Congratulations, future Hoyas!

Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. This works out to roughly five courses per semester for eight semesters (although this will vary for students taking intensive language courses, science courses with lab components or 1-credit courses).

In addition, students must fulfill a series of core requirements and the requirements of at least one major program, and achieve a final cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better.

Incoming students will receive comprehensive materials prior to registration over the summer that explain the core requirements in detail. Review the list of core requirements.

Yes. AP, IB, and 13^th Year Program credit awards count toward the course and credit hour totals required for the degree. In some cases, those credits also fulfill core and/or major requirements. In most cases, Georgetown awards credit for AP scores of 4 or 5 and IB scores of 6 or 7 on higher-level exams. More information on advanced credit can be found here. Please note that these policies are subject to change for students entering in Fall 2025; updated advanced credit information will be sent to incoming students over the summer. Please be certain to have your AP/IB scores released to Georgetown by June 30 so that we can minimize delays when we post the credit in July.

Credit may be awarded on a case-by-case basis. Eligible courses must be (1) taught on a college campus or virtually via the college directly (not via the high school) by a member of the college faculty (not a high school instructor); (2) open to college students, not special courses designed for high school students; (3) eligible for credit toward a degree at that college or university; (4) not credited by the high school toward fulfillment of any high school graduation requirements; and (5) taken after the sophomore year of high school. If you have taken college courses and they appear on your high school transcript, we must receive a letter from a high school counselor or principal confirming that the courses meet the conditions listed above.

Because the five undergraduate schools are distinct colleges with separate admissions processes, a student wishing to transfer within the university must submit an application in writing to the school to which he or she wishes to transfer. Students are expected to complete one full academic year in the school to which they were admitted before applying to transfer. However, in rare instances, students may be able to switch schools prior to matriculation. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions no later than June 1 if you have a strong interest in a school other than the College. See here for more information.

Yes, although some courses are restricted or require special permission from the SFS, MSB, SON, or SOH Dean’s Office for enrollment. Please also note that, in the spirit of a broad education in the liberal arts, students in the College may take no more than six courses in the MSB.

Students who indicated a major at the time of application in a Faculty of Literatures, Cultures, and Language Studies (LCL) program, mathematics, computer science or one of the natural sciences, will enter the College with the major declared and immediately begin coursework in the major field. The majority of our students, however, enter undeclared, take a combination of core requirements and elective courses in the first two years, and declare a major by March of the sophomore year.

College of Arts & Sciences students have a network of academic support: advising deans, faculty and peer advisors. We encourage all first-year students to schedule an advising appointment with their advising dean early in the first year. These sessions are typically just 30 minutes long, but they are enormously helpful in clarifying for students when and how they will fulfill core requirements while simultaneously exploring emerging interests and planning major/minor programs of study.

No. We do, however, have a robust pre-health program that can be combined with any of our major programs. Students who plan to go to medical (or dental or veterinary) school pursue this path through a set curriculum and a range of extracurricular activities. They receive strong support and advising from both faculty in the sciences and pre-health advisors in the Dean’s Office. Please visit here for more information.

Unlike medical schools, law schools do not require a specific pre-law curriculum. Students considering law school should concentrate on courses that demand and develop analytical thinking skills and clear written expression. The flexibility of the College curriculum gives students in any major ample opportunities to select courses in areas that will serve them well as a background for a career in law. Students interested in law school should also consult the website of the Cawley Career Education Center for further information.

Yes. The College of Arts & Sciences has several first-year seminar programs that allow students to work closely with faculty mentors in small classroom environments. Incoming students will receive comprehensive materials in May which will describe these opportunities and invite students to apply.

• In mid-June, you will receive information describing your First-Year Seminar options. While we are generally able to accommodate interest in the First Year Seminars, applications are required due to limited space. The deadline to apply to these seminars is early July. 
• In late June, we will give you access to a course that will guide you through the registration process. You will then have several weeks to prepare for fall semester course registration, with help from your peer advisor and your advising dean. Fall 2025 course registration for new first-year students begins Friday, July 25, 2025.
• In late August, you will participate in New Student Orientation. See orientation.georgetown.edu for more information.

Although the Office of Admissions will be able to answer the majority of your questions, please feel free to contact the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office at 202-687-6045 or collegedeans@georgetown.edu if you have academic questions.