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:

Prerequisite
All courses in one of the following options:
Option A:
SLAV 1012Intensive Basic Russian I
SLAV 1034Intensive Basic Russian II
Option B:
SLAV 1001First-Year Russian I
SLAV 1002First-Year Russian II
SLAV 1003Second-Year Russian I
SLAV 1004Second-Year Russian II
Required in the major
SLAV 1391Introduction to Russian Literature I
SLAV 1392Introduction to Russian Literature II
SLAV 2005Intermediate Russian I
SLAV 2006Intermediate Russian II
SLAV 2007Russia Today: Topics in Advanced Russian I
SLAV 2008Russia Today: Topics in Advanced Russian II
SLAV 2361Russian Culture
SLAV 2362Russian Culture
Two of the following:
SLAV 2471Nineteenth-Century Russian Prose
SLAV 2472Nineteenth-Century Russian Poetry
SLAV 247320th-Century Russian Prose
SLAV 2474Twentieth-Century Russian Poetry
Two of the following:
SLAV 2365Twentieth-Century Russian Literature to World War II
SLAV 2366Russian Literature from World War II to the Present
SLAV 2785Introduction to Russian Cinema I
SLAV 2786Introduction to Russian Cinema II
SLAV 4595WSpecial Topics

Proficiency requirements for the Russian major

After completing SLAV 2006, students should consult their advisor to choose one of the following proficiency tracks:

  1. Emphasis on proficiency in speaking—students choosing this track must attain speaking proficiency at the intermediate high level, as measured by the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview. A semester of intensive language study in Russia on an approved program is required unless waived by the department.
  2. Emphasis on proficiency in reading—students choosing this track must attain reading proficiency at the advanced level on the ACTFL scale, as measured by a departmental examination. Students should consult their advisor and use the Russian reading resource site.

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, a candidate must have attained a 3.5 grade-point average in the major and at least a 3.0 average overall. Students must apply for honors candidacy by the end of the first semester of the junior year; must attain speaking proficiency at the advanced level, as measured by the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Oral Proficiency Interview; and must successfully complete an honors thesis (SLAV 4597 Senior Honors Thesis I–SLAV 4598 Senior Honors Thesis II).