The 4+1 Program
The 4+1 Program
Earn Your Bachelor’s and Master’s in Five Years
Earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years
Increase your value in a competitive marketplace and begin your career a year earlier
Earn up to nine credits toward your master’s degree
Receive a 10% Grad2Grad tuition discount and be considered for merit scholarships up to 40%
In a competitive business environment, having a master’s degree can lead to higher-level positions, more responsibility and greater earning potential. The 4+1 Program is a dual degree program that offers undergraduate students at five GW schools and colleges the opportunity to earn an accelerated master’s degree from the GW School of Business.
GW School of Business graduate programs are skill-based, multidisciplinary and responsive to industry requirements, making you better prepared to enter the job market.
What is the timeline for this program?
Students are encouraged to apply to the 4+1 Program in their junior year. Upon acceptance, students may register for courses at the graduate level with permission of the program manager. Completing the shared credits during your undergraduate study will reduce the time (and funds) needed to complete your master's.
The bachelor’s degree is awarded after successful completion of all undergraduate requirements. The master’s degree is awarded upon successful completion of the graduate requirements.
Available Programs and Eligibility
The following schools and colleges offer 4+1 Program options with GW Business master's degrees:
- The Columbian College of Arts & Sciences (CCAS)
- The Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA)
- The School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS)
- The Milken Institute School of Public Health (SPH)
- The School of Business (GWSB)
All BS and BA students’ majors, minors and concentrations across CCAS, ESIA, SEAS, SPH and GWSB are eligible, with a few exceptions. Learn more about the programs offered below. You can also download PDF summaries of this information for GW School of Business students and GW students outside the School of Business.
- Accountancy
Prepare for a CPA certification through hands-on learning experiences with real businesses and informative classwork that provides insights into global accountancy.
- Accounting Analytics
Be a leader in the intersection between data and accounting with faculty from leading accounting firms, government agencies and nonprofits.
- Applied Finance
Learn econometrics through applied research and modeling, using computer software packages to explore dimensions of finance, financial engineering and portfolio management.
- Business Analytics
Become equipped with technical, quantitative and qualitative skills to implement advanced data analysis in complex challenges or environments.
- Finance
Dive into applied research and modeling in international and regulatory dimensions of all areas of finance in the prime location of Washington, D.C.
- Human Resources Management
Apply best practices in HR based on research in topics including inclusion, leadership, performance management and HR analytics.
- Information Systems Technology
Manage and implement complex information systems to design technical frameworks in the areas of cybersecurity, cloud applications and big data analytics.
- International Business
Gain hands-on experience with required international experience and projects to solve problems with a global mindset in all areas of business.
- Management
Equip and tailor essential management skills to specific business interests and learn a solid foundation of core business skills and how to apply them effectively.
- Marketing
Apply skills through collaborative experiential learning and build expertise in marketing technology, relationship building and brand management.
- Project Management
Develop project management skills through real-world applications and make complex decisions when managing risk or leading project teams.
- Sport Management
Prepare for executive careers in the events and facility management, sports marketing, athlete representation, sports analytics, sports media and sporting goods industries.
- Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management
Turn passion into application in the growing topics of tourism, hospitality and event management industries through experiential learning and real-world application.
Financial Assistance
After you have completed 120 credit hours, you are no longer eligible for undergraduate financial aid, including merit and/or need-based scholarships. However, you may be eligible for graduate financial assistance; you may apply for funding through the Office of Student Financial Assistance and/or the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships.
In addition to the Grad2Grad discount outlined below, students are also eligible for consideration for merit scholarships of up to 40% from the School of Business. No additional application is required. You will be considered for additional scholarships and informed of the outcome during the regular application process.
Grad2Grad Program
The Grad2Grad Program encourages talented graduating GW seniors to continue their graduate studies at GW by providing a 10% reduction in tuition. Students in dual bachelor’s-master’s programs are eligible for Grad2Grad once they fully matriculate as a graduate student. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships at gradfell
gwu [dot] edu (gradfell[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-6822.
Who Can I Contact to Learn More?
For more information about 4+1 Programs, please contact our team members based on your program of interest:
- Master of Accountancy or Accounting Analytics: c [dot] frawleygwu [dot] edu (Caroline Frawley)
- MS in Finance or Applied Finance: maldagwu [dot] edu (Malda Muawad)
- All other graduate programs: ver106gwu [dot] edu (Vanessa Ramirez)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to formally apply to the 4+1 Program?
Yes. You need to formally apply to the program and be accepted into it in order to participate.
Current GW undergraduate students may submit an application to the 4+1 Program online through the GW online application system. Any student from an eligible school and degree program may apply.
- When do I apply?
Apply early; the latest you should apply is summer after your junior year. In rare cases, we may accept applications for some programs in your senior year. The preferred deadline to submit the application is in mid-May; the admissions committee highly recommends that applicants submit their materials by this deadline. However, applications will be accepted until mid-June. Candidates with completed applications will receive their admissions decision by mid-July. Please note that admission to some 4+1 master's degree programs is offered for the fall semester only.
- How do I apply?
You may apply to the program through GW's online application system. You can sign up for an account if you don't have one.
- Are there any program requirements I should be aware of?
Yes. Before enrolling in the 4+1 Program, students must:
- be in good academic standing in their undergraduate degree program; and
- complete all prerequisites (if any) for their proposed GW Business master's degree.
- What is credit sharing?
Credit sharing is something that makes the 4+1 Program attractive. It allows you to take graduate-level courses while you are still pursuing your undergraduate degree. These courses count not only toward your undergraduate degree requirement but also toward your graduate degree, allowing you to finish the graduate program faster and at a much lower cost.
Upon acceptance to the 4+1 program, students may register for courses at the graduate level with permission of the program manager.
- When will I receive my degrees?
For all 4+1 Programs, the degrees are awarded separately after each program’s degree requirements are satisfied (the BA or BS degree is typically awarded at the end of the 4th year; the graduate degree is typically awarded at the end of the fifth year).
To apply for the undergraduate degree, the student must submit a graduation application on GWeb.
- Does this limit my opportunity to study abroad?
GW Business students are encouraged to participate in study abroad experiences while in their undergraduate and graduate programs. For admission to the 4+1 Program, eligibility is dependent upon course enrollment and sequencing. While Global Bachelor’s Program students are eligible, they should closely review the course sequence required for admission into each particular 4+1 degree program and consult with their academic advisor. Students participating in the ACE Program are not eligible to participate in the 4+1 Program, but are encouraged to apply for regular admission to a graduate degree program at the School of Business.