For information about the admission process, including deadlines, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Applications can be submitted via the Common Application.
Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
The George Washington University
800 21st St NW Suite 100
Washington, DC 20052
For questions visit undergraduate.admissions.gwu.edu/contact-us.
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.
The following curriculum requirements:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite courses: | ||
| ANTH 1001 | Biological Anthropology | |
| ANTH 1002 | Sociocultural Anthropology | |
| ANTH 1003 | Archaeology | |
| ANTH 1004 | Language in Culture and Society | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses in other areas: | ||
| Two-year proficiency in a single foreign language, as demonstrated by completion of four semesters of college-level language study or the equivalent | ||
| 6–12 credits of coursework in related departments approved by the advisor. Recommended for sociocultural emphasis are courses in economics, history, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology; for archaeological emphasis, courses in American studies, art history, geography, geological sciences, and history; for emphasis in biological anthropology, courses in anatomy, biological sciences, chemistry, and physical geography; for emphasis in linguistic anthropology, courses in linguistics and in speech and hearing science. Courses in statistics are strongly recommended for all anthropology majors | ||
| Requirements for the major: | ||
| In addition to the four prerequisite courses, 24–36 credits in anthropology courses, including: | ||
| ANTH 2008 | Foundations of Anthropological Thought | |
| At least one course from three of the following four categories: | ||
| Sociocultural anthropology (ANTH 2500s, 2700s, 3500s, and 3700s) | ||
| Linguistics (ANTH/LING 3600s) | ||
| Biological anthropology (ANTH 2400s and 3400s) | ||
| Archaeology (ANTH 2800s and 3800s) | ||
| An approved methods course in any category, including but not limited to the courses listed below. (Methods courses can be double-counted as courses in their subject categories.) | ||
| ANTH 3406 | Advanced Human Osteology | |
| ANTH 3531 | Methods in Sociocultural Anthropology | |
| ANTH 3602 | Ethnographic Analysis of Speech | |
| ANTH 3832 | Paleoanthropological Field Program | |
| ANTH 3833 | Field Research: New World | |
| ANTH 3834 | Field Research: Old World | |
| ANTH 3835 | Historical Archaeology Field Program | |
| ANTH 3839 | Lab Research Methods in Archaeology | |
| ANTH 6806 | Technology | |
| In addition, a senior capstone experience is required; it may be met by taking ANTH 4008, ANTH 3995 (for 3 credits), or an approved 6000-level course. Qualified seniors may enroll in graduate-level courses with the permission of the instructor. | ||
In addition to the University General Education Requirement, undergraduate students in Columbian College must complete a further, College-specific general education curriculum—Perspective, Analysis, Communication (G-PAC) as well as the course CCAS 1001 First-Year Experience. Together with the University General Education Requirement, G-PAC engages students in active intellectual inquiry across the liberal arts. Students achieve a set of learning outcomes that enhance their analytical skills, develop their communication competencies, and invite them to participate as responsible citizens who are attentive to issues of culture, diversity, and privilege.
Coursework for the University General Education Requirement is distributed as follows:
-
One course in critical thinking in the humanities.
-
Two courses in critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, or scientific reasoning in the social sciences.
-
One course that has an approved oral communication component.
- One course in quantitative reasoning (must be in mathematics or statistics).
- One course in scientific reasoning (must be in natural and/or physical laboratory sciences).
- UW 1020 University Writing (4 credits).
- After successful completion of UW 1020, 6 credits distributed over at least two writing in the discipline (WID) courses taken in separate semesters. WID courses are designated by a "W" appended to the course number.
Coursework for the CCAS G-PAC requirement is distributed as follows:
- Arts—one approved arts course that involves the study or creation of artwork based on an understanding or interpretation of artistic traditions or knowledge of art in a contemporary context.
- Global or cross-cultural perspective—one approved course that analyzes the ways in which institutions, practices, and problems transcend national and regional boundaries.
- Local or civic engagement—one approved course that develops the values, ethics, disciplines, and commitment to pursue responsible public action.
- Natural or physical science—one additional approved laboratory course that employs the process of scientific inquiry (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement).
- Humanities—one additional approved humanities course that involves critical thinking skills (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement).
- CCAS 1001 First-Year Experience
Certain courses are approved to fulfill GPAC requirements in more than one category.
Courses taken in fulfillment of G-PAC requirements may also be counted toward majors or minors. Transfer courses taken prior to, but not after, admission to George Washington University may count toward the University General Education Requirement and G-PAC, if those transfer courses are equivalent to GW courses that have been approved by the University and the College.
Lists of approved courses in the above categories are included on each undergraduate major's page in this Bulletin.
In addition to the general requirements stated under University Regulations, in order to be considered for graduation with Special Honors in anthropology, archaeology, or biological anthropology, students must have a grade-point average of 3.5 or better in courses required for the major, register for 3 credits of ANTH 3995 Undergraduate Research, and write a paper of special distinction arising out of a program of directed reading or research. Students must confer with an advisor before beginning the work.