Admission deadlines: Fall - April 1 (February 1 for priority fellowship consideration)
Standardized test scores: 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 6.0 with no individual score below 5.0; or
- TOEFL: 550 on paper-based or 80 on Internet-based; or
- PTE Academic: 53
Recommendations required: Two (2) recommendations
Prerequisite requirements: A bachelor’s degree in anthropology, biological sciences, geological sciences, psychology, or other cognate discipline from an accredited college or university. Advanced undergraduate coursework in one or more of the following subjects is desirable: biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, geoscience, and calculus.
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. 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.
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
Core courses
HOMP 6202Lab Techniques: Paleoanthropology *
HOMP 6203Ethics and Professional Practice I
ANTH 6413Analytical Methods in Human Evolutionary Studies
At least one paleobiology core course selected from the following:
HOMP 6201Hominid Paleobiology
ANTH 6801Paleolithic Archaeology
or HOMP 6201 Hominid Paleobiology
At least one modern biology core course selected from the following:
ANTH 6403Primate Behavior
ANTH 6404The Evolution of Primate Life Histories
ANTH 6407Anthropological Genetics
ANTH 6423Evolution of the Human Brain
Electives
17 to 19 credits in elective courses. Courses should be selected in consultation with the faculty advisor, and may include a combination of the following: independent laboratory or field-based research; a field course; relevant courses in Anatomy, Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Geography, Geology, Human Paleobiology, Psychology, and Speech, Language, and Hearing Science available at GW; and/or relevant courses from the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Thesis
HOMP 6999Thesis Research (taken for 6 credits)

*In order to maintain a 9-credit per semester courseload, students register for 1 to 3 credits in HOMP 6202, depending on the number of credits taken in the other courses for which they are concurrently enrolled.