Incoming Students

Welcome to the School of Engineering and Applied Science! You are about to embark on an exciting journey that will prepare you for a career in engineering or computer science.

To prepare students to succeed academically and to support their transition to the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) we have provided some orientation guidelines for internal transfer (from another GW school or college), external transfer (from another academic institution), and first-year students below. The process varies based on how you were admitted to SEAS, but our goal is the same: to create a seamless transition for you.

Please review the appropriate orientation below based on your situation. All students should consult the New Student FAQs at the bottom of the page for additional information and resources. After reviewing your materials and to-dos, feel free to email [email protected] with any questions.

First-Year Students

All prospective first-time, full-time students interested in attending The George Washington University and the School of Engineering and Applied Science must apply through the GW Undergraduate Admissions First-Year process. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

First-Year Orientation

As part of the New Student Orientation program at GW, all incoming SEAS students who are attending college for the first time and have been admitted to the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) must complete the following steps. You will be reminded of these tasks throughout the summer via your GW email address ([email protected]) and you should click the button below to download a PDF version of the list including deadlines and links:

Things to Do in May/June:

Complete the New Student Orientation Module.
Sign up for and attend your First-Year Group Advising session.
Complete your First-Year Academic Interest Survey.
Complete your first attempt at the Math Placement Test.
Complete your first attempt at the Chemistry Prep Course.
Take a departmental foreign language placement if you wish to continue language study.
Prepare draft schedules using various tools provided
Additionally, Submit all official AP/IB scores and/or transcripts for college credits to GW Admissions.
Attend your First-Year Group Advising Session.

Things to Do in July:

Attend your First-Year Group Advising Session.
Submit all official AP/IB scores and/or transcripts for college credits to GW Admissions prior to registration deadline.
Continue working on the Math Placement Test until you’ve earned your required score and before the registration deadline.
Continue working on the Chemistry Prep Course until you’ve earned your required score and before the registration deadline.
Officially submit all AP/IB scores and/or transcripts of college credits to GW Admissions.
Report any AP, IB or transfer credits received after completing your First-Year Course Registration Packet by submitting them to our online submission box.
Review your schedule when it is released and reach out to your advisor with any questions or concerns.

Download Fall 2024 GW Engineering First Year Checklist

First Year Summer Course Registration

For first year students admitted for the Fall, the registration process is different and students should visit the SEAS First Year Experience website for more details about the advising and registration process as well as our special pre-orientation program.

SEAS First Year Experience Website

Internal Transfer Students

Students are admitted to a home school at the time of their admission to the university. Those who wish to change their home school must submit a Request for Internal Transfer form to the University Registrar. A university-wide graduation requirement is that students must be registered in the college/school in which their primary major is housed. Some schools may require that certain prerequisite courses have been taken and that minimum grades have been earned before the transfer is processed.

Internal Transfer Guidelines

GW students are eligible to transfer within the University if they meet certain requirements. The internal transfer requirements as well as the process is outlined on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

In addition, to remain on track, students should follow the curriculum for their chosen major, outlined in the University Bulletin, as closely as possible when selecting classes and meeting the transfer requirements. The outline of a student's first year below fits into a four year plan to graduation. Students who do not take the courses listed below could extend their time to graduation. Also, since certain courses are restricted until the student is eligible to transfer to SEAS, it is important to plan ahead as well as allow for a longer timeline to graduation if your internal eligibility and/or decision is not made until later in your academic career.

First Year students outside of SEAS, who are not sure of their intended major within SEAS, should follow the curriculum below as closely as possible in order to limit the number of courses that may need to be completed at a later time.

Fall Schedule		Spring Schedule
Course	Credits	Course	Credits
MATH 1231	3	MATH 1232	3
CHEM 1111	4	PHYS 1021**	4
UW 1020	4	University General Education - Humanities	3
University General Education - Social Science***	3	University General Education - Social Science***	3
Exploratory Course for Parallel Major*	3	Exploratory Course for Parallel Major*	3
Total	15	Total	16

AP/IB Credit or Dual-enrollment credit

Students who have AP/IB Credit or Dual-enrollment credit for a listed course can continue following the non-SEAS course sequencing outlined in the bulletin for the specific major they are interested in pursuing.

