Admission deadlines: Fall - January 15
Spring - September 1
Summer - March 1 (non-F1 visa seeking applicants)
Standardized test scores: The GRE General Test is optional for all applicants. For applicants who want to submit scores, they must be submitted officially from ETS using the institutional code 5246.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 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:
- TOEFL: 550 on paper-based or 80 on Internet-based; applicants requesting funding consideration must have 600 on paper-based; or 100 on Internet-based
- Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 6.0 with no individual score below 5.0; applicants requesting funding consideration must have an overall band score of 7.0 with no individual score below 6.0
- PTE Academic: 53; applicants requesting funding consideration must have 68.
Recommendations required: Two (2) recommendations required of applicants. If possible, one recommendation should be from your advisor at the institution from which you earned your highest degree.
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 academic records are in a language other than English, a copy in the original language and an English language translation must be uploaded. Transcript evaluations should not be uploaded. Applicants who have earned a degree from an Indian university are required to submit individual semester marksheets.
Statement of purpose: In an essay of 250 to 500 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study at The George Washington University; describe your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans; and discuss your related qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned.
Additional requirements: Bachelor's degree with a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 hours of coursework.
All applicants must choose an area of focus that most closely matches their interests and note this on the online application. All applicants must submit a resumé or CV.
International applicants only: Please follow this link - https://graduate.admissions.gwu.edu/international-student-application-requirements - to review the International Applicant Information carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW.

For additional information about the admissions process visit the SEAS Admissions Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact for questions:

engineering@gwu.edu
202-994-1802 (phone)
202-994-1651 (fax)

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled: Thesis option—30 credits, including 9 credits in required courses, 15 credits in security courses, and 6 credits in thesis; non-thesis option—30 credits, including 9 credits in required courses, 15 credits in security courses, and 6 credits in elective courses.

Program restrictions

Students whose admission letter states they are required to take CSCI 6010 Introduction to Computer Science Fundamentals and/or CSCI 6011 Introduction to Computer Systems and Algorithm Analysis take those course in place of electives. The courses must be taken in the student’s first semester.

Required courses
CSCI 6212Design and Analysis of Algorithms
CSCI 6221Advanced Software Paradigms
CSCI 6461Computer System Architecture
Security courses
Five security courses selected from the list below; at least one of these courses must be designated as core-security. Graduate-level security courses from the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area can be substituted with the advisor’s approval.
CSCI 6331Cryptography (Core-Security)
CSCI 6531Computer Security (Core-Security)
CSCI 6541Network Security (Core-Security)
CSCI 6345Introduction to Quantum Computing
CSCI 6431Computer Networks
CSCI 6532Information Policy
CSCI 6533Intro to Usable Security & Privacy
CSCI 6542Computer Network Defense
CSCI 6548E-Commerce Security
CSCI 6907Special Topics *
CSCI 8331Advanced Cryptography
CSCI 8531Advanced Topics in Security
ECE 6160Secure Computing Systems
EMSE 6540Management of Information and Systems Security
*Any topics course taken to fulfill the security course requirement must focus on security or cryptography and must be approved in advance by the advisor. Non-security special topics courses can, with approval, be counted as electives.
Electives
Non-thesis students take two elective courses (6 credits). These can be any SEAS courses, including non-cyber-security courses, numbered 6000 or above or graduate-level cyber-security related courses offered by any school of the University
Thesis option only
CSCI 6998Thesis Research
CSCI 6999Thesis Research
Students must obtain the written approval of their thesis advisor before enrolling in Thesis Research.

Graduation and Scholarship Requirements

Students are responsible for knowing the university’s minimum GPA requirement for graduation and scholarships. Please visit the Graduation and Scholarship Requirements section on this site to read the requirements.

Students should contact the department for additional information and requirements.