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.

Elliott School bachelor's degrees engage students with global issues through multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches. Students begin their studies in the first year with foundational courses in political science, economics, history, and anthropology or geography. They supplement these courses with others in the traditional liberal arts categories of writing, oral communication, natural or physical science, mathematics or statistics, and the humanities/creative arts, plus two writing in the disciplines courses. Language study also is emphasized early to enable students to satisfy the third-year language proficiency requirement of the bachelor's degree in a timely manner. 

Elliott School bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credits. The following three sets of requirements must be fulfilled:

1. University General Education Requirements

2. Elliott School Introductory Requirements

3. Major Requirements


1. University General Education Requirements

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). 
    • Students in the BS in international affairs program are required to take a calculus-based course to fulfill the University General Education requirement in quantitative reasoning. Options include MATH 1220 and MATH 1221; MATH 1231; MATH 1232; or MATH 1252. Students must complete all required prerequisites for their intended analytic core courses. Students are encouraged to consult their advisor with any questions.
  • One course in scientific reasoning, with lab (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. 

2. Elliott School Introductory Requirements

Introductory requirements (22 credits)
Required
IAFF 1001 is not required for internal or external transfer students.
IAFF 1001First-Year Experience (fall of first year)
IAFF 1005Introduction to International Affairs (required in the first year)
ECON 1011Principles of Economics I
ECON 1012Principles of Economics II
HIST 1011World History from 1500 to Present
PSC 1001Introduction to Comparative Politics
One of the following introductory anthropology or geography courses:
ANTH 1002Sociocultural Anthropology
ANTH 1004Language in Culture and Society
GEOG 1001Introduction to Human Geography
GEOG 1003Society and Environment *
*GEOG 1003 does not meet the prerequisite requirement for all upper-level geography courses.
One additional course from the University General Education "Critical Thinking in the Humanities" course list or from the GPAC "Creative or Critical Thinking in the Arts" course list.

3.  Major Requirements

In addition to the University General Education Requirements and Elliott School Introductory Requirements, Elliott School students must complete the Major Requirements for their individual major:

If you are an Elliott School student who started at GW before Fall 2024, you are following a different version of the curriculum. Please find your degree requirements in the archived Bulletin for your matriculation year.

Students pursuing the BA in Asian Studies as a second major must complete all of the major requirements listed below, including any prerequisites for these courses. These requirements are taken in addition to the requirements for the student's primary major, which typically includes completion of the University General Education requirement and other requirements specific to the primary major. Students are encouraged to talk with their home school's academic advisor for more information about their primary major requirements.

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Elliott School of International Affairs, Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

A minimum grade of C-  must be earned in all major requirement courses, to include the last course used to prove third-year proficiency in a modern regional language.

Major Requirements

Foundation (3 credits)
IAFF 2091East Asia-Past and Present
Language (credits vary)
Students must demonstrate third-year proficiency in a modern language (Chinese, Japanese, or Korean) by examination or coursework. If taking coursework, students can satisfy the language requirement by taking a course that is equivalent to third-year proficiency, or by taking a course beyond the third year which has a listed prerequisite of the second semester of the third year. Please note that the language placement exam determines the level at which students begin their language study. Additional information regarding the Elliott School language examinations is available from the academic advisor.
Chinese
One of the following options for beginning Chinese:
Option one:
CHIN 1001
CHIN 1002
Beginning Chinese I
and Beginning Chinese II
Option two:
CHIN 1011Intensive Beginning Chinese
And the following courses:
CHIN 2003Intermediate Chinese I
CHIN 2004Intermediate Chinese II
CHIN 3105Intermediate Chinese III
CHIN 3106Intermediate Chinese IV
Japanese
One of the following options for beginning Japanese:
Option one:
JAPN 1001
JAPN 1002
Beginning Japanese I
and Beginning Japanese II
Option two:
JAPN 1005Intensive Beginning Japanese
And the following courses:
JAPN 2003Intermediate Japanese I
JAPN 2004Intermediate Japanese II
JAPN 3105Intermediate Japanese III
JAPN 3106Intermediate Japanese IV
Korean
KOR 1001Beginning Korean I
KOR 1002Beginning Korean II
KOR 2003Intermediate Korean I
KOR 2004Intermediate Korean II
KOR 3105Intermediate Korean III
KOR 3106Intermediate Korean IV

Regional foundations (3 credits)

One course from the following in any region other than Asia. IAFF, ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HIST, and PSC courses pertaining to a region of the world with a focus on the contemporary, post-World War II era. Includes courses focused on single and multiple countries in a region.

