Admission deadlines: Fall – April 1 (February 1 for applicants applying for assistantships/fellowships)
Spring – October 1
Standardized test scores: GRE general test not required; GRE subject test recommended (institutional code 5246). 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
Applicants to the Master’s program who do not meet minimum English language requirements may be eligible for our full-time Applied English Language program.
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 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

36 credits. For non-thesis option—24 credits in required courses and 12 credits in elective courses. For thesis option—24 credits in required courses, including 6 credits in thesis, and 6 credits in elective courses.

Required
PHYS 6110Mathematical Methods of Theoretical Physics
PHYS 6120Advanced Mechanics
PHYS 6130Computational Physics I
PHYS 6210Electrodynamics and Classical Field Theory
PHYS 6220Quantum Mechanics I
PHYS 6230Computational Physics II
PHYS 6310Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 6330Computational Physics III
PHYS 6590Seminar
For thesis option:
PHYS 6999Thesis Research
Electives
Non-thesis students select 12 credits and thesis students select 6 credits in the following elective courses:
PHYS 6320Quantum Mechanics II
PHYS 6510Communications in Physics
PHYS 6599Advanced Study
PHYS 6610Nuclear and Particle Physics I
PHYS 6620Biophysics I
PHYS 6630Radiative Processes in Astrophysics
PHYS 6710Nuclear and Particle Physics II
PHYS 6720Biophysics II
PHYS 6730High-Energy Astrophysics
PHYS 6810Applied Statistics and Data Analysis in Physics
DATS 6202Machine Learning I: Algorithm Analysis