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.
78 credits in program-specific courses, including 57 credits in required courses and 21 credits in elective courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| CAH 1090 | Art History I: Art Now, Contemporary Perspectives in the Visual Arts | |
| CAH 1091 | Art History II: Historical Perspectives in the Visual Arts | |
| 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 | |
| CGD 1090 | Design Fundamentals I | |
| CGD 1091 | Design Fundamentals II | |
| CGD 2050 | Typography I | |
| CGD 2060 | Typography II | |
| CGD 2090 | Design Studio I | |
| CGD 2091 | Design Studio II | |
| CGD 3090 | Graphic Design Studio III | |
| CGD 3091 | Graphic Design Studio IV | |
| CGD 4090 | Graphic Design Thesis I | |
| CGD 4091 | Graphic Design Thesis II | |
| CGD 4170 | Professional Practices for Designers | |
| 6 credits of courses in art and design history | ||
| Required | ||
| CAH 3150 | Theories and History of Graphic Design | |
| One course selected from the following: | ||
| CAH 3060 | History of Design | |
| CAH 3065 | Digital Media Culture | |
| Electives | ||
| 12 credits in advanced CGD elective courses at the 3000 or 4000 level. | ||
| 9 credits in elective courses from any art or design studio area (CGD, CIXD, CPJ, and CSA). | ||
Students should consult their advisor for a sample program of study.
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.