College of the Week--The George Washington University

The George Washington University

(Visiting Severn School Monday 9/19/11)

Our University actively engages Washington, D.C., and the world. Our location in the heart of Washington places us at the core of U.S. government, policy and law. We sit where the worlds of science, technology, media and the arts converge. Our students and faculty have the unparalleled opportunity to study and work alongside leaders and practitioners in every discipline, to take part in the interchanges that shape our community and the world.

Our History
The George Washington University was created in 1821 through an Act of the Congress, fulfilling George Washington’s vision of an institution in the nation’s capital dedicated to educating and preparing future leaders.

Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. We have more than 20,000 students—from all 50 states, the District and more than 130 countries—studying a rich range of disciplines: from forensic science and creative writing to international affairs and computer engineering, as well as medicine, public health, the law and public policy.

GW comprises three campuses—Foggy Bottom and 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 Hampton Roads, Va.


Our Commitment
Our mission is to provide an environment where knowledge is created and acquired and where creative endeavors seek to enrich the experiences of the global society. With nine schools and colleges and nearly 100 research centers and institutes, our students receive hands-on experience as they explore nearly any avenue of personal interest.

The depth and breadth of our academic programs, the exceptional qualifications of our full-time faculty, the unmatched experiences of our adjunct faculty and the strengths of our research initiatives allow our students, our faculty and our staff to look at the world beyond the classroom. They allow us to prepare the next generation of leaders.

The GW Experience

The students and professors who pass through our halls will tell you that The George Washington University is much more than an academic institution. It is a place of opportunity. You can learn from renowned professors, meet your best friends and work with some of the most influential organizations in the world. You can become a part of the GW experience.

For each person—from students to faculty, alumni to staff—the GW experience is unique. Interning on Capitol Hill. Biking down miles of trails. Listening to prominent world leaders speak. Leafing through rare book collections at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Watching professional baseball, basketball, hockey or celebrity entertainers. Performing in one of the University’s many student talent organizations. The diversity of the city is an ideal match for the diversity of our University.

Even after commencement on the National Mall, the GW experience continues. Influenced by their experiences, our community members leave, empowered by knowledge that helps them find their place and leave their mark on the nation and the world.