Academics
Schools & Colleges
Columbian College provides the academic foundation for studies in arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The school houses nearly 500 faculty, 53 majors and 61 minors, ranging from political science to chemistry to dance.
A leader in international affairs education, the Elliott School prepares students for challenging global careers. With D.C. as an ideal backdrop, the interdisciplinary programs draw on anthropology, economics, political science, languages, history and science.
GW’s School of Business trains students to be socially-conscious global leaders. With organizations like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund blocks away, students see beyond the bottom line and consider the big picture.
SEAS, a tight-knit community that is quickly expanding, calls Science and Engineering Hall home. It includes six departments that promote applied research activities and train the next generation of innovators.
In the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the Corcoran School trains artists, designers, photographers and educators. D.C., a recognized epicenter for art and culture, provides a rich palette for creative inspiration for students.
SMPA mixes practice and theory to hone students’ journalism skills, and explain how media influences policy and politics. Instructors are professional journalists and students have access to audio and visual equipment, and a broadcast studio.
The Milken Institute, the only school of public health in D.C., fosters the next generation of thought leaders, practitioners, policy makers and scientists who seek to improve health worldwide. Students learn from faculty at the top of their fields.
No matter what you study at GW, you’ll have the opportunity to put knowledge into action. Look through the more than 70 undergraduate programs we offer, and see where a GW degree could take you as you make history.
Research at Your Fingertips
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Learning at GW doesn’t end in the classroom. Conducting research as an undergraduate is an important way to build relationships with mentors, prepare for graduate studies, explore careers and translate skills into real-world applications. Faculty from all disciplines are eager to bring students into their labs and fields, and the university supports these projects through fellowships, scholarships and exhibitions.
Participate in research
Centers & Institutes
In the next decade, GW will invest approximately $500 million in facilities and faculty to drive innovation in everything from groundbreaking cancer research and high-performance computing to arts, sustainability and cross-disciplinary initiatives. Much of this research is housed within more than 85 centers and institutes that drive policy and partner with powerful institutions, like the Smithsonian, National Institutes of Health and Library of Congress.
View a list of our centers and institutesA Global Education
Make the World Your Classroom
Whether for a week, a semester, a year — or two — more than half of all GW undergraduates complement their studies in Washington, D.C. with a study abroad experience.
Explore the GW international experience
Pursue Your Passions Abroad
Hike the Andes Mountains of Peru. Mount a camel in the deserts of Morocco. Watch London’s actors perform Shakespeare at the Globe. Whatever your style, there is a study abroad program that will fit your academic and personal goals. GW students can study in more than 350 programs in more than 60 countries.
Find your study abroad programStart Your Career Before Graduation
The Colonial Network
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Colin Powell and Kerry Washington: just a handful of GW alumni who have left the world a better place for the Colonials who followed after. The GW alumni community has more than 250,000 alumni in more than 150 countries worldwide. They play an active role in the life of the university, enriching student experiences, forging professional networks and giving back to the university through volunteerism and philanthropy.
Take advantage of our ever-expanding alumni network
GW is “Best for Internships”
Some college students head back to their beds after class, while GW students walk to work on Capitol Hill, at the Washington Post or even to the White House. Washington, D.C., is a mecca for internship opportunities — more than 12,000, in fact, are available for 10,000 GW undergraduate students. You don’t need to be a math major to know those are pretty solid odds. Don’t want to take our word for it? The Princeton Review listed GW as the number one “Best School for Internships” in 2015.
Take advantage of the city’s thousands of internship opportunities
