For more information on the admission process, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Applications may 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 Street NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20052
Contact for questions:
gwadm@gwu.edu or 202-994-6040
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.
78 credits in program-specific courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| 12 credits in foundational courses | ||
| CFN 1090 | First-Year Studio 1: Drawing and Surface | |
| CFN 1091 | First-Year Studio 2: Form and Materials | |
| CFN 1092 | First Year Studio 3: Time and Light | |
| CFN 1093 | First-Year Studio 4: Interaction | |
| 12 credits in fine art studio courses | ||
| CSA 1090 | Fine Art Fundamentals I | |
| CSA 1091 | Fine Art Fundamentals II | |
| CSA 2092 | Fine Art Studio Experimental Materiality | |
| CSA 3092 | Fine Art Studio Critical Practices in Making | |
| 9 credits in introductory studio electives, selected from the following: | ||
| CSA 1101 | Introduction to Handbuilt Ceramics | |
| CSA 1102 | Introduction to Wheelthrown Ceramics | |
| CSA 1501 | Black and White Photography Fundamentals | |
| CSA 1502 | Introduction to Digital Color Photography | |
| CSA 1502 | Introduction to Digital Color Photography | |
| CSA 1702 | Screenprinting | |
| 9 credits in studio electives taken from at the 1000 level or above, selected from studio areas CGD, CIXD, CMUS, CTAD, CPJ, and CSA | ||
| 9 credits in studio arts electives taken at the 2000 to 4000 levels, selected from studio areas CPJ or CSA. | ||
| 3 credits in cross-disciplinary studio electives, selected from the following: | ||
| CSA 3901 | Special Topics: Cross-Disciplinary Studio Arts | |
| CSA 3911 | Collaborative Practices: Social Practices of Art | |
| CSA 3912 | The Cinematic in Contemporary Art | |
| CSA 3913 | Painting Off the Wall | |
| CSA 3914 | Art Outside the Gallery | |
| CSA 3915 | Public Spectacle in Socially Engaged Art | |
| CSA 3951 | Creative Photovoltaics | |
| 3 credits in professional practices, selected from the following: | ||
| CSA 4170 | Professional Practices for Artists | |
| 6 credits in thesis coursework. Students participate in a thesis exhibition as part of their thesis. | ||
| CSA 4092 | Fine Art Thesis I | |
| CSA 4093 | Fine Art Thesis II | |
| 9 credits in introductory art history courses including two listed below and one elective. | ||
| CAH 1090 | Art History I: Art Now, Contemporary Perspectives in the Visual Arts | |
| CAH 1091 | Art History II: Historical Perspectives in the Visual Arts | |
| Any one CAH elective course | ||
| 6 credits in seminars, selected from the following: | ||
| CSA 3020W | Topics in Photography and Photojournalism | |
| CSA 3021W | Topics in Fine Art Seminar | |
| CSA 4020W | Photography and Photojournalism Studio Seminar | |
| CSA 4021W | Fine Art Studio Seminar | |
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, or G-PAC. 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.
G-PAC approved courses, Dean's Seminars, and Sophomore Colloquia that may be available for registration are listed on the CCAS Advising website.
Coursework for the University General Education Requirement is distributed as follows:
- Writing—one approved course in university writing and two approved writing in the disciplines (WID) courses.
- Humanities—one approved course in the humanities that involves critical or creative thinking skills.
- Mathematics or Statistics—one approved course in either mathematics or statistics.
- Natural or Physical Science—one approved laboratory course that employs the process of scientific inquiry.
- Social Sciences—two approved courses in the social sciences.
Coursework for the Columbian College general education curriculum is distributed as follows:
- Arts—one approved course in the arts 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.
- Humanities—one approved course in the humanities that involves critical thinking skills (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement).
- 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 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.
- Oral Communication—one course in oral communication.
Certain courses are approved to fulfill the requirement in more than one of these categories.
Courses taken in fulfillment of G-PAC also may 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.