Dual Degree Programs

The Graduate School of Political Management offers Dual Degree programs that combine one of our master's programs with a GW undergraduate degree program or graduate certificate. They are designed for GW students who are interested in careers in the fields of Legislative Affairs or Political Management.

While in the undergraduate program, credits from two or three courses count towards both your undergraduate and graduate requirements, so that both degrees can be granted in a shorter time and at a lower cost than if both were pursued separately. These dual degree programs are only available to GW students earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Political Communication, or Journalism and Mass Communication.

These dual degree programs are only available to GW undergraduate students. Contact a GSPM enrollment advisor for additional information.


Dual Degree: Master's and Undergraduate Degree

Political Science and Political Management
  • Confers B.A. in Political Science and M.P.S. in Political Management
  • Substitutes three undergraduate courses for graduate courses
  • Eligible for application after 60 credit hours at GW
  • Students pursuing an M.P.S. in Political Management in combination with their B.A. should plan to take the following courses as an undergraduate:

    • PMGT 6401: Fundamentals of Political Management

    • PMGT 6402: Applied Political Communications

    • PMGT 6404: Principled Political Leadership

Political Science and Legislative Affairs
  • Confers B.A. in Political Science and M.P.S. in Legislative Affairs
  • Substitutes three undergraduate courses for graduate courses
  • Eligible for application after 60 credit hours at GW
  • Students pursuing an M.P.S. in Legislative Affairs in combination with their B.A. should plan to take three of the following courses as an undergraduate:

    • LGAF 6201: Politics and Public Policy

    • LGAF 6202: Legislative Politics

    • LGAF 6203: Executive-Legislative Relations

    • LGAF 6204: Research Methods

School of Media and Public Affairs and Political Management
  • Confers B.A. in Political Communication or Journalism and Mass Communication and M.P.S. in Political Management
  • Substitutes two undergraduate courses for graduate courses
  • Eligible for application after 60 credit hours at GW
  • Students pursuing an M.P.S. in Political Management in combination with their B.A. should plan to take two of the following courses as an undergraduate:

    • PMGT 6401: Fundamentals of Political Management

    • PMGT 6402: Applied Political Communications

    • PMGT 6404: Principled Political Leadership


Undergraduate-Graduate Dual Degree Admissions Requirements

 

  • Be a declared Political Science or SMPA major
  • Complete 60 credit hours at GW (does not include transfer credits)
  • Have a 3.3 GPA overall undergraduate GPA at the time of application to the Dual Degree program

Admissions Process

1. Consult an academic advisor to discuss the curriculum. If you are a Political Science student, contact Dr. Susan Wiley, Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Political Science Department. If you are a Political Communication or Journalism and Mass Communication student, consult your undergraduate academic advisor. For questions related to the application process or the Graduate School of Political Management, consult a GSPM enrollment advisor.

2. After completing 60 credits at GW, submit the Dual Degree Application to GSPM Student Services at [email protected].

3. If admitted to the Dual Degree program, contact a GSPM enrollment advisor at the beginning of the second to last semester of your undergraduate career to discuss the GW Graduate Student Application process.

Please note:

  • During the beginning of the second to last semester of your undergraduate career, you will need to complete the GW Graduate Student Application in order to complete the last year of your master’s curriculum.
  • When you complete the GW Graduate Student Application, you will not be required to submit GRE scores if your overall undergraduate GPA is a 3.0 or higher.
  • As a Dual Degree student, your graduate application fee will be waived.
  • After completing your bachelor's degree at GW, you will qualify for the University's Grad2Grad program to receive 10% off of your graduate tuition costs.