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 (CCAS), Undergraduate Programs.
Program-specific curriculum:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| 6 credits in any introductory-level (1000 and 2000) studio elective in Graphic Design (CGD), Interior Architecture (CIAR), Interaction Design (CIXD), Photojournalism (CPJ), or Studio Arts (CSA). | ||
| 6 credits in any upper-level (2000, 3000, and 4000) studio electives in (CGD), (CIAR), (CIXD), (CPJ), or (CSA). | ||
| The following two courses (6 credits) in fine arts photography fundamentals courses: | ||
| CSA 1501 | Black and White Photography Fundamentals | |
| CSA 1502 | Introduction to Digital Color Photography | |
| The following four courses (12 credits) in developmental photo/photojournalism courses: | ||
| CPJ 2091 | ||
| CPJ 3090 | Photojournalism Studio Visual Reportage | |
| CPJ 3091 | Photojournalism Studio Multimedia Storytelling | |
| CSA 2502 | Time-based Media Lab | |
| The following two courses (6 credits) in Fine Arts or Photojournalism thesis: | ||
| CSA 4092 | Fine Art Thesis I | |
| or CPJ 4090 | Photojournalism Thesis I | |
| CSA 4093 | Fine Art Thesis II | |
| or CPJ 4091 | Photojournalism Thesis II | |
| Art/design history | ||
| 6 credits in courses selected from the following: | ||
| CAH 2162W | History of Photography | |
| 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 | |
| The following three courses (9 credits) for the supportive journalism requirement: | ||
| SMPA 2101 | Journalism: Theory and Practice | |
| SMPA 2110W | Introduction to News Writing and Reporting | |
| SMPA 2173 | Media Law | |
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 CCAS 1001. 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:
- Writing—4 credits in UW 1020 University Writing and 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.
- Humanities—one approved humanities course that involves critical 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 that employ critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, or scientific reasoning.
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.
- Oral communication—one approved course in oral communication.
- 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.