Why SAFS?

The School of Aquatic and Fisheries Science offers a distinguished Major in a productive, enjoyable, and highly collaborative environment.

Our students graduate with a clear awareness of themselves as professionals and with a solid foundation for their future careers. Explore the strengths of our program, and become a part of our thriving community.

Photo inset:  Jen Nomura

Students in SAFS get individual attention they deserve, while the University of Washington offers the outstanding resources and strengths of a large university.

The School's size and high ratio of faculty to students fosters the free exchange of information and active learning, and provides ready access to research experience. The UW has a worldwide reputation for excellence in education and research.

SAFS has ranked top of our field in a large number of surveys.

Our students are exposed to innovation and leadership, preparing them well for future challenges and issues.

Our faculty represents a broad diversity of academic disciplines because we are dedicated to excellence in our field.

Our degree offering is the most comprehensive in the Aquatic Sciences, leading to a thorough education relevant to our field and beyond.

SAFS faculty members have received a large number of teaching and professional awards.

Our distinguished faculty are deeply interested and actively engaged in innovative teaching approaches in topical subjects.

Our research and teaching are connected to local and international issues.

Our students are exposed to ongoing challenges and are equipped with the skills necessary to meet these issues.

Our degree program places a large emphasis on experiential learning.

Our classes incorporate active investigations and all students graduate with individually mentored research projects.

Undergraduate students gain key skills at our research and field facilities.

Experiences vary from research in our well-equipped faculty laboratories to full immersion at our field camps.