Message from the Dean

Welcome to the College of the Sciences (COTS) at Central Washington University!

Julie Baldwin, Dean, College of the Sciences Whether you’re a prospective student, a proud alum, or a friend of the college, we’re excited you’re here. You’re joining a vibrant academic community dedicated to advancing knowledge and tackling real-world challenges across the natural, behavioral, computational, and social sciences.

With this broad spectrum of disciplines across the sciences, COTS offers students the opportunity to think critically, communicate clearly, and tackle complex questions about the natural world, human behavior, and the application of knowledge in service to communities.

At CWU, we emphasize learning by doing. Students benefit from small class sizes, close faculty mentorship, and hands-on experiences in labs, fieldwork, and applied research. No matter your area of study, your education will be immersive, practical, and shaped by real-world inquiry. These experiences prepare our graduates for meaningful careers in public service, private industry, education, nonprofit leadership, and beyond. We are proud of the many ways our alumni are making a difference.

With locations across Washington - from our main campus in Ellensburg to university centers in Des Moines, Lynnwood, Pierce, Wenatchee, and Yakima - we are deeply connected to the communities we serve. Wherever you join us, you’ll find passionate educators, accomplished researchers, and a culture that values curiosity, collaboration, and student success.

We offer robust advising support services to help COTS students define who they want to become and map their trajectory through their major or minor. We are here to support your goals from day one.

I invite you to explore our departments and programs as you browse our website. We’d love to hear from you, and we hope to welcome you to CWU soon. We look forward to sharing in your academic journey!

Julie Baldwin
Dean, College of the Sciences
Central Washington University