Africa
ANTH 3708Anthropology of Africa
GEOG 3164The Geography of Africa
HIST 3530Women in Africa
IAFF 2093Africa: Problems and Prospects
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (North Africa and the World) *
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Africa Declassified)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Africa and Globalization: Culture and Context)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (African Literature and Politics)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Africa in the Global Economy)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Ethnic and Religious Conflict in Africa)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (International Affairs in Africa)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Women and Leadership in Africa)
PSC 2381Comparative Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
PSC 2482African International Politics
*IAFF 2190W (North Africa and the World) is not approved as a regional foundations course for students in the Middle East Studies program due to the degree of overlap between issues in North Africa and the Middle East.
Asia
(Students in the BA in Asian studies program must fulfill the regional foundations requirement using a course focused in a world region other than Asia.)
ANTH 3704Cultures of Southeast Asia
ECON 2169Introduction to the Economy of China
GEOG 3165Geography of South Asia
HIST 3615History of Chinese Communism
HIST 3621History of Modern Japan
HIST 3631History of Modern Korea
HIST 3640History of Southeast Asia
IAFF 2091East Asia-Past and Present
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Asian Order and Community Building)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Central Asia Security)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Comparative Politics in Southeast Asia)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Economic Development of East Asia)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Economic Lessons from East Asia)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Indo-Pacific Security Challenges)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (South Asian Politics Via Literature and Film)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Women in Asia)
IAFF 3752WEquitable Development in Southeast Asia
IAFF 3753International Relations of South Asia
IAFF 3756Christianity and Islam in East Asia
PSC 2368Politics in the Two Koreas
PSC 2371Politics and Foreign Policy of China
PSC 2374Politics and Foreign Policy of Japan
PSC 2373Comparative Politics of Southeast Asia
Europe and Eurasia
GEOG 3197Special Topics in Regional Geography (Geography of Russia and Its Neighbors)
HIST 1121The War of Ideas in European and International History, 1750-Present
HIST 2125Twentieth-Century Europe
HIST 3101Topics: Europe (All sections of HIST 3101 are approved for this requirement.)
HIST 3168Divided and United Germany Since 1945
IAFF 2092Russia and Eastern Europe: An Introduction
IAFF 2094Europe in Transition
IAFF 3185Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (Nationalism in Eurasia)
IAFF 3185Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (The West and Russia)
IAFF 3185Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (Ukraine and Georgia between Russia and the West)
IAFF 3185Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (Ukrainian Security)
IAFF 3190Special Topics in International Affairs (European Economies and Crisis of Integration)
PSC 2330Comparative Politics of Western Europe
PSC 2331Comparative Politics of Central and Eastern Europe
PSC 2332European Integration
PSC 2366Russian Politics
PSC 2994Special Topics in International Relations (International Politics of Central and Eastern Europe)
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (British Politics)
Latin America
(Students in the BA in Latin American and hemispheric studies program must fulfill the regional foundations requirement using a course focused in a world region other than Latin America.)
ANTH 3702Anthropology of Latin America
ANTH 3791Topics in Regional Anthropology (Anthropology of the Caribbean)
GEOG 3161Geography of Latin America
HIST 3701Topics in Latin American History (Democracy in Latin America)
HIST 3701Topics in Latin American History (Violence, Drugs, and Democracy in Latin America)
HIST 3710History of Latin America I
HIST 3711History of Latin America II
IAFF 2090Latin America: Problems and Promise
IAFF 3177Political Economy of Latin America
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Cuba in the Global Arena)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Democracy in Latin America)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Democracy Under Siege in Latin America)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Economic and Social Development of Latin America)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Feminist Movements in Latin America)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Geography of Latin America)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Latin America Geopolitics and Geoeconomy)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Latin American Migration)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Racial and Ethnic Politics of Latin America)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Security in the Americas)
IAFF 3191WPopulism and Regime Change in Latin America
IAFF 3855Argentina in Global Context
PSC 2383Comparative Politics of Latin America
PSC 2993Special Topics in Comparative Politics (Democratic Experiments in Latin America)
SPAN 3200Bilingualism in the Spanish-Speaking World
Middle East
(Students in the BA in Middle East studies program must fulfill the regional foundations requirement using a course focused in a world region other than the Middle East.)
ANTH 3707Anthropology of the Middle East
GEOG 3154Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
HIST 3801Topics in Middle Eastern History (The Middle East Since WWII)
HIST 3810History of the Middle East to 1800
HIST 3825Land and Power in Israel/Palestine
IAFF 2095The Middle East in International Affairs
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (Arab Politics)
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (North Africa and the World)
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (Politics and Culture in the Middle East)
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (Turkey and Its Neighbors)
IAFF 3188Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Iran in the Middle East)
IAFF 3188Special Topics in Middle East Studies (National Security Lab Middle East)
IAFF 3188Special Topics in Middle East Studies (The Middle East Since WWII)
IAFF 3352Israeli and Palestinian Peacebuilding
PSC 2377Comparative Politics of the Middle East
PSC 2476The Arab-Israeli Conflict
or PSC 2476W The Arab-Israeli Conflict
PSC 2478International Relations of the Middle East
PSC 2993Special Topics in Comparative Politics (Political Violence in the Middle East)

