George Washington University

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a large city.

Overview

George Washington University, also known as GW or GWU, was established in 1821 through an Act of Congress.

Today GW is the largest institution of higher learning in the District of Columbia, with more than 20,000 students from all 50 states, the District and more than 130 countries.

The main campus encompasses 43 acres in the historic Foggy Bottom area in Washington, D.C.--located four blocks from the White House.

There are two other campuses, in Mount Vernon in Washington, D.C., and the GW Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn, Va., as well as several graduate education centers in the metropolitan area and in Hampton Roads, Va.

GWU is renowned for its undergraduate International Business, Political Communications, and International Affairs programs.

The 2009 U.S. News & World Report America's Best Colleges puts GW at No. 53 for national universities and No. 39 for business programs. The magazine's 2009 America's Best Graduate Schools recognizes the university as one of the preeminent institutions in the country for the study of law, public policy and public administration.

The university is organized into the following schools and colleges:

• College of Professional Studies
• Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
• Elliott School of International Affairs
• Graduate School of Education and Human Development
• GW Law School
• School of Business
• School of Engineering and Applied Science
• School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• School of Public Health and Health Services

In addition, GW has nearly 100 research centers and institutes.

The Greek community includes about 35 National Fraternities and Sororities, as of October 2008. Nearly 1000 students--or 19 percent of undergraduates) are involved. Some of the fraternities and sororities are affiliated with the National Pan-Hellenic and the Panhellenic Councils.

The university has 22 men's and women's varsity teams, competing in the NCAA Division I. In addition to 24 club sports--such as ice hockey and horseback riding--students may choose to join any of 13 different intramural sports leagues each semester.

Famous alumni of George Washington include Scott S. Cowen, president of Tulane University; political commentators Mona Charen and Michael Kinsley; Mikhail Saakashvili, President of Georgia; Bob Woodward, investigative reporter; Harry Reid, current U.S. Senator; Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, former First Lady; Colin Powell, former Secretary of State and Head, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Patricia Roberts Harris, former director at IBM. Actor Alec Baldwin attended briefly but did not graduate.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Many students concentrating in engineering, computer science and engineering, and law.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• High percentage of students are from out-of-state.
• High faculty salary.
• Large number of students.
• High SAT scores (combined Verbal and Math).
• Selective admissions.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.
• Many mature (40+ year old) students.
• Good faculty-to-student ratio.

School characteristics:

• The school is private, not-for-profit.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Doctoral/Research Universities, Extensive.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Part-time classes are available.
• ROTC.
• Athlete financial aid is awarded.

Tuition and Financial Aid (2009-2010)

Financial Aid

George Washington participates in US Title IV financial assistance programs.

In 2009-2010, 57% of students received financial aid of some sort.

(Please refer to BrainTrack's financial aid articles section for background information.)

Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 25,116 in 2009-2010 (18,218 full-time equivalent).

About 43% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 57% of the class.

Undergrads are 40% of enrolled students, graduate students are 52%, and those seeking first-professional graduate degrees represent 8%.

Students under 25 years old represent 51% of the student body. About 10% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Among freshmen students, 100% are full-time and 0% are part-time.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

SAT Test Scores:

Room and Board

George Washington provides on-campus housing for 8,169 of its 18,218 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010). The school requires freshmen to live on campus.

Athletics

The school is in the Atlantic 10 Conference for major sports.

The school offers financial aid for athletes. Of students receiving athletic financial aid, 100 male students received the aid (men were 40% of those receiving aid) and 147 women were awarded financial aid based on athletics (representing 60% of students receiving such aid) .

Graduate School Focus

George Washington offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Doctorate (Research/Scholarship & Professional Practice).

Graduate offerings include continuing professional education and medical degrees.The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Comprehensive Doctoral With Medical/Veterinary.

