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Graduate and Professional Certificate Admissions

Current GWSB Graduate Students

All current students in good academic standing (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher) enrolled in a graduate degree program within the GW School of Business (GWSB) are eligible to be considered for admission to a graduate certificate program after one full semester of completed coursework. Current graduate students may combine their degree with a graduate certificate. Courses completed for the certificate may be applied towards the elective requirements. After speaking with their academic advisor, students may apply by completing and submitting the MBA & Specialized Master's Additional Graduate Certificate Credential Form.

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Business Analytics applicants please note: Due to the high-level quantitative course work taught in the Business Analytics graduate certificate program, current GW Masters/MBA students must upload copies of all previous transcripts, including from undergraduate and graduate institutions. These transcripts must be included with the Business Analytics graduate certificate application.

 

Non-GWSB Students

To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Previous academic history, letters of recommendation, demonstrated motivation and aptitude to undertake graduate-level work, and professional experience are all taken into consideration.

Please note: Graduate certificate registration does not qualify for federal financial aid, but students may seek private loans to fund their study.

To apply, you must complete the online application and provide transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate academic institution as well as a professional resume, one letter of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. GMAT or GRE scores are not needed.

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Graduate Certificate Programs

Each graduate certificate is:

  • 12 credits, all of which must be completed as a certificate or degree-seeking student at GWU. No transfer credits are accepted and no merit scholarships are awarded.
  • Offered part-time. Students enroll in one or two courses at a time.
  • Offered on campus (except for the Project Management certificate, which can be completed online).
  • Taught at the GW School of Business by GWSB professors. Graduate certificate students enroll in the same classes as MBA and specialized master’s students. Classes are held once or twice a week, usually starting in the late afternoon or early evening.

Further, all graduate certificates:

  • Start in the fall or spring semester. No graduate certificates begin in the summer term.
  • Are billed by the number of credit hours a student takes per semester. Full semester classes are three credit hours. Half semester classes are 1.5 credit hours.
  • Can be applied (in terms of credit hours completed and tuition amount paid) to a GWSB MBA or specialized master’s degree program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand the tab below to browse information related to our graduate certificates.

Graduate Certificate FAQ

Admissions

Program and Schedule

 

Who can apply to the GWSB Graduate Certificate Program?

Any professional who would like to enroll in a part-time GW School of Business graduate certificate program. The graduate certificate program is not a degree-granting program; therefore, international applicants are not eligible to apply, because they cannot be granted a student visa.

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Who benefits from earning a graduate certificate?

This program is designed to give working professionals the opportunity to learn while they earn. Certificate students take twelve credits in a dedicated subject at the GW School of Business (GWSB). GWSB professors teach all graduate students, including students in Graduate Certificate programs.

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What documents need to be included with the online application?

Transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate academic institution, a professional resume, one letter of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. GMAT or GRE scores are optional.

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What background do students need to qualify for admission to the Graduate Certificate Program?

Students must have an undergraduate bachelor’s degree. Current GWU graduate students must be in good standing to apply to and be admitted into the Graduate Certificate Program. First semester GW graduate students must have grades posted for the first term to be admitted into a certificate.

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Can credits earned in a graduate certificate program be applied to a specialized master’s or MBA program?

Yes, if these credits and courses are within the elective courses of the master’s or MBA program. Graduate certificate students apply separately to the master’s or MBA program after they have completed the entire 12 credit hours and earned the certificate. Credit hours expire after five years.

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How long does it take before I get an admission’s decision?

Once the application file has been marked complete, it is sent to the admissions committee for review. The review process takes several weeks. An applicant will then be notified and will receive an admissions decision by email.

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What is the cost of a graduate certificate?

Each class is either 1.5 or three credit hours. Tuition rates per credit hour may be found here. Information about any additional fees can be found on the Student Accounts Office, Finance Division website. The phone number is (202) 994-7350.

There are no scholarships awarded for the tuition of a graduate certificate. However, if after completing a graduate certificate, a student wants to earn a master’s degree, the tuition paid during the certificate program may be applied to the cost of the master’s degree. Merit-based scholarships are awarded for master’s programs.

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Are graduate certificates eligible for federal financial aid?

Please visit the website of the Office of Student Financial Assistance for information on obtaining federal financial aid for graduate certificate programs.

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Where do I send official transcripts and other application documents?

Applicants attach them their online application. If they do not have official documents at the time of application submission, they can email official documents to [email protected]. Email is the preferred method of receiving official documents, transcripts and test scores.

Official documents may also be mailed to:

George Washington University
ATTN: School of Business, Graduate Admissions
2025 F St NW L-101
Washington, D.C. 20052

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When can students begin a graduate certificate program?

Semesters begin in August (fall) or January (spring). The application is online. The application deadline is posted on the GWSB website. Admission decisions are released several weeks after the receipt of a complete application.

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When and where do classes meet?

GWSB classes are offered on the Foggy Bottom campus in downtown Washington, D.C. Classes are held once or twice a week, often starting in the late afternoon or early evening, to accommodate a working professional’s schedule. All classes are taught by GWSB professors. Your classmates are MBA and specialized master’s students.

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How many classes are needed to complete a graduate certificate?

Twelve credits are required to complete a graduate certificate. Each certificate offers a combination of required and elective courses. Semester-long classes are three credit hours. Half-semester classes are 1.5 credit hours. To earn the certificate, all 12 credits must be completed at GWSB. No transfer credits are accepted and no merit-based scholarship aid is awarded.

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Can graduate certificates be completed online?

In addition to our online degree programs, the graduate certificates on this page can be completed entirely online.

In the upcoming academic years, GWSB plans to offer even more online graduate certificates.

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Do any graduate certificates have prerequisites?

Yes, for Business Analytics, applicants must have completed statistics, calculus, higher level math (such as linear algebra), and computer programming. For Business Information Systems, applicants must have completed database programming.

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How long does it take to complete a graduate certificate?

This is a part-time program. Students attend one or two classes per semester. These classes are held once or twice a week, often in the late afternoon or early evening. In accordance with GW School of Business policy, course work must be completed within five years of admission. The shortest time-frame a student can complete a certificate is within two to three semesters, depending on when courses are offered.

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If I have more questions about the Graduate Certificate Program, who can I contact?

For answers to questions about the application process or admission requirements, contact the GW School of Business Graduate Admissions Office at (202) 994-1212 or [email protected].

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Graduate Certificates

 

 

Apply To A Graduate Certificate Program

Applications are submitted through the GW Student Portal. You can sign up for an account if you don't have one.

 

Professional Certificate Programs

Enroll in one of six professional development certificate programs offered by a research center or institute at the George Washington University School of Business.

 

Apply To A Professional Certificate Program

Applications are submitted through the GW Student Portal. You can sign up for an account if you don't have one.