| Admission deadlines: | Fall – April 1 (February 1 for applicants applying for assistantships/fellowships; |
| Spring – October 1 | |
| Applications completed after these dates will be considered on a space-available basis only. | |
| Standardized test scores: | The GRE general is not required. However, if you feel as though submitting scores for the GRE will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them. |
| International students: 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.; or | |
| - TOEFL: 600 on paper-based or 100 on Internet-based; or | |
| Recommendations required: | One (1) recommendation required; more than one recommendation preferred. |
| 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. If you are applying for an assistantship or fellowship, you should also describe any teaching experience you have had. |
| 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, including 15 credits in core courses, 3 credits in skills courses, 6 credits in capstone courses, and 12 credits in elective courses. In lieu of the 12 credits in elective courses, students can choose to complete a 12-credit focus area in climate and sustainability communication.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Core courses 1 | ||
| SMPA 6202 | Media Effects, Public Opinion, and Persuasion | |
| SMPA 6204 | Strategic Political Communication | |
| SMPA 6208 | Politics and Public Relations Fundamentals | |
| SMPA 6241 | Research Design | |
| SMPA 6242 | Analytics and Data Analysis for Strategic Communication | |
| Skills course | ||
| SMPA 6201 | Strategic Communications Skills (taken twice on different topics for a total of 3 credits) 2 | |
| Capstone 3 | ||
| 6 total credits taken as 3 credits in each of the last two semesters in the program. Students fulfill this requirement in one of the three options below, selected in consultation with the advisor. | ||
| Research thesis | ||
| SMPA 6999 | Thesis Research (taken twice for a total of six credits) | |
or | ||
| Media project | ||
| SMPA 6297 | Media Capstone Project (taken twice for a total of six credits) | |
or | ||
| Strategic communication project. The courses for this option are taken in the order shown. | ||
| SMPA 6220 | Strategic Practicum | |
| SMPA 6298 | Strategic Communication Capstone Project | |
| Electives 4 | ||
| 12 credits in courses selected in consultation with the advisor. | ||
| Optional focus area in climate and sustainability communication | ||
| In lieu of the 12 credits in elective courses normally required for the program (above) students can choose to complete a 12-credit focus area in climate and sustainability. Requirements for the focus area are as follows: | ||
| Required course | ||
| SMPA 6280 | Science and Environmental Communication | |
| One course dealing with the science of climate and environmental change selected from the following: | ||
| GEOG 6218 | Arctic Systems | |
| GEOG 6220 | Seminar: Climatic Change 3 | |
| PPPA 6101 | Environmental Sciences I: Physical Sciences | |
| PPPA 6102 | Environmental Sciences II: Life Sciences | |
| Two courses selected from the following or other courses approved by the director of graduate studies: | ||
| GEOG 6232 | Migration and Development | |
| GEOG 6243 | Seminar: Urban Geography | |
| GEOG 6244 | Urban Sustainability | |
| IAFF 6151 | Environmental Policy | |
| IAFF 6153 | Science, Technology, and National Security | |
| PHIL 6281 | Environmental Philosophy and Policy | |
| PPPA 6140 | Introduction to Environmental Law | |
| PPPA 6066 | U.S. Environmental Policy | |
1On the basis of academic or professional preparation, students can petition to waive any required course with substitution of another approved course.
2Students can take an additional 3 credits in SMPA 6201, which will be counted as an elective.
3Students who select the strategic communication capstone option cannot count SMPA 6220 as an elective.
With the permission of the advisor, a limited number of upper-division undergraduate courses can be taken for graduate credit, provided additional work is required by the instructor.