Exploratory Course for Parallel Majors*

Exploratory Course for Parallel Majors refers to developing a plan which will give you alternate options while pursuing a transfer to SEAS. These courses may not apply to the SEAS degree requirements but would offer you additional pathways to graduation if the transfer is not approved.

PHYS 1011 or PHYS 1012**

Students interested in pursuing any of our BS degree options should not take PHYS 1011 or PHYS 1012 as they will not count towards your degree.

Major-Specific Transfers

Internal transfer students who plan to transfer at the end of their first year and know which major they plan to pursue, should have completed between 30-35 credits of coursework equivalent to the most updated curriculum for the major outlined in the GW Bulletin.

SEAS Non-Technical Elective Policy and Requirement***

Internal transfer students should review the SEAS Non-Technical Elective Policy and Requirements before registering for classes as the requirements vary by major. In general, choosing courses that fulfill the University General Education Requirement for Critical thinking in the humanities or Critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, or scientific reasoning in the social sciences first will definitely give the student the greatest flexibility when transferring.

Meeting with SEAS Professional Advisor

Students interested in a transfer to SEAS should meet with a SEAS professional advisor during Drop-in Advising Hours as well as their home school academic advisor to review their plans and parallel program options, as transferring may extend the time it takes to graduate.

Internal Transfer Orientation

As a current GW student, once you are approved for an internal transfer to the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), you will receive an email about the next steps from the SEAS Office of Undergraduate Student Services and Advising. The email will include important information pertaining to major selection, advisor assignment, and registering for your first semester as a SEAS student.

In addition, be sure to work through the steps below and click the button following the list to download the SEAS New Transfer Student Checklist. Pay attention to these tasks to make sure your first semester in SEAS goes smoothly!

Student To Do List

Complete the New Student Orientation Module.
Complete the online SEAS New Student Questionnaire.
Review the degree requirements for your major in the University Bulletin.
Once assigned a faculty advisor you should contact them to discuss course selection, review your transfer credit evaluation from GW, and complete an Undergraduate Advising Form via the portal (blue button) on the SEAS Forms webpage to have your classes approved.
If you are planning to register for MATH 1220, MATH 1231, and/or ECON 1011 you must complete the Math Placement Test and receive the required score.
If you are planning to register for CHEM 1111 you must complete the Chemistry Prep Course and receive the required score. If you are planning to register for foreign language course you may need to complete a Foreign Language Placement Exam and receive a certain score.
Schedule a meeting with your SEAS Ambassador, if you opted for one.

Download the SEAS New Transfer Student Checklist (pdf)

External Transfer Students

Students outside of GW interested in transferring to the School of Engineering and Applied Science must apply through the GW Undergraduate Admissions Transfer process.

External Transfer Guidelines

When external transfer students select classes at their current institution, they should follow the curriculum outlined in the GW University Bulletin as closely as possible in order to remain on track. A grade of C- or better must be earned in order for a course to transfer to GW. Also, all students must complete a minimum of 60 credits towards their degree at GW in order to receive their degree. If a student does not complete all of the courses listed per major below, it will likely extend time to graduation.

Students who apply to SEAS after one year of undergraduate study outside of GW and want to select a major in SEAS: External transfer students who plan to transfer at the end of their first year, should have completed between 30-40 credits of coursework equivalent to the first two semesters outlined in the University Bulletin for that specific major.

Students who apply to SEAS after two years of undergraduate study outside of GW and want to select a major in SEAS: External transfer students applying to SEAS after two years of undergraduate coursework should have completed between 60-70 credits of coursework equivalent to the first four semesters outlined in the University Bulletin for that specific major.