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING (41 awarded)

• Landscape Architecture (BS, BSLA, BLA, MSLA, MLA, PhD)

ART STUDIES (13 awarded)

• Art/Art Studies
• Visual and Performing Arts

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (1,182 awarded)

• Accounting
• Business Administration and Management
• Business, Management, Marketing & Related Support Services
• Business/Commerce
• Finance
• Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration
• International Business/Trade/Commerce
• Knowledge Management
• Management Information Systems
• Marketing/Marketing Management
• Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
• Operations Management and Supervision
• Organizational Behavior Studies

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (294 awarded)

• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Computer and Information Systems Security
• Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician
• Information Science/Studies
• Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design

CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (7 awarded)

• Environmental Studies

DESIGN (24 awarded)

• Design and Visual Communications
• Interior Design

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS (25 awarded)

• Acting
• Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (798 awarded)

• Adult and Continuing Education Administration
• Computer Teacher Education
• Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Education
• Education/Teaching Individuals - Early Childhood Spec Ed Pgms
• Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Educational Leadership and Administration
• Educational/Instructional Media Design
• Elementary Education and Teaching
• Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
• International and Comparative Education
• Mathematics Teacher Education
• Reading Teacher Education
• Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
• Secondary Education and Teaching
• Special Education and Teaching
• Teacher Education/Profess Development, Subject Areas

ENGINEERING (948 awarded)

• Archeology
• Biomedical/Medical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
• Engineering
• Engineering/Industrial Management
• Mechanical Engineering
• Systems Engineering

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (1 awarded)

• Telecommunications Technology/Technician

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (160 awarded)

• Human Services
• Public Administration
• Public Policy Analysis

FINE ARTS (46 awarded)

• Art History, Criticism and Conservation
• Ceramic Arts and Ceramics
• Fine/Studio Arts

HOSPITALITY (121 awarded)

• Tourism and Travel Services Management

LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE (2 awarded)

• Landscaping and Groundskeeping

LAW (780 awarded)

• Advanced Legal Research/Studies, Gen (LLM, MCL, MLI, MSL, JSD/SJD)
• Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law (LLM, MS, JSD/SJD)
• International Law and Legal Studies (LLM, JSD/SJD)
• Law (LLB, JD)
• Legal Assistant/Paralegal
• Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
• Legal Support Services

LIBERAL ARTS (1,780 awarded)

• American Government and Politics (United States)
• American/United States Studies/Civilization
• Anthropology
• Asian Studies/Civilization
• Chinese Language and Literature
• Classics/Classical Languages, Lit & Linguistics
• Creative Writing
• Development Economics and International Development
• Economics
• English Language and Literature
• European Studies/Civilization
• French Language and Literature
• Geography
• German Language and Literature
• History
• International Economics
• International Relations and Affairs
• Japanese Language and Literature
• Latin American Studies
• Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
• Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
• Museology/Museum Studies
• Near and Middle Eastern Studies
• Political Science and Government
• Russian Language and Literature
• Sociology
• Spanish Language and Literature
• Speech and Rhetorical Studies
• Women's Studies

MATHEMATICS (48 awarded)

• Applied Mathematics
• Mathematics
• Statistics

MEDIA (101 awarded)

• Journalism
• Political Communication
• Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
• Public Relations/Image Management
• Publishing

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION (271 awarded)

• Health Services Administration
• Health and Medical Administrative Services
• Health/Health Care Administration/Management
• International Public Health/International Health
• Public Health Education and Promotion

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY (704 awarded)

• Allied Health Diagnostic/Intervention/Treatment Professions, Oth
• Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
• Blood Bank Technology Specialist
• Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
• Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician
• Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist
• Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer & Ultrasound Technician
• Hematology Technology/Technician
• Physician Assistant

MEDICINE (322 awarded)

• Dental Clinical Sciences, General (MS, PhD)
• Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences
• Medicine (MD)
• Neuroscience
• Public Health, General (MPH, DPH)
• Public Health

MUSIC (8 awarded)

• Music

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE (49 awarded)

• Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
• Nursing Administration (MSN, MS, PhD)
• Nursing
• Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (46 awarded)

• Athletic Training/Trainer
• Kinesiology and Exercise Science

OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATION (1 awarded)

• Office Management and Supervision

PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL ART (10 awarded)

• Film/Cinema Studies
• Photography

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY (37 awarded)

• Jewish/Judaic Studies
• Philosophy
• Religion/Religious Studies

SCIENCE (183 awarded)

• Biochemistry
• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Biomedical Sciences
• Biophysics
• Biostatistics
• Biotechnology
• Chemistry
• Epidemiology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Genetics
• Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
• Geology/Earth Science
• Human/Medical Genetics
• Immunology
• Molecular Genetics
• Pharmacology
• Physics

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (143 awarded)

• Criminal Justice/Police Science
• Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
• Criminology
• Forensic Science and Technology

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (273 awarded)

• Art Therapy/Therapist
• Clinical Psychology
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• Physical Therapy/Therapist
• Psychology