Research Methods (3 credits)

One course pertaining to qualitative or quantitative social science research methods, computer programming, or other analytical competencies, from the following:

ANTH 3531Methods in Sociocultural Anthropology
APSC 3115Engineering Analysis III
CSCI 1012Introduction to Programming with Python
DATS 1001Data Science for All
DNSC 1001Business Analytics I: Statistics for Descriptive and Predictive Analytics *
DNSC 2001Business Analytics II: Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics **
ECON 2123Introduction to Econometrics
or STAT 2123 Introduction to Econometrics
GEOG 2104Introduction to Cartography and GIS
IAFF 2101Qualitative Methods in International Affairs
IAFF 2102Quantitative Methods in International Affairs
IAFF 2190Special Topics (Political Risk Analysis)
IAFF 2190Special Topics (Program Design in International Affairs)
IAFF 3180WSpecial Topics in Security Policy (Security Policy and Qualitative Analysis)
IAFF 3190Special Topics in International Affairs (International Conflict and Politics Research Seminar)
IAFF 3502Strategic Management and Qualitative Methods in International Affairs
IAFF 4191WResearch Seminar (International Conflict and Politics Research Seminar)
IAFF 4191WResearch Seminar (Security Policy and Qualitative Analysis)
ISTM 3119Introduction to Programming
PSC 2101Scope and Methods of Political Science
PSYC 2101Research Methods in Psychology
PUBH 2142Introduction to Biostatistics for Public Health
PUBH 3131Epidemiology
PUBH 3199Topics in Public Health (Research Methods Foundations)
PUBH 4201Practical Computing
SMPA 2151Research Methods
SOC 2101Social Research Methods
SOC 2102Techniques of Data Analysis
STAT 1051Introduction to Business and Economic Statistics *
STAT 1053Introduction to Statistics in Social Science *
STAT 1111Business and Economic Statistics I *
STAT 1127Statistics for the Biological Sciences *
STAT 1129Introduction to Computing
STAT 2112Business and Economic Statistics II **
STAT 2118Regression Analysis
STAT 2123Introduction to Econometrics
or ECON 2123 Introduction to Econometrics
STAT 2183WIntermediate Statistical Laboratory: Statistical Computing Packages
STAT 4157Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I
*Credit for only one of the following courses can be counted toward an Elliott School undergraduate degree: DNSC 1001, STAT 1051, STAT 1053, STAT 1111, or STAT 1127.
**Credit for only one of the following courses can be counted toward an Elliott School undergraduate degree: DNSC 2001 or STAT 2112.
In the categories below, additional Asia-related courses may be approved by the Program Director.
Asian literature (3 credits)
One course from the following:
CHIN 3111Chinese Literature in Translation I
CHIN 3112Chinese Literature in Translation II
JAPN 3111Japanese Literature in Translation I
JAPN 3112Japanese Literature in Translation II
KOR 3111Korean Literature in Translation I
KOR 3112Korean Literature in Translation II
Multi-disciplinary core (18 credits)
The following lists are not exhaustive, and new courses may be added at any time.
History and Culture—Three courses (9 credits) from the following:
ANTH 3703Cultures of the Pacific
ANTH 3704Cultures of Southeast Asia
ANTH 3705Anthropology of East Asia
ANTH 3709Japanese Culture Through Film
or JAPN 3162 Japanese Culture Through Film
CAH 2190East Asian Art
CAH 2191South Asian Art
CAH 2192Art of Southeast Asia
CHIN 3136WChinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film (same as WGSS 3136 and WGSS 3136W)
CHIN 3162Chinese Culture Through Film
EALL 1075East Asian Calligraphy
EALL 2802Introduction to Chinese Religions
or REL 2802 Introduction to Chinese Religions
EALL 3811Confucian Literature in East Asia
or REL 2811 Confucian Literature in East Asia
EALL 3831Introduction to Daoism
or EALL 3831W Introduction to Daoism
or REL 2831 Introduction to Daoism
EALL 3881Women, Gender, and Religion in China
or REL 3881 Women, Gender, and Religion in China
or WGSS 3881 Women, Gender, and Religion in China
ENGL 3965Topics in Asian American Cultural Studies