Humanities, Social Science, Non-Technical Elective Requirement

External transfer students should review the SEAS Humanities, Social Science, Non-Technical Elective Requirement before registering for classes as the requirements vary by major. In general, choosing courses that fulfill the University General Education Requirement for Critical Analysis in the Social Sciences or Critical Analysis in the Humanities will definitely give the student the greatest flexibility when transferring.

Determining Transfer Equivalents

At this time, pre-approval of transfer courses for external transfers is not available. However, upon admission, students will receive a transfer credit evaluation outline of approved equivalents. If you have any questions about the evaluation please reach out to [email protected].

External transfer students can refer to the University Bulletin for specific courses descriptions in order to consult with their current university about likely course equivalents. If needed, students can request a copy of a course syllabus from the respective GW department or course instructor.

Time to Graduation

Finally, transferring to GW and SEAS may affect your timeline to graduate depending on your major, courses that are approved to transfer, and when you are officially admitted to GW/SEAS. If you have any questions once admitted and you have received your transfer credit evaluation, please email [email protected].

External Transfer Orientation

Once you have received your acceptance from the GW Office of Undergraduate Admissions and have officially paid your deposit, you will begin to receive additional communication from the Office of Student Life and New Student Orientation. In addition, the School of Engineering and Applied Science’s Office of Undergraduate Student Services and Advising will reach out to help you prepare for your first semester at GW. Note, you will have a registration hold on your account until you have completed the questionnaire, met with your faculty advisor, and submitted your Undergraduate Advising Form.

Stay on top of these tasks to ensure a smooth first semester at GW and click the button below the list to download the SEAS New Transfer Student Checklist for more detailed tasks and deadlines.

Student To Do List

Complete the New Student Orientation Module.
Complete the online SEAS New Student Questionnaire.
Review the degree requirements for your major in the University Bulletin.
Review your transfer credit evaluation to make sure your credits are transferring as expected and review your DegreeMAP to see how they apply to your new degree.
Once assigned a faculty advisor, you should contact them to discuss course selection, review your transfer credit evaluation from GW, and complete an Undergraduate Advising Form via the portal (blue button) on the SEAS Forms webpage to have your classes approved.
If you are planning to register for MATH 1220, MATH 1231, and/or ECON 1011 you must complete the Math Placement Test and receive the required score.
If you are planning to register for CHEM 1111 you must complete the Chemistry Prep Course and receive the required score.
If you are planning to register for foreign language course you may need to complete a Foreign Language Placement Exam and receive a certain score.
External transfer students must make sure all final transcripts from previous colleges or universities have been sent to Undergraduate Admissions.
Schedule a meeting with your SEAS Ambassador, if you opted for one.

Download the SEAS New Transfer Student Checklist (pdf)

Important Recommendation

Much of the information is bound to be unfamiliar, and we don’t expect you to grasp it all in one sitting. Please consider bookmarking this page for reference as you transition in your first semester in SEAS. Additionally, we have provided a number of frequently asked questions with linked resources for you to review and to return to as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there specific laptop/desktop requirements?

There are no requirements on the brand of computer, but the engineering school does split up the groups of users into two general categories: those who are going to use CAD software and those who aren’t. This is the recommendation of the minimum specifications needed for each group:

CAD Workstation

4 core/8Thread CPU (minimum)
16GB RAM (minimum)
500GB SSD hard drive (minimum)
2GB dedicated video card (minimum)

Non-CAD Workstation

2 core/4 thread CPU (minimum)
12GB RAM (minimum)
500GB SSD hard drive (minimum)
Integrated graphics

Prospective Computer Science students can follow the Non-CAD Workstation specifications. All other students should follow the CAD Workstation specifications.

The engineering software students use over four years is typically large (50-200GB) so a 256GB hard drive is almost always too small to be usable. 8GB of memory is also not enough to run most of the software they encounter.

Moving forward, you can usually get the minimum specs for a CAD workstation by looking at the Solidworks requirements, which is by far the largest and most taxing CAD program we run in SEAS.

How do I contact my academic advisor?

