Admission deadlines: Fall – December 1
Standardized test scores: The GRE general exam is not required.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the PTE Academic is required of all applicants except those who hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university in the United States or from an institution located in a country in which English is the official language, provided English was the language of instruction.
Minimum scores for the program are:
- Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 7.0 with no individual score below 6.0; or
- TOEFL: 600 on paper-based or 100 on Internet-based; or
- PTE Academic: 68;
Recommendations required: Three (3) recommendations
Prior academic records: Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission.If transcripts are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translation alone should be uploaded into your application.
Prerequisite requirements: A bachelor's degree in biological sciences, chemistry, or a related field.
Statement of purpose: In an essay of 250 – 500 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study in your chosen field. Include your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans. Also discuss your related qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application.
Interview: An interview is required.
Additional requirements: A Curriculum Vitae is required.
International applicants only: Please follow this link - https://columbian.gwu.edu/international-graduate-applicants - to review the International Applicant Information carefully for details on required documents and English language requirements.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Studies
The George Washington University
801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 107
Washington DC 20052

For additional information about the admissions process visit the Columbian College  of Arts and Sciences Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact:

askccas@gwu.edu
202-994-6210 (phone)

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.

The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Program.

72 credits, including required core, dissertation, and elective coursework. Successful completion of a grant-style qualifier examination is required for advancement to candidacy. In addition, students perform full-time research in faculty laboratories for the duration of their program.

Students are advised to complete 45 credits in the first two years of PhD study comprising required interdisciplinary core courses, required cancer biology core courses, electives, and advanced readings and research. Upon successful completion of the grant-style qualifier, students register for up to 27 credits of dissertation research through completion and successful oral defense of a written dissertation.

Required interdisciplinary core *
BMSC 8210Genes to Cells
BMSC 8212Systems Physiology
BMSC 8215Lab Rotations (taken three times for a total of 6 credits)
BMSC 8216Scientific Writing, Presentation Skills, and Seminar Planning
BMSC 8217Ethics and Grant Writing
BMSC 8218Career Options in the Biomedical Sciences
BMSC 8230Molecular Basis of Human Disease
BMSC 8235Applied Biostatistics for Basic Research
Required cancer biology core *
CANC 8214Cancer Biology Seminar (Taken two times for a total of two credits)
CANC 8221The Basic Science of Oncology
CANC 8222Molecular Oncology and Cancer Epigenetics
CANC 8223Immunology and Immunotherapy of Cancer
Electives
14 credits elective courses selected in consultation with graduate program advisor.
ANAT 6130Clinically Oriented Human Embryology
ANAT 6150Clinically Oriented Human Microscopic Anatomy
ANAT 6160Human Clinical Neuroanatomy
ANAT 6182Fundamentals of Translational Science
ANAT 6275Advanced Studies in Translational Sciences
ANAT 6292Projects in Anatomical Sciences
BIOC 6240Next Generation Sequencing
BIOC 6242Bioscience Big Data Statistics
BIOC 6281Topics
BIOC 8225Metabolism
BIOC 8232Molecular and Cellular Signaling
BMSC 8219Writing the Grant-Style Qualifier
BMSC 8220IBS Research Practicum
CANC 8998Advanced Reading and Research
GENO 6223Bioinformatics
GENO 6236Medical Genomics
GENO 6237Proteomics and Biomarkers
GENO 8231Introduction to Genomics, Proteomics, and Bioinformatics
GENO 8232Computational Biology and Bioinformatics: Principles and Practices
MICR 6292Tropical Infectious Diseases
MICR 8210Infection and Immunity
MICR 8230Molecular and Cellular Immunology
MICR 8270Advanced Topics in Immunology
MICR 8271HIV Persistence, Comorbidities, and Treatment
NRSC 8284Foundations of Experimental Neuroscience I
NRSC 8285Foundations of Experimental Neuroscience II
PHAR 6116Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine
PHAR 6205Pharmacology
PHAR 6206Advanced Pharmacology
PHAR 6322Advanced Professional and Communication Skills
PHAR 8211Physiology
PHAR 8281Molecular Pharmacology and Neurobiology of Excitable Tissues
PUBH 6276Public Health Microbiology
PUBH 6278Public Health Virology
PUBH 6861Public Health Genomics
Dissertation research
CANC 8999Dissertation Research (taken for 6 to 27 credits)
*Required courses may be waived at the discretion of the graduate program director based on written documentation of prior equivalent coursework. Any waiver increases the number of elective courses required by the number of credits waived.