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 | ||
| 34 credits in required courses: | ||
| PSC 1002 | Introduction to American Politics and Government | |
| or PSC 1002W | Introduction to American Politics and Government | |
| STAT 1053 | Introduction to Statistics in Social Science | |
| SMPA 2101 | Journalism: Theory and Practice | |
| SMPA 2110W | Introduction to News Writing and Reporting (minimum grade of B required) | |
| SMPA 2111W | Advanced News Reporting | |
| SMPA 2112 | Digital Media I: Introduction to Video Production | |
| SMPA 2113 | Digital Media II: Introduction to Web Production and Social Media | |
| SMPA 2151 | Research Methods | |
| SMPA 2152 | Data Analysis for Journalism and Political Communication | |
| SMPA 2173 | Media Law | |
| SMPA 3150 | Journalism Ethics | |
| Electives | ||
| On advanced writing/reporting course (3 credits) selected from the following: | ||
| SMPA 3230 | Reporting in the Digital Age | |
| SMPA 3231 | Sustainability Reporting | |
| SMPA 3235W | Broadcast News Writing | |
| SMPA 3242 | Investigative Reporting | |
| Five additional courses (15 to 18 credits) selected from the advanced writing/reporting courses listed above or from the following: | ||
| SMPA 2120 | Public Opinion | |
| SMPA 2177 | Media History | |
| SMPA 3193 | Selected Topics in Journalism and Mass Communication Skills | |
| SMPA 3195 | Selected Topics in Journalism and Mass Communication | |
| SMPA 3196 | Independent Study | |
| SMPA 3197 | Internship (Only one, 3-credit internship may count toward the major.) | |
| SMPA 3233 | Photojournalism | |
| SMPA 3234 | Editing and Design for Print and Web | |
| SMPA 3236W | Broadcast News Reporting | |
| SMPA 3240W | Washington Reporting | |
| SMPA 3241W | Campaign Reporting | |
| SMPA 3243W | Feature Writing | |
| SMPA 3244W | Narrative Journalism | |
| SMPA 3245W | Editorial and Persuasive Writing | |
| SMPA 3246 | Specialized Reporting | |
| SMPA 3247 | Documentary Production | |
| SMPA 3333 | Media Organizations and Audiences | |
| SMPA 3428 | Media, Politics, and Government | |
| SMPA 3450 | Social Media | |
| SMPA 3460 | Race, Media, and Politics | |
| SMPA 3469 | International Communication | |
| SMPA 3471 | Media in the Developing World | |
| SMPA 3472 | Media and Foreign Policy | |
| SMPA 3475 | Media Management | |
| SMPA 3476 | Media, Technology, and Culture | |
| SMPA 3477 | Information Technology and Politics | |
| SMPA 3479 | Documentary | |
| SMPA 3480 | The Future of Journalism | |
| SMPA 4198 | Special Honors Research Seminar | |
| Capstone | ||
| One capstone course (4 credits) selected from the following: | ||
| SMPA 4180 | Online Journalism Workshop | |
| SMPA 4181 | Television News Workshop | |
| SMPA 4182 | Specialized Journalism Workshop | |
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 order to be considered for graduation with Special Honors, students must have attained a 3.7 GPA in all courses completed at GW and in all courses required for the major. Students intending to apply for Special Honors must consult their advisor at the start of the senior year. Application must be made by the mid-point of the student’s final semester (October 15 or March 15), and must include a letter of application and a portfolio of published or broadcast work. The journalism and mass communication faculty evaluates the work on the basis of professional standards as outlined by the department. Students interested in pursuing Special Honors through writing a research thesis should consult their advisor.