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.
Program-specific curriculum:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| 6 credits in foundational courses selected from the following: | ||
| 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 | |
| Studio electives | ||
| 3 credits in studio electives taken at any level, selected from subject areas CSA,CTAD, CMUS, CPJ, CGD, or CIXD. | ||
| Studio arts electives | ||
| 6 credits in studio arts electives taken at the 2000 level or above, selected from subject areas CSA or CPJ. | ||
| Cross-disciplinary studio electives | ||
| 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 | |
| Professional practices | ||
| 3 credits in professional practices selected from the following: | ||
| CSA 4170 | Professional Practices for Artists | |
| Thesis | ||
| 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 | |
| Art history | ||
| 9 credits in art history courses: | ||
| CAH 1090 | Art History I: Art Now, Contemporary Perspectives in the Visual Arts | |
| and 6 additional credits in art history or CSA seminars selected from the following: | ||
| CSA 3021W | Topics in Fine Art Seminar | |
| CSA 3020W | Topics in Photography and Photojournalism | |
| 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 (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 this Bulletin, in order to be considered for graduation with Special Honors, students must have attained, by the end of the junior year, a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in the major and 3.3 overall. By the end of their junior year, students should consult their advisor regarding eligibility, selection of an area of study, and a director of the research or creative arts project.