Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Fairhaven is one of the seven colleges of Western Washington University. So Fairhaven students are also Western students and enjoy the same resources. Fairhaven students participate in Western residence life, campus services, and activities and clubs. Fairhaven students also have the opportunity to take classes throughout Western’s different academic departments. Fairhaven College provides students with unique opportunities within Western including a liberal arts education that emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, innovative learning, narrative evaluations and student involvement in developing their own plans of study.
To schedule a visit contact our Enrollment & Orientation Manager: Kate Di Nittto at 360-650-2123 or Fairhaven.Admissions@wwu.edu.
We recommend also scheduling a tour of Western Washington University’s beautiful campus. You can sign up for a WWU tour online.
Fairhaven students are part of a more intimate learning community dedicated to interdisciplinary studies. With about 400 students our seminar classes focus on discussions and typically have 15 to 20 students working with each other to make connections across academic disciplines and addressing the challenges in the world.
For Fairhaven students WWU’s General University Requirements (GURs) are replaced by Fairhaven’s Interdisciplinary Core Curriculum. Fairhaven’s Core Curriculum includes foundational interdisciplinary coursework with courses such as Science and Our Place on the Planet, Social Relationships and Responsibilities, and Critical and Reflective Inquiry. The Core Curriculum also includes process classes that guide students step by step through their academic career at Fairhaven. These courses are designed to support students to create a self-designed, individual degree plan.
For Fairhaven students narrative evaluations written by the student and the faculty member replace number and letter grading. The narrative evaluations, along with the letter grades received in Western classes, chart students’ growth and learning in the classes they take throughout their academics.
Practically anything! Fairhaven students have a lot of options and opportunities to decide how they want to shape their education. There is a wide variety of degrees that students have created. A common thread among our student’s interests is social justice.
Fairhaven College graduates have distinguished themselves in virtually all fields including business and industry, counseling, health, education, visual and performing arts, government, journalism, research, medicine, law, ministry, international and public relations, and more. Fairhaven alums start their own businesses, create new jobs within established organizations and work for non-profit agencies. Check out our alumni profiles.
Fairhaven graduates have been admitted to graduate and professional schools throughout the world. These institutions recognize that Fairhaven students have successfully taken responsibility for the content and direction of their education and are well prepared for graduate level study.
Fairhaven College Academics
Students who choose to design their own degree at Fairhaven College create an Interdisciplinary Concentration. While Fairhaven College students have the option of completing any of WWU’s majors, most choose to create an Interdisciplinary Concentration. The self-designed Concentration allows students to design a program of study that meets their academic and personal goals. Students receive support in planning their Concentrations by taking process classes that provide guidance throughout their academic career. Students also work with a faculty committee to identify the coursework needed to create a cohesive plan of study. Take a look at Degree Options at Fairhaven College.
The Law, Diversity & Justice Concentration is an interdisciplinary course of study for Fairhaven College students who are interested in law, diversity, and access to the legal system for under-served communities. The rigorous curriculum emphasizes a critical examination of how issues such as race, class, gender, sexual orientation and disability intersect with the legal system. The concentration builds the skills necessary for success after college: critical reading, writing, research, oral communication, and analytical ability.
Fairhaven College's unique core curriculum includes a series of courses designed to widen students' exposure to different areas of study and to make connections among disciplines using interdisciplinary theory and practice.
Yes. Every student in a Fairhaven College course completes a narrative self-evaluation and receives a written evaluation from the instructor in place of a letter grade. Read more about Narrative Evaluations here. Students still receive traditional letter grades in their coursework in other Western departments.
If you are coming in as a first-year student then you will have time to explore before settling on an area of focus. Fairhaven College students spend their first two years exploring and finding out what their interests are and where their strengths are. Transfer students should have a clear idea of what they are interested in studying. Students build strong relationships with their faculty which helps them through the process of figuring out how they want to design their studies.
Student Life
Yes, many Fairhaven students choose to study abroad during their time in school. Students can work with their advisor and Western’s International Programs and Exchanges office to find a program that works best for them. Students can also get credit for an independent study project that they work on abroad. There are many different opportunities for students.
Fairhaven also offers the Adventure Learning Grant which is a $25,000 stipend awarded annually to about 3 Fairhaven students so that they may travel abroad to enrich their education with intellectual risk, challenge, and adventure.
Fairhaven College students can choose to live in any of WWU’s residence halls. The Fairhaven Residence Hall Complex is a great option for Fairhaven students because they are within a minute or two walk to Fairhaven College. Within the Fairhaven Complex there is one building specifically geared towards Fairhaven College students, the Fairhaven College Cluster. This is a great choice for students who want to engage in a living-learning community with other Fairhaven College students. However, if students would like to live in one of the other residence halls on campus that is also available. Students wanting to live in the Fairhaven College Cluster must indicate that preference on their Housing Application.
Fairhaven students are attracted to the opportunity to structure their own education within a learning community. Fairhaven stresses independent thought, critical thinking, self-discipline, self-awareness, and social commitment. Students enjoy the advantage of personal contact with faculty in a stimulating small college atmosphere with access to the resources of a large university. About Us
Students at Fairhaven are well-known for their involvement in campus and community activities. Students have access to Western’s wide variety of activities such as 200+ clubs, WWU sports, live music performances, and recreational activities with the Outdoor Center. Bellingham offers an exciting community to be a part of with Mt. Baker, the Bellingham Bay and a vibrant downtown there’s always something fun to do!
Founded in 1972, the Outback Farm is a five acre student-run farm at the south end of Fairhaven College which teaches, develops and implements sustainable growing and land use methods in order to enrich the student body, the University, and the Bellingham community.
Fairhaven College students can choose to live in any of WWU’s residence halls. The nearby Fairhaven Residential Complex is a great option for Fairhaven College students because they are within a minute or two walk to Fairhaven College.
Applying to Fairhaven College
Fairhaven College admits students at all levels: directly from high school, Running Start students, transfer students from other colleges, and also students who are already enrolled at WWU. We admit students fall, winter and spring quarters. Because we are a small college, we often have selective admission.
Students must simultaneously apply to both Western Washington University and Fairhaven College. Kate Di Nittto: Enrollment & Orientation Manager will contact you to schedule an interview once your application is received. Take a look at our application requirements and deadlines on our Admissions page.
When a new student enters Fairhaven College we provide a credit evaluation which indicates those courses we accept that count toward graduation from Western, as well as those credits which waive Fairhaven College's Core requirements. See our Advising pages for more information.
Interviews are an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about Fairhaven College and to tell us about your interests. This is a good chance to expand on your goals and interests or share anything you think would be relevant or that you would like us to know. Interviews last approximately 30 minutes.
Fairhaven College accepts approximately 90 new students each Fall Quarter. We also accept 30-15 students in Winter, Spring & Summer Quarter. Our acceptance rate can vary significantly from quarter to quarter based on the number of applications we receive, however, over the last few years, our acceptance rate has varied between 60 and 90%.
Fairhaven College looks for students that are passionate about their interests and their education. We also look for students interested in pursuing a liberal arts education with a social justice emphasis, focused on small classes and interdisciplinary inquiry.