Admission deadlines: Fall - 1 April (1 February to be considered for fellowships)
Standardized test scores: GRE 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: Three (3) academic letters of recommendations required
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 250 – 500 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study in your chosen field and describe what political problems or questions motivate you. Include your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans. Also discuss your related qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application. If you are applying for an assistantship or fellowship, you should also describe any teaching experience you have had.
Writing Sample: The writing sample should be a minimum of 5 pages and typically not exceed 30 pages. It is very important you choose a sample that demonstrates your ability to write according to academic standards. Where possible, the substance and topic of the sample should overlap with the substance of the degree being sought and should reflect academic conventions, including citations and references.
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

Required
15 credits (five courses) in one of the three tracks listed below and 18 credits (six courses) selected from among all tracks.
American politics track
PSC 6103Approaches to Public Policy Analysis
PSC 6114Theories of Judicial Review
PSC 6346The Politics of U.S. Foreign Policy
PSC 6347U.S. Foreign Policy Traditions
PSC 6348Politics of U.S. National Security Policy
PSC 8210American Political Process
PSC 8211Urban Politics
PSC 8212Urban Policy Problems
PSC 8213Judicial Politics
PSC 8215Law, Politics, and Society
PSC 8216American Presidency
PSC 8217Executive Branch Politics
PSC 8218Legislative Politics
PSC 8219Political Parties and Elections
PSC 8220Public Opinion and Political Psychology
PSC 8221Interest-Group Politics
PSC 8226Politics and Organizations
PSC 8229Politics and Public Policy
PSC 8286Selected Topics in American Politics
SMPA 6207Political Persuasion and Public Opinion
SMPA 6210Media and Foreign Policy
SMPA 6272Media Bias, Power, and Democracy
SOC 6230Foundations of Research Methods
SOC 6231Quantitative Methods
SOC 6245Race Relations
SOC 6248Race and Urban Redevelopment
SOC 6250Urban Sociology
SOC 6263Race and Crime
SOC 6265Gender, Welfare, and Poverty
SOC 6266Gender and Criminal Justice
SOC 6268Race, Gender, and Class
World politics track
PSC 6330Comparative Government and Politics
PSC 6333Comparative Politics of Russia and Eurasia
PSC 6336The Political Economy of China, India, and Beyond
PSC 6338U.S. Foreign Economic Policy
PSC 6345Comparative Foreign Policy
PSC 6349International Security Politics
PSC 6350Foreign Policy Analysis—Selected Topics
PSC 6351Civil-Military Relations
PSC 6360Western European Politics
PSC 6361Politics of European Integration
PSC 6362Nation-Building in the Balkans
PSC 6364Comparative Governments and Politics of Central And Eastern Europe
PSC 6366Government and Politics of Russia
PSC 6367Post-Soviet Politics
PSC 6368Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy
PSC 6370Politics of China I
PSC 6371Politics of China II
PSC 6372Foreign Policy of China
PSC 6373Political Economy of Industrializing Asia
PSC 6374Korean Politics
PSC 6377Comparative Politics of the Middle East
PSC 6379Government and Politics of Africa
PSC 6383Comparative Politics of Latin America
PSC 6388Topics in Comparative Politics
PSC 6390Politics and Culture
PSC 6439International Political Economy
PSC 6440Theory in International Relations
PSC 6442Politics and Practice of International Institutions
PSC 6444Politics of International Law
PSC 6456Origins of Major Wars and Terrorism
PSC 6457Arms Control and Disarmament
PSC 6465The International Politics of Central and Eastern Europe
PSC 6467Asian Security
PSC 6475International Politics of East Asia
PSC 6476The Arab-Israeli Conflict
PSC 6478International Relations of the Middle East
PSC 6484International Relations of Latin America
PSC 6489Topics in International Relations
PSC 8333Political Violence
PSC 8334Democracy and Democratization in Comparative Perspective
PSC 8337Theories of Political Development
PSC 8338Nationalism and Nation-Building
PSC 8340Authoritarianism and Democratization
PSC 8341Theories of Ethnic Politics
PSC 8388Selected Topics in Comparative Politics
PSC 8461Military Effectiveness
IAFF 6102Global Gender Policy
IAFF 6106Nuclear Weapons
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs
IAFF 6122Development Policy and Practice
IAFF 6136Gender and Development
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies
IAFF 6142Technology Creation/Diffusion
IAFF 6145U.S. Space Policy
IAFF 6146Space Law
IAFF 6148Space and National Security
IAFF 6151Environmental Policy
IAFF 6153Science, Technology, and National Security
IAFF 6158Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy
IAFF 6160Defense Policy
IAFF 6163Transnational Security Issues
IAFF 6165Fundamentals of Intelligence
IAFF 6167Defense Policy and Program Analysis II
IAFF 6169Homeland Security
IAFF 6171Introduction to Conflict Resolution
IAFF 6173Security and Development
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies
IAFF 6198Special Topics in International Economic Policy
IAFF 6208Special Topics in Global Communication
IAFF 6222Special Topics in International Policy and Practice
IAFF 6302Taiwan: Internal Development and Foreign Policy
IAFF 6305U.S.-South Asia Relations
IAFF 6308International Relations of South Asia
IAFF 6318Special Topics in Asian Studies
IAFF 6338Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies
IAFF 6342Drug Trafficking in the Americas
IAFF 6358Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies
IAFF 6362Regional Security in Middle East
IAFF 6363Political Economy of the Middle East
IAFF 6364Religion and Society in the Modern Middle East
IAFF 6378Special Topics in Middle East Studies
IAFF 6501Quantitative Analysis for International Affairs Practitioners
Law and politics track
PSC 6103Approaches to Public Policy Analysis
PSC 6113The Constitution: History and Ideas
PSC 6114Theories of Judicial Review
PSC 6187Selected Topics in Political Theory
PSC 6444Politics of International Law
PSC 8210American Political Process
PSC 8213Judicial Politics
PSC 8215Law, Politics, and Society
PSC 8217Executive Branch Politics
PSC 8218Legislative Politics
PSC 8219Political Parties and Elections
PSC 8229Politics and Public Policy
EDUC 6236School Law and Policy
EDUC 6560Legal Problems in Higher Education
HIST 6312The Law of Race and Slavery
HIST 6370U.S. Legal History
LAW 6214Constitutional Law I
PHIL 6242Philosophy, Law, and Social Policy
PPPA 6075Law and the Public Administrator
SOC 6261Sociology of Law
SOC 6263Race and Crime
WGSS 6266Gender and Criminal Justice
Other requirements
Successful completion of a comprehensive examination.