OpenFieldEastern Washington University (EWU) is a regional comprehensive public university in Cheney and Spokane, WA, renowned for its Catalyst high-tech building in Spokane, computer science and cybersecurity, freshwater fisheries ecology, and urban planning.
Founded in 1882, EWU operates its historical residential campus in Cheney and the high-tech Catalyst Building in Spokane's University District (the region's first zero-energy, zero-carbon commercial office building). The university excels in STEM through the College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, featuring close research alignments with Amazon, Avista, F5 Networks, and regional water protection agencies.
Undergraduate admissions evaluate high school GPA (minimum 2.5; 3.0+ for guaranteed admission). EWU is completely test-blind/test-optional. Graduate admissions require an accredited bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0, prerequisites in the discipline, personal statement, and recommendation letters. International applicants must provide TOEFL iBT 71 or IELTS 6.0.
Based inside the Spokane Catalyst tech hub, this graduate degree focuses on distributed cloud architecture, network security, algorithm engineering, and enterprise software systems.
Field-intensive research master's investigating salmonid physiology, Columbia River basin aquatic ecosystems, freshwater macroinvertebrates, and riparian habitat restoration.
ABET-accredited engineering major covering finite element analysis, wind turbine design, aerospace structures, thermal fluids, and automated manufacturing robotics.
PAB-accredited professional master's degree preparing leaders in sustainable land use, GIS urban mapping, climate resilience planning, and transit-oriented neighborhood development.
Designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense program situated in Spokane, emphasizing offensive pen testing, defensive network operations, and industrial SCADA security.
Advanced healthcare program preparing licensed dental hygienists for academic faculty positions, public health epidemiology, and clinical dental clinic administration.
Merit scholarship honoring high-achieving freshmen declaring majors in computer science, engineering, biological sciences, or mathematics.
Corporate and state partnership fellowship supporting graduate scholars working on smart electrical grids, IoT building automation, and real-time power analytics with Avista Utilities.
Associate Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Center for Network Computing and Cybersecurity · Department of Computer Science & Electrical Engineering
Prof. Steiner leads cybersecurity research at the Catalyst building, training regional cyber defense teams and evaluating vulnerability vectors in electrical grid industrial controllers.
View research profile ↗Professor of Biology and Freshwater Ecology · Department of Biology
Prof. Spruell conducts conservation genetics studies on native bull trout and redband trout, using environmental DNA (eDNA) to track aquatic species distribution throughout the Inland Northwest.
View research profile ↗Professor of Urban and Regional Planning · Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Prof. Brooks specializes in spatial modeling of urban-rural interface dynamics, transportation impact assessments, and regional planning decision systems.
View research profile ↗Professor of Mechanical Engineering · Department of Mechanical Engineering & Technology
Prof. Weiser researches high-performance structural materials, studying microscopic fracture mechanics and cyclic fatigue in titanium surgical implants.
View research profile ↗University profile compiled from official Eastern Washington University academic bulletins and institutional directories reviewed on 2026-10-15. OpenField is an independent research guide.