FAQs

The Health Sciences programs are part of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). Though Health Sciences has its own senior associate dean and unique departments, students receive their degrees and/or certificates from SMHS.

GW Health Sciences programs offer associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees and certificates in a wide range of health professions and related academic disciplines. We also offer a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Some majors, such as Physician Assistant Studies, are more hands-on with a clinical focus. Others are more administratively oriented or focus on executive leadership, such as Clinical Research Administration and Health Care Quality.

Students in some programs (for example, Physician Assistant) take on-campus classes with medical students. Some Health Sciences online courses include students from all over the university as well as students in other parts of the U.S. and other countries.

Yes, however you must obtain permission to register. A student who wishes to take individual courses in health sciences programs must obtain permission to register as an unclassified student in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Contact the Office of Admissions for Health Sciences Programs to make the request. The admissions office, in conjunction with the program director, will determine whether permission to register will be granted to an unclassified student. Permission to take individual courses, if granted, is generally limited to 6 credit hours.

Yes. All courses given at GW must be approved through individual schools and the university before they can be offered. All Health Sciences courses, whether on-campus or online, are at the approved level and rigor. Many of our programs not only satisfy this rigor of the university, but additional national professional accrediting bodies.

GW Health Sciences programs value community service very highly and provide students with a number of service opportunities The Interdisciplinary Student Community-Oriented Prevention Enhancement Service (ISCOPES) is a year-long interdisciplinary team service-learning experience geared toward providing a wide range of health-related services in Washington, DC. The Physical Therapy program operates a neighborhood clinic on Saturday mornings. And students, faculty, and staff from across SMHS participate in a day of community service each fall during orientation.

Multi-level dual degree programs offer academically qualified individuals a seamless and accelerated pathway for completing both the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) and the Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS). Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be conferred sequentially, with the BSHS awarded upon completion of 120 credits (9 of which are taken for graduate credit). The MSHS is awarded following completion of an additional 27 credits of graduate coursework.

We offer four dual degree programs:

• BSHS/MSHS in Clinical Research Administration
• BSHS/MSHS in Clinical Management & Leadership
• BSHS in Clinical Research Administration/MSHS in Regulatory Affairs
• BSHS in Clinical Management & Leadership/MSHS in Health Care Quality

Yes, undergraduate programs in the Department of Clinical Research and Leadership accept up to 12 credits from credit-by-exam. Please contact the program for specific guidelines. Health Science Programs do not accept the CLEP College Composition and College Composition Modular or the College Mathematics exams.

Please view the prerequisite and other admissions requirements for the program in which you are interested in the Admissions section.

First, carefully read the admission requirements for the degree program to which you are applying. Then, create an account to apply online.

Application deadlines vary by program. Please view information for the program in which you are interested in the Admissions section.

Program advisors vary by program. Please view information for the program in which you are interested in the Academics section.