Professional Advisors are the academic advisors for first-year students. Sophomore, junior senior students (including transfer students) work primarily with their Faculty Advisor. You can find the contact information for all of our Faculty and Professional Advisors and when/how to meet with them on our Meet Your Academic Advisor page. You may also reach out with general questions to [email protected].

How do I find my GW ID number?

Your GWID is a 'G' followed by a series of eight numbers. If you have forgotten your GWID, you may use the retrieval tool to look it up or contact the IT Support Center at (202) 994-4948.

How do I register for classes?

First-year students in SEAS admitted for the fall will register for class on a designated day and time in the summer. This special day for SEAS first year students is provided to help ensure registration for required courses that are needed to remain on track for graduation. More information about this process will be available in the GW Pre-Orientation Online Module (POOM) - Advising and Registration section.

First-year students in SEAS admitted for the spring will register for classes after completing the GW Pre-Orientation Online Module (POOM) - Advising and Registration section and meeting with their Professional Advisor to complete their Undergraduate Advising Form.

Transfer students admitted for the fall or spring will register for classes after completing the GW Pre-Orientation Online Module (POOM) - Advising and Registration section and meeting with their Faculty Advisor to complete their Undergraduate Advising Form.

For both first year and transfer students, additional resources about registration can be found on the “How to Register” webpage hosted by the Office of the Registrar.

What is a CRN?

A CRN is a 5-digit course reference number. All sections, including lectures, labs, discussions, etc., will have a unique CRN. We use the CRN to identify a course in the Banner administrative records system. CRNs are primarily used to register, and you can explore courses in the Schedule of Classes by department, keywords or the type of degree requirement they satisfy.

Are prerequisites important?

Yes. It is crucial that you meet all prerequisites for each course for which you wish to register. Prerequisites provide knowledge essential to understanding subsequent courses. Note that a failing grade will not fulfill the prerequisite requirement. Prerequisites for all courses are listed in the University Bulletin. If the prerequisite is not clear, contact the course instructor for clarification.

What is a linked course?

Some courses have associated “linked” sections, such as when a course consists of both a lecture and lab component. Linked sections are required, and you will need to register for all sections (lecture, lab, recitation, etc.) of a section at the same time. If a course has a linked section, you can find info for it through the “Linked” hyperlink on the right-hand side of the course entry in the Schedule of Classes.

How do I know if I have a hold?

Students can check their holds in the GWeb Information System. It is recommended that you check your holds in advance of any registration date. Since this summer you will be pre-registered for your fall courses you will not be able to make any adjustment until Open Registration begins.

What if I don't get into UW 1020 in my first semester?

If you do not take UW 1020 in your first semester you can stay on track with your curriculum so long as you take the course in the following term. The University expects about half of its incoming students to take UW 1020 in the fall semester and half to take it in the spring semester. You can work with your advisor to plan the best semester to take the course if you do not take it in your first year.

What happens if I do not satisfactorily complete the Chemistry Preparatory Course in ALEKS?

Make sure you give yourself enough time to take the chemistry preparatory course and spend enough time completing each section. If you do not receive the required score to pass the course and take CHEM 1111, you should email [email protected] to find out your options.

What happens if I do not receive a high enough score on the Math Placement Exam to place into MATH 1220 or MATH 1231?

First, make sure you give yourself enough time to take the test. Spend some time reviewing your high school algebra and trigonometry material. If you already took the exam, review the materials offered in the placement exam carefully before you retake the exam.

Students who do not place into MATH 1220 should email SEAS Advising at [email protected] before their last attempt to discuss their situation with their professional advisor.

My SEAS 1001 and my department orientation course (APSC 1001, BME 1010, CS 1010, CE 1010, ECE 1010, MAE 1001, or EMSE 1001) are offered at the same time. Is that a problem?

There is actually not a conflict. SEAS 1001 and your department orientation course are scheduled sequentially in the term. SEAS 1001 will meet for the first several weeks of the semester, then you will transition to your department orientation course for the remaining weeks of the term.

Will I be able to make changes to my schedule and, if so, how?

