (UF) to help international students through their first year of study at WSU. The Foundation program can be 1 to 2 semesters long and provide you with additional support to successfully complete your degree!
About the program
We combine credit-bearing English language and other coursework toward your degree in a safe, student-friendly environment. You will :
- Receive a degree-seeking I-20 because all of your classes are credit bearing and count toward your degree
- Be pre-enrolled in credit-bearing classes before you even get on the plane to the U.S., decreasing your time to degree program completion
- Get personalized support from your academic advisor and the Language Learning Resource Center
- Receive more faculty attention in small classes with support for English and academic skills, and navigating the U.S. university environment effectively
- Be assigned a peer mentor to help you make friends, build community, and adjust to WSU
Dates
You can start the Undergraduate Foundation program and continue through fall, spring, and summer semesters. Summers are included in the 2-semester track. With the exception of Math 100, all courses in the program count toward your degree!
Summer 2023 | May 8-July 28
Fall 2023 | Aug. 21-Dec. 15*
Spring 2024 | Jan. 8-May 3**
Summer 2024 | May 6-June 28
Fall 2024 | Aug. 9-Dec. 13***
*Thanksgiving break Nov. 20-24
**Spring break March 11-15
***Thanksgiving break Nov. 25-29
Program information
Admission requirements
Students wanting to enroll through the Undergraduate Foundation program need:
- A completed WSU application
- A U.S. equivalent of C+ grade or higher in secondary education
- Minimum 2.0 grade point average on a 4.00 scale
- Secondary/high school transcripts
- Passport
Program placement
Whether you complete 1 or 2 semesters of the Undergraduate Foundation program depends on your English proficiency scores.
Tests: Duolingo; IELA: International English Language Test Assessment; IELTS: International English Language Testing System; ITEP: International Test of English Proficiency; MELAB: Michigan English Language Assessment Battery; MET: Michigan English Test; Password; PTEA: Pearson Test of English Academic; TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
| Program: | Traditional Admission | 1 Semester Foundation | 1 Year Foundation |
| TOEFL iBT | 75 | 70 | 60 |
| TOEFL Essentials | 8 | ||
| TOEFL PBT | 540 | ||
| IELTS | 6.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency | 176 | 170 | 165 |
| Duolingo | 105 | 95 | 90 |
| MET | 52 | 49 | 46 |
| PTEA | 56 | 47 | 44 |
| IELA | - | 180 | 162 |
| ITEP | 4.5 | 4 | 3.5 |
| Password | - | Level 6 | Level 5 |
Please have Duolingo, TOEFL, and IELTS scores sent directly from the testing agency.
Duolingo
For Duolingo tests, you will have to select Washington State University as your school of choice.
- Log in to englishtest.duolingo.com with the email address you used to take the test.
- Scroll down to your certified test results and click the “SEND RESULTS” button at the top next to “print results”.
- Select whether you are applying to a university, a secondary school, or another type of institution.
- Start typing the name of an institution to search for it and select your choices using the checkbox.
- If your institution uses an Application ID, do not forget to add it!
- Press “Send.”
TOEFL
Your test fee includes up to 4 free official TOEFL score reports to be sent to the institutions, agencies, or other recipients that you select before you take the test. You can add or delete recipients through your ETS account until 10 p.m. (local test center time) on the day before your test.
- Log in to your TOEFL iBT account
- On the home page, select “Order Score Reports.” (You will need to register for a test date before you can do this step.)
- For Product Type, click “TOEFL Services” then click “Continue.”
- Select the test date you want to send the scores of and click “Continue.”
- Search for Washington State University and select it.
IELTS
If you took your IELTS exam in a test center, you could request to send IELTS results to up to 5 organizations. We would prefer that you send the results to us electronically. Make this request with your test center.
Online test takers can send their results to as many institutions as they need.
Here is the information you will need for the request:
Name of department: International Undergraduate Admissions
Name of Institution: Washington State University
Email: international@wsu.edu
Address:
Office of International Programs International Undergraduate
PO Box 645115 Pullman, WA 99164-5115
USA
Degree options
To earn a degree at WSU, students need to complete 120-123 credits. For the 1-semester and 2-semester Foundation tracks, you will take 4-5 courses (12 credits) that count toward your degree requirements each semester. Once you are finished with your Foundation track, you will work with an advisor to choose your courses for your major.
Here are sample study plans, majors, minors, and career options per degree:
There is, literally, a world of academic opportunities and career paths in the wide area of agricultural science. You can choose from majors in a wide variety of agriculture-related areas at WSU: agricultural business and economics; agricultural production; plant, crop, or soil science; biotechnology; organic and sustainable agriculture; and more.
