Does the Virginia
Campus offer more than engineering programs at the Virginia Campus?
Yes. Programs are offered by GW's School of Business, the Graduate
School of Education & Human Development, the School of Medicine
& Health Sciences, as well as the School of Engineering
and Applied Science.
Are
there undergraduate programs at the Virginia Campus?
The campus focuses on
providing graduate-level programs that award a graduate certificate,
master's degree, or doctoral degree. The only undergraduate program
currently offered at the Virginia Campus is the Bachelor
of Sciences in Health Sciences (Pharmacogenomics), offered by
the School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Can
I take a course without enrolling in a degree program?
Please check with the school or department offering the course you
wish to enroll in for specific school and program policies. Usually,
students can enroll in a course without formal admission to the program
and apply up to six credit hours toward a degree program IF accepted
for admission. This varies from program to program.
How
do I register?
Contact the program or school directly for specific enrollment and
admission requirements, as these may vary from school to school and
program to program. Course registrations are accepted even after a
course begins, although we recommend you register early to avoid late
fees.
When
should I apply for a program?
We recommend that you contact the program manager as soon as you begin
exploring degree options. For programs that start in August, applications
are accepted as early as six to nine months before the start date,
especially for executive and accelerated programs.
What
is an " Executive" program?
Executive and accelerated programs are offered in an intensive format,
usually combining one weekday and one weekend day of study on alternating
weeks. Typically, the curriculum is tailored to a more senior-level
professional. The faculty of a school is usually selected to teach
based on their consulting, teaching and publishing expertise. Executive
programs attract high-potential mid-level and senior managers who
are supported by their organizations, and can usually be completed
in an accelerated time period. For example, the Executive
Master of Science in Information Systems program is delivered on alternating
Fridays and Saturdays over a 15-month period.
What
types of partnerships might my organization consider with GW and the
Virginia Campus?
Partnerships can be formed around many options. These include teaming
on third party proposals, developing joint research, arranging customized
contract education and training programs, delivering company-sponsored
graduate degree courses or entire degree programs, in-house seminars
and briefings, scheduling periodic technical talks and presentations,
establishing a visiting scholar programs, sponsoring graduate fellowship
programs, hiring cooperative education students and interns, and co-sponsoring
public programs, conferences and institutes. We are pleased to meet
with you to explore the opportunities.
If
I enroll in a program and complete it at the Virginia Campus, where
does my degree come from?
The George Washington University and the academic school in which
the degree program resides award all degrees. When you graduate, your
diploma will indicate this.
What
about the faculty? Who teaches in programs at the Virginia Campus?
The faculty of The George Washington University teach in programs
at the Virginia Campus. You'll find that most faculties teach both
at the main campus downtown in Foggy Bottom and at the Virginia
Campus. In addition to the full-time faculty of the University,
highly qualified adjunct faculty members who are employed by industry
in the region also may teach in the program in which you are enrolled.
This important mix of academic and industry expertise provide both
a theoretical and applied approach to the learning experience which
our students indicate is very valuable to them.
What
makes GW faculty members unique?
Many of our faculty members have come from industry or from government
service, and many maintain active consulting practices, travelling
both nationally and internationally. Their experience is not only
academic, it is applied. If you are a part-t ime student, they know
the environment in which you work. If you are a full-time student,
these contacts can help you secure internships, placement after graduation,
and often, special types of support.
Are
liberal arts programs offered?
The Virginia Campus offers graduate degrees in leadership, management,
technology and engineering at this time. While there are no plans
now to expand this mission, if there is sufficient market demand for
programs or courses, the University will evaluate and consider every
possibility.
How
much acreage does the University occupy at University Center?
GW owns 95 acres in this 576-acre university/industry technology
and residential park called University Center. It has an option on
an additional 30 acres for future development. University Center
was developed by the Charles E. Smith Companies. It invited GW to
build a campus and contributed the land to this endeavor. Before
the Smith Companies purchased this farm property, it was owned by
Richard Bless who moved to the site after selling his Tysons Corner
farm for development.
What
is GW's commitment?
GW built the Virginia Campus in 1991 and invested about $26 million
dollars in building and infrastructure costs. This 77,000, four-story
Virginia-Georgian facility houses masters and doctoral programs, research
centers, offices and laboratories. The campus is self-supporting,
services the bond that financed construction costs, and operates with
a conservative fiscal policy.
Since 2001, the Virginia Campus has grown from one building to three
and from 50 acres to 95 acres.
-
In 2001, the University announced plans to build an 86,000 square-foot
facility to house the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Academy. The facility, which opened in September 2003, includes
state of the art classrooms, laboratories, an outside simulation
court for accident reconstructions, and other equipment used in
training accident investigators.
-
In February 2002, the University purchased a 204,000 square-foot
facility sitting on 40 acres adjacent to the Virginia Campus
along Route 7. First phase building renovations converted open
space into classrooms and faculty offices. Future renovations
are planned to accommodate additional programs and administrative
offices. The building houses Virginia Campus administration,
GW’s
Information Systems and Services (ISS) staff and Data Center,
the Virginia Campus Library, and select academic and research
programs.
Why
did GW locate to Virginia and build the campus?
GW anticipated the fast-growth that is now occurring in the information
technology and telecommunications sector in Northern Virginia. This,
and the expansion of engineering and government services firms in
the region, plus the demand by companies an d government agencies
for high quality graduate education programs to continuously develop
the highly technical workforce, propelled GW to make a decision to
locate permanently in Northern Virginia in the mid-1980âs. Early assessments
focused on seeking a location for the School of Engineering and Applied
Science. This charge was broadened to include the School of Business
and Public Management, and Graduate School of Education and Human
Development when market research told us that management and lead
ership programs were vital to industry competitiveness.
What
is the University's plan for expanding the Virginia Campus at University
Center?
The University will grow as the programs and research grow. There
are plans now to construct another building which will focus on transportation
safety research and related graduate programs. The University seeks
partnerships with individuals, industry and government agencies to
team on important research and educational programs. Support for the
development and growth of the campus is sought from private and public
sources. Please contact the Office of the Executive Dean to discuss
how you might join with us.
How
far is it from GW's main campus in Foggy Bottom to the Virginia Campus?
It's about 35 miles and, depending upon the route taken, about 35-45
minutes of drive time. There are several easy routes to the Virginia
Campus from Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia. See the Visitor
Center for the campus map and location, which describes various ways
to get to us.
How
about from Tysons Corner and Dulles International Airport?
The Virginia Campus is 13 miles northwest of Tysons Corner, via Route
7 and takes about 20 minutes of drive time. The campus is five miles
north of Dulles International Airport, just west of the intersection
of Route 7 and Route 28 in Ashburn, Virginia. It takes about 10-15
minutes from terminal to campus.
Does
the Metro go the Virginia Campus?
Not yet, although the master transportation plan for the region includes
Metro to Dulles International Airport (IAD). Today, travelers can
board a Washington Flyer bus from West Falls Church Metro station
to IAD and then continue on by taxi to the Virginia Campus.
How
do I get downtown to GW's main campus to take a class, if I wish?
A conveniently scheduled Shuttle
Service is offered free to students,
faculty, staff and visitors. Again, this
is a free service and there is no charge.