There will be limited changes allowed over the summer for first-year students. We plan to start building schedules in July and you will be notified when your schedule is completed. At that point, you can communicate with your advisor to explore potential changes via email. Please note, we will not change your schedule based on preferred instructors or days/times.

If I am a full-time student, what does my tuition cover?

A full-time schedule for a SEAS student is defined as 12-19 credit hours per semester. A part-time schedule is fewer than 12 credits per semester. If their curriculum requires it, SEAS undergraduates may take 19 credits without being charged for additional credits.

How do AP and IB credits work?

If you have taken College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the official score results must be sent to GW from The College Board. GW's College Board Code is 5246. A maximum of 24 credits can be applied as college credit at GW. A list of scores required and credit given can be found on the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. International Baccalaureate (IB) course results should be sent as soon as they are available. After you receive grades for your first semester, any AP or IB credits applied will be displayed on your unofficial transcript, available through GWeb

What are the University General Education Requirements and how do they relate to my SEAS degree?

Coursework for the University General Education curriculum includes 19 credits in approved courses in writing (including two Writing in the Disciplines courses), natural or physical science, mathematics or statistics, social science, and the humanities. These requirements are outlined in DegreeMAP for each undergraduate degree program at GW.

Most of these requirements are embedded in the degree requirements for your major in SEAS, and you will not need to go out of your way to satisfy them. However, in several cases you will need to make specific elective courses selections from designated lists which can vary by major. For more detailed information visit our webpage about the SEAS Non-Technical Elective Policy and Requirement.

What should I do if I cannot decide on an engineering major?

If you are unsure of what program you want to study, you have two options.

If you are completely unsure of what to study, you should come in as an Engineering- Undecided major and take APSC 1001 as your department orientation course. APSC 1001 allows you to explore the different majors offered in SEAS so you can make a more informed decision. If you have an idea of what you want to study but are second-guessing yourself, you can always start with one major and determine over the course of the semester if your interest remains. If it changes, you can work with your Professional

Advisor when registering for the spring to explore other engineering disciplines.

This advice will vary depending on the individual student and their major. If you have questions about your situation, the first step is to contact your advisor.

How do I get into the 5-year BS/MS program in SEAS?

In the first semester of college, you do not have to do anything but do well academically. Students will apply in their junior year for the 5-year program and must meet certain admissions requirements (including a GPA requirement). Focus on doing as well as possible and consult with your advisor during your junior year.

Can I add a minor or second major?

Most students will not start on majors or second minors during their first semester. It is more important to do really well academically during your first semester to gauge how you handle your required coursework before adding additional requirements to your program. That said, plenty of students do complete minors or second majors (depending on your program), though it may require you to take summer courses to complete it on time.

Please also consider the following:

In reference to your major selection, nothing is set in stone. As long as you communicate early and often with your advisors, we will work with you to find the major that’s right for you.

For SEAS first year students admitted for the fall, you can change your department orientation course up until the end of the first two weeks of classes as long as there are no course conflicts. You will have time throughout the summer to speak to your advisor, department faculty, and SEASSPAN mentor about your choice.

What do I do with non-articulated transfer credits (1099) on your Transfer Credit Evaluation?

Periodically, courses from other institutions will be transferred as a department 1099 course (e.g., ECE 1099). This means that the course does not currently have a designated course equivalent at GW. However, you are able to have this course reviewed by the department if you believe you have found a potential course equivalent at GW. In order to facilitate this review, you should compile the following information about the course: both course descriptions (external and GW course), a copy of the course syllabus for the external course, a copy of your transcript (including final grades) from the external institution, and a completed Transfer Credit Approval Form. The information will need to be approved by the department in which the course equivalent is taught and authorized by your home school (SEAS) via a Transfer Credit Approval Form.

What if I took writing previously but did not receive UW 1020 credit before transferring to GW?

As an external transfer student, if you are transferring in a writing course that you think would satisfy the university writing requirement but it was not accepted, you can petition to have the course reviewed in order to count. For more information about the transfer policy and exceptions for the University Writing Requirement (UW1020), visit the UW1020 Exemptions page.