Overview
Six Undergraduate Schools, Almost Ninety Degree Programs, and 2,000 Courses Add Up to One Great Education
Within the six undergraduate schools that students may apply to at George Washington University, more than 2,000 individual courses are offered to meet the needs of nearly ninety different degree programs. The Schools include: the School of Medicine and Health Sciences; the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; the School of Business; the College of Professional Studies; the School of Public Health and Health Services; and the Elliott School of International Affairs.
An astounding array of undergraduate programs at GW include American Studies, Arabic, Engineering, Clinical Laboratory Science, Cytotechnology, Dance, Environmental Studies, International Affairs, Interior Design, Japanese Language and Literature, Linguistics, Middle East Studies, Peace Studies, Psychology, Religion, Women's Studies and many, many more.
Special Course Combinations and Overlap In Dual Programs Enable Students to Approach Graduate Studies More Quickly
Many students are able to count course work from unrelated schools toward the achievement of their unique degree programs. Additionally, some undergraduate students choose to pursue double majors or minor in different subjects. Every single program gives students a solid theoretical information base in addition to practical research and experiential-learning options.
Students can also combine degrees in order to accelerate the process towards achieving entry into graduate programs. Often, these students will not only attend graduate school early but may also forgo the traditionally required entrance exams. Opportunities also exist for students to take additional credit hours during the summer months or take classes that provide compressed information worth more than regular-credit courses. For those with a double major, some courses required of each major may be the same, and the completion of the course once counts toward the requisite for the other major.
Many honors programs and classes-worth 4 credit hours instead of 3-are available to top-tier students every year. Those who are enrolled participate in problem-solving, group-driven learning scenarios guided by their professors.
GW Study-Abroad Programs Provide Students with Diverse World Views and New Experiences in Life and Learning
Every year, more than a thousand undergraduate students are able to spend between one semester and an entire year abroad at a sister college or university in order to complete requisite course work or research in a new and exciting setting. There are currently over 200 different study-abroad locations to choose from. In a world with an ever-increasing focus on international affairs and commerce, it is of great benefit not only culturally, but also economically, for those who participate. From the U.K. to Paris to South America, GW can help position its students to appreciate a new, broader world perspective.
Student Organizations and Greek Life Provide Just About Every Student a Place to Call Home
There are currently over 350 student organizations at George Washington University. In fact, there seems to be something for everyone. Some examples: Members of Colonial Donors support blood donation and donate blood themselves for special drives. Green GW advocates the greening or environmental cleanup of local and international regions. Habitat for Humanity seeks to find affordable housing for all in greater Washington, D.C. And Tech for America enlists senior adults to help provide fundamental learning experiences for those in need in greater Washington D.C. and several other cities.
For those who like to be a part of traditional Greek fraternities and sororities, there are dozens to choose from. The choices may overlap with personal beliefs or specialty degree programs that students choose. Nearly 15 percent of all undergraduates are members of Greek society at GW.
Sports, Residential Living, and Internships at GW Provide Multiple Learning and Recreational Opportunities
George Washington has over two dozen Division 1 NCAA sports teams. There are an additional twenty-five athletic clubs. And, for those who take a more casual interest in athletics, GW offers an additional thirty intramural sporting programs.
There are more than thirty residential buildings on the GWU campus for undergraduate students to live, work, and play in. Undergraduates are required to live on campus for their first two years. When choosing a place of residence, students are often grouped with those who share a similar interest or academic focus.
The D.C. area provides literally thousands of opportunities for those who seek internships or wish to supplement their income through work-study programs. Many students at GW have taken part in one or more of these programs.
The George Washington University Offers a Sophisticated Metropolitan Setting for Intensive, Diverse Undergraduate Study
The George Washington University (GWU) is a mid-sized, private university located in the heart of the affluent and picturesque northwest section of the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C. Since its founding nearly 200 years ago, GWU has grown both in stature and in the size of its undergraduate student body, which today approaches nearly 10,000 in number.
GWU currently comprises two central undergraduate campuses. The Foggy Bottom campus, to the west of downtown Washington, D.C., is right on the Virginia border along the peaceful Potomac River. The Mount Vernon campus is in the tiny tree-lined Foxhall segment of Washington, D.C. Undergraduates at GWU have access to the very best of sophisticated urban features-modern metro transportation and high-minded museum culture-and such small-town treats as local farmers' markets and neighborhood block parties. Unlike densely populated major national U.S. cities, Washington, D.C., truly maintains the ease-of-access of suburban towns, considering its nearly 70-square-mile size and half-million residents. This is, of course, good for students, who can enjoy a trip to the Cochran Museum of Art or catch a rock show at the famous 9:30 Club. There is much to do also in neighboring Maryland, often referred to as "America in Miniature" because of its diverse landscapes that include a segment of the Appalachian Mountains to the West and vibrant shorelines to the East.