HIST 2305WMajors’ Introductory Seminar: United States (The Cold War in Asia)
HIST 2630History of Korea
HIST 3001Special Topics (Modern Southeast Asian History)
HIST 3001Special Topics (The Cold War in Asia)
HIST 3001Special Topics (The Korean War)
HIST 3001Special Topics (Vietnam: Colonialism, War, Revolution)
HIST 3001Special Topics (World War II in Asia)
HIST 3001Special Topics (WWII in Asia: History and Legacy)
HIST 3001Special Topics (WWII in East Asia and the Pacific)
HIST 3035The United States and the Wars in Indochina, 1945–1975
HIST 3610Imperial China (Song-Qing)
HIST 3611History of Modern China
HIST 3614WWriting Modern Chinese History
HIST 3615History of Chinese Communism
HIST 3621History of Modern Japan
HIST 3640History of Southeast Asia
HIST 3650Modern South Asia, 1750-Present
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Memory and Reconciliation in Asia)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (North Korean Society and Culture. Same as KOR 4190: North Korean Society and Culture)
JAPN 3162Japanese Culture Through Film
or ANTH 3709 Japanese Culture Through Film
KOR 3162Korean Culture through Film
KOR 4190North Korean Society and Culture (same as IAFF 3186: North Korean Society and Culture)
REL 2401Islam
REL 2501Hinduism
REL 2562Mythologies of India
REL 2601Buddhism
REL 2802Introduction to Chinese Religions
or EALL 2802 Introduction to Chinese Religions
REL 2811Confucian Literature in East Asia
or EALL 3811 Confucian Literature in East Asia
REL 2814Religion and Philosophy in East Asia
or EALL 3814 Religion and Philosophy in East Asia
REL 3405Shi'ite Islam
REL 3481Women in Islam
REL 3614Buddhist Philosophy
REL 3831WIntroduction to Daoism
or EALL 3831W Introduction to Daoism
REL 3832Myth, Ritual, and Popular Religion in China
or EALL 3832 Myth, Ritual, and Popular Religion in China
REL 3989The Goddess in India and Beyond
REL 3990Selected Topics in Religion (Mahabharata and Pali Buddhism)
REL 3990Selected Topics in Religion (Shamanism in Theory)
WGSS 3136Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film (same as CHIN 3136W)
or WGSS 3136W Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film
Political Science and Geography—Two courses (6 credits) from the following:
GEOG 3165Geography of South Asia
IAFF 2202WCritical Issues in U.S.-Asia Relations
IAFF 3201WChina’s Rise and Its Implications
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Indo-Pacific Security Challenges)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Politics and Conflict South Asia)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Taiwan: Current Challenges and Future Directions)
IAFF 3190Special Topics in International Affairs (China and Africa)
IAFF 3753International Relations of South Asia
IAFF 3754U.S.-China Relations
PSC 2368Politics in the Two Koreas
PSC 2369Comparative Politics of South Asia
PSC 2370Comparative Politics of China and Northeast Asia
PSC 2371Politics and Foreign Policy of China
PSC 2373Comparative Politics of Southeast Asia
PSC 2374Politics and Foreign Policy of Japan
PSC 2475International Relations of East Asia
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (Chinese Foreign Policy)
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (Post-Conflict Vietnam)
Economics and Development—One course (3 credits) from the following:
ECON 2151Economic Development
or ECON 2151W Economic Development
ECON 2169Introduction to the Economy of China
ECON 2198Special Topics in Economics - Regional (East Asian Economies)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Economic Development of East Asia)
IAFF 3186WSpecial Topics in Asian Studies (Development Issues in Southeast Asia)
IAFF 3752WEquitable Development in Southeast Asia
Related coursework (9 credits)
Three courses related to Asia from any discipline, including International Affairs (IAFF), selected with the approval of the program director.
Study abroad
Students are encouraged to study in Asia through one of GW's formal partnerships with a regional university or an approved self-designed study abroad program.