1-semester UF track: sample study plan (12 credits)
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| MUSIC 103 | World Music | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
2-semester UF track: sample study plan (25 credits)
Semester 1
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| MUSIC 103 | World Music | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
Semester 2
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 110 | Developing Academic Strategies for Reading & Writing (English) | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 | The Roots of Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| COM 102 | Public Speaking in the Digital Age | 3 |
Make your imagination manifest. Whether you are an aspiring architect, fashion designer, landscape architect, interior designer, or artist, at Washington State University you will gain the technical skills, the experience, and the courage to make your personal vision come to life.
1-semester UF track: sample study plan (12 credits)
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| SDC ___ | Selected Design & Construction courses | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
2-semester UF track: sample study plan (25 credits)
Semester 1
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| SDC ___ | Selected Design & Construction courses | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
Semester 2
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 110 | Developing Academic Strategies for Reading & Writing (English) | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 | The Roots of Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| SDC ___ | Selected Design & Construction courses | 3 |
| FINE_ART 101 | Introduction to Art | 3 |
The Washington State University Carson College of Business offers programs that are accredited by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which is the premiere accrediting organization for business schools worldwide. AACSB-accredited programs meet the highest standards in business education.
1-semester UF track: sample study plan (12 credits)
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Mathematics for Business & Economics | 3 |
| COM 102 | Public Speaking in the Digital Age | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
2-semester UF track: sample study plan (25 credits)
Semester 1
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Mathematics for Business & Economics | 3 |
| COM 102 | Public Speaking in the Digital Age | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
Semester 2
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 110 | Developing Academic Strategies for Reading & Writing (English) | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 | The Roots of Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| B_A 100 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
In this age of complex, global communication, people who can present ideas and information accurately, dynamically, and persuasively are transforming the world. WSU is a leader in communication education, offering several fields of study designed to help you succeed in the ever-expanding world of communication.
1-semester UF track: sample study plan (12 credits)
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| MUSIC 103 | World Music | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
2-semester UF track: sample study plan (25 credits)
Semester 1
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| MUSIC 103 | World Music | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
Semester 2
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 110 | Developing Academic Strategies for Reading & Writing (English) | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 | The Roots of Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| COM 102 | Public Speaking in the Digital Age | 3 |
The engineering and computer science programs at WSU balance classroom learning with real-world practice. You’ll study scientific and mathematical principles, and then creatively apply them in finding solutions to society’s needs in energy, transportation, the environment, and health. Students work in teams to gain hands-on understanding of essential concepts with the mentorship of world-class faculty.
1-semester UF track: sample study plan (12 credits)
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| MUSIC 103 | World Music | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
2-semester UF track: sample study plan (25 credits)
Semester 1
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| MUSIC 103 | World Music | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
Semester 2
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 110 | Developing Academic Strategies for Reading & Writing (English) | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 | The Roots of Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| COM 102 | Public Speaking in the Digital Age | 3 |
The university’s academic programs in the physical sciences give you excellent student-to-teacher ratios and options for research experience with guidance from internationally respected scholars. The university’s programs in mathematics not only give you a solid foundation in the study of logical structures, they help you apply your knowledge to research that addresses real-world problems.
These programs build a strong foundation for career success in industry, consulting, and high-demand areas of high school teaching, as well as for later achievement in graduate and professional schools.
1-semester UF track: sample study plan (12 credits)
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| MUSIC 103 | World Music | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
2-semester UF track: sample study plan (25 credits)
Semester 1
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| MUSIC 103 | World Music | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
Semester 2
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 110 | Developing Academic Strategies for Reading & Writing (English) | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 | The Roots of Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| COM 102 | Public Speaking in the Digital Age | 3 |
The social sciences apply scientific principles to the exploration of human history and society. At WSU, the study of social sciences emphasizes integrated thinking and learning, encouraging students to investigate ideas beyond traditional approaches to social issues. You can join interdisciplinary programs or create your own interdisciplinary approach by combining majors and minors in areas that interest you.
1-semester UF track: sample study plan (12 credits)
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| MUSIC 103 | World Music | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
2-semester UF track: sample study plan (25 credits)
Semester 1
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 111 | Developing Academic Strategies for Listening & Discussion (English) | 4 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| MUSIC 103 | World Music | 3 |
| UNIV 104 | First-Year Success Seminar | 2 |
Semester 2
| Course | Credits | |
| UNIV 110 | Developing Academic Strategies for Reading & Writing (English) | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 | The Roots of Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| MATH ___ | Selected Math courses | 3 |
| COM 102 | Public Speaking in the Digital Age | 3 |