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.

33 credits in courses in the major; at least 27 of which must be taken at the 2000 level or above.

Required
WGSS 2120Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
or WGSS 2120W Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
WGSS 2125Varieties of Feminist Theory
or AMST 2125 Varieties of Feminist Theory
WGSS 4199Senior Seminar
One course from each of the following five groups. A course cannot be counted toward more than one group.
Race, ethnicity, and class
AMST 2410Modern U.S. Immigration
or AMST 2410W Modern U.S. Immigration
or HIST 2410 Modern U.S. Immigration
AMST 2490Themes in U.S. Cultural History (Managing Race and Sexuality)
AMST 3360African American History to 1865
or HIST 3360 African American History to 1865
AMST 3361African American History Since 1865
or HIST 3361 African American History Since 1865
AMST 4702WRace, Medicine, and Public Health
ENGL 2610Introduction to Black Literature of America I
or ENGL 2610W Introduction to Black Literature of America I
ENGL 2611Introduction to Black Literature of America II
or ENGL 2611W Introduction to Black Literature of America II
ENGL 2710Postcolonialism, Race, and Gender in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
or ENGL 2710W Postcolonialism, Race, and Gender in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
ENGL 3570Nineteenth-Century Black Literature
ENGL 3960Asian American Literature
or ENGL 3960W Asian American Literature
PHIL 2125Philosophy of Race and Gender
or PHIL 2125W Philosophy of Race and Gender
PSC 2992Special Topics in American Politics and Government (Votes for Women)
PSC 2992Special Topics in American Politics and Government (Race and Ethnic Politics)
WGSS 3362African American Women's History
or WGSS 3362W African American Women's History
or AMST 3362 African American Women's History
or AMST 3362W African American Women's History
or HIST 3362 African American Women’s History
or HIST 3362W African American Women’s History
Global/transnational
ENGL 2710Postcolonialism, Race, and Gender in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
or ENGL 2710W Postcolonialism, Race, and Gender in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
ENGL 2711Postcolonialism and Migration in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
or ENGL 2711W Postcolonialism and Migration in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
ENGL 2712Bollywood Cinema
or ENGL 2712W Bollywood Cinema
ENGL 3730Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film
or ENGL 3730W Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film
ENGL 3810Selected Topics in Literature (Sex, Politics, and Religion in Italian Literature)
ENGL 3980WQueer Studies (Transnational Film Studies and LGBTQ Cultures)
HIST 3101Topics: Europe (Irish Women 19th Century History)
IAFF 3180Special Topics in Security Policy (Gender, Conflict, and Security)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Women and Leadership in Africa)
SPAN 3570Women Writers of Spain and Latin America
WGSS 2121The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
or ANTH 2501 The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
WGSS 3136Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film
or WGSS 3136W Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film
or CHIN 3136W Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film
WGSS 3481Women in Islam
or REL 3481 Women in Islam
WGSS 3530Women in Africa
or HIST 3530 Women in Africa
WGSS 3820Global Domestic Labor
WGSS 3845Global Women's Prison
WGSS 3881Women, Gender, and Religion in China
or EALL 3881 Women, Gender, and Religion in China
or REL 3881 Women, Gender, and Religion in China
Sexualities
AMST 2490Themes in U.S. Cultural History (Managing Race & Sexuality)
ENGL 3910Disability Studies
ENGL 3980Queer Studies
or ENGL 3980W Queer Studies
PHIL 2140Philosophy of Love, Sex, and Friendship
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (LGBTQ Politics)
WGSS 2380Sexuality in U.S. History
or AMST 2380 Sexuality in U.S. History
or HIST 2380 Sexuality in U.S. History
WGSS 2385WSex and Citizenship
or AMST 2385W Sex and Citizenship
WGSS 3410Lesbian History and Culture
WGSS 3435Queer Politics
WGSS 3470Sexuality and the Law
Humanities
ENGL 3730Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film
or ENGL 3730W Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film
ENGL 3810Selected Topics in Literature (Sex, Politics, and Religion in Italian Literature)
ENGL 3840Gender and Literature
or ENGL 3840W Gender and Literature
ENGL 3980Queer Studies
or ENGL 3980W Queer Studies
HIST 3101Topics: Europe (Irish Women 19th Century History)
PHIL 2125Philosophy of Race and Gender
or PHIL 2125W Philosophy of Race and Gender
PHIL 2140Philosophy of Love, Sex, and Friendship
SPAN 3570Women Writers of Spain and Latin America
WGSS 1020Methodological Approaches to Women's, Queer, and Trans History
or HIST 1020 Methodological Approaches to Women's, Queer, and Trans History
WGSS 2135A Study of Women and Media
WGSS 2380Sexuality in U.S. History
or AMST 2380 Sexuality in U.S. History
or HIST 2380 Sexuality in U.S. History
WGSS 3136Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film
or WGSS 3136W Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film
or CHIN 3136W Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film
WGSS 3352U.S. Women's History to 1865
or WGSS 3352W U.S. Women's History to 1865
or AMST 3352 U.S. Women's History to 1865
or AMST 3352W U.S. Women's History to 1865
or HIST 3352 U.S. Women's History to 1865
or HIST 3352W U.S. Women's History to 1865
WGSS 3353U.S. Women's History II
or AMST 3353 U.S. Women's History II
or HIST 3353 U.S. Women's History II
WGSS 3362African American Women's History
or WGSS 3362W African American Women's History
or AMST 3362 African American Women's History
or AMST 3362W African American Women's History
or HIST 3362 African American Women’s History
or HIST 3362W African American Women’s History
WGSS 3481Women in Islam
or REL 3481 Women in Islam
WGSS 3530Women in Africa
or HIST 3530 Women in Africa
WGSS 3981Women in Western Religion
or REL 2981 Women and Religion
Social science
ANTH 3504Illness, Healing, and Culture
ANTH 3507Kinship, Family, and Community
ANTH 3513Anthropology of Human Rights
or ANTH 3513W Anthropology of Human Rights
IAFF 3180Special Topics in Security Policy (Gender, Conflict, and Security)
PSC 2225Women and Politics
PSC 2992Special Topics in American Politics and Government (Votes for Women)
PSC 2992Special Topics in American Politics and Government (Race and Ethnic Politics)
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (LGBTQ Politics)
PSYC 2550Psychology of Sex and Gender
PUBH 3199Topics in Public Health (Women's Health)
PUBH 6550Maternal and Child Health I
SOC 2175Sociology of Sex and Gender
WGSS 2121The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
or ANTH 2501 The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
WGSS 4183Practicum in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Electives
Three additional courses (9 credits) taken in any combination from the following categories: the above groups, provided the course is not being counted toward the group requirement; WGSS courses not listed here; and other courses approved by an advisor, which might include the following:
AMST 2410WModern U.S. Immigration
CTAD 1020Women and the Creative Process
HONR 1016Honors Seminar: Origins and Evolution of Modern Thought (Body Politics)
HONR 1034Honors Seminar: Scientific Reasoning and Discovery (Human Reproduction)
PSC 2224Issues in Domestic Public Policy (*when taught with a woman- or gender-centered focus)

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, students must attain a minimum grade-point average of 3.7 in courses counted for the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major and 3.3 overall; receive a grade of A in WGSS 4199; and submit an honors paper to the Program. Upon faculty review of the honors paper, students may be recommended for graduation with Special Honors.

Combined programs