Admission deadline: Fall - February 1: Priority consideration for admission and funding; April 1: Guaranteed review for admission and consideration for funding, if available. (Applications for admission will continue to be accepted after April 1, when space remains available in the program.)
Standardized test scores: GRE 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: Two (2) 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.
Statement of purpose: In an essay of no more than 750 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study in your chosen field at GW in particular, including your academic objectives and career plans.
Portfolio: At the heart of the NMPJ program is visual reporting on the human condition and society. We are looking for potential candidates whose work demonstrates developing mastery of the use of photographic composition in storytelling, and a passion for exploring issues through lens-based media.
The portfolio submission for the NMPJ application process allows for 20 curated entries and should be submitted as one pdf document. This may include any combination of single images, photo stories, videos, page layout sequences, tear sheets, and other forms of visual arts. Prior video work is not required for admission into the program. Fluency in 35mm photography is required, although we will consider exceptions.
All parts of the portfolio submission should be clearly labeled and should include captions or project descriptions. Examples of information to include would be medium, date created, publication or exhibition date and venue, and motivation for making the work. If video work is submitted in the portfolio submission, it should be submitted in the portfolio pdf as a link accompanied by a brief project description that clearly states the role of the applicant in the making of the video, e.g., script writer, director, primary camera, editor, or any combo, etc.
Flickr feeds, Instagram accounts, links to entire websites will not accepted as discreet portfolio entries.
Writing Sample: A 3-5 page writing sample, published or unpublished.
Interview: An interview is required.
International applicants only: Please review International Applicant Information (https://columbian.gwu.edu/international-graduate-applicants) carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, 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.

36 credits in required courses.

Required
First year, fall semester
CPJ 6050Advanced Multimedia Lab I
CPJ 6100Research, Reporting, and Writing: Contemporary Journalism Practice
CPJ 6110Story and Narrative in Photojournalism
First year, spring semester
CPJ 6020Topics in Photo Editing Studio Seminar
or CPJ 6225 Making Meaning Through the Photography Book
CPJ 6260Professional Practices for Photojournalism
CPJ 6060Advanced Multimedia Lab II: Editing and Production
Capstone year, fall semester
CPJ 6500New Media Photojournalism Capstone Production Workshop
CPJ 6540Project-Driven Website Design
CPJ 6550New Media Photojournalism Capstone Research and Reporting
Capstone year, spring semester
CPJ 6501New Media Photojournalism Capstone Post-Production Workshop
CPJ 6570Nuancing the Story: Advanced Video Post-Production *
CPJ 6640Advanced Studio and Location Lighting *

*Or an approved elective based on the portfolio.