Elliott School of International Affairs | The George Washington University

The George Washington University continues to actively monitor the COVID-19 situation closely. The safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority. The guidance found on the following pages is subject to change and will be updated regularly:

Building Leaders for the World

4 Bachelor of Arts Programs

10 MA Programs

95 Visiting Scholars

330+ Events per year hosted at the Elliott School

15 international exchange program partners

Find a Program

Educating the Next Generation of Leaders

Elliott School Experts Weigh In

Experts Weigh In

Kimberly Morgan. Director, European and Eurasian Studies program, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, Elliott School of International Affairs.

"Europe has been especially affected by the novel coronavirus. European economies are deeply integrated in the global economy, with growth powered by international trade, finance, and tourism. Although we do not yet know exactly how the novel coronavirus arrived and why it quickly spread in some parts of Europe, global travel and commerce were surely at the root of it. Yet because of the virus’s capacity for efficient and silent spread, it took weeks for governments to recognize the danger. Italy was hit hard, early on, perhaps because of the prevalence of multi-generational households and contacts in Italian society. Some speculate that the young helped spread the virus to the old and that Italy’s aging society is especially vulnerable to the disease..."

Flex-Start Option for Fall 2020 Admitted Graduate Students

Starting Fall 2020, GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA) will be offering all admitted graduate degree students across all MA, MIS and MIPP programs the ability to start their degree online through the Flex-Start program. Students who participate in the Flex-Start program will be able to take a regular full-time or part-time course-load online during the Fall 2020 semester and then continue their studies in-person in Washington, DC starting in the Spring 2021 semester (provided they complete their Fall 2020 courses in good academic standing and, in the case of international students, receive a valid F-1 visa prior to the start of the spring semester).

School Updates

Aaron Williams, advisory group member, Leadership, Ethics and Practice Initiative; former member, Elliott School Board of Advisors wrote an opinion piece for Devex reflecting on the recent protests against racism and police brutality.

Graphic: Rumsfeld Fellowship Recipients

The Rumsfeld Foundation has announced the selection of its 2020-21 Graduate Fellows. Kelsey Brett Shields, a master's candidate at the Elliott School, was awarded a Rumsfeld Fellowship alongside 16 other graduate scholars.

Hugh Gusterson

The American Anthropological Association has
awarded Hugh Gusterson, Professor of Anthropology and International Affairs, its Anthropology in Media Award. This award is given annually in recognition of outstanding
contributions to anthropology through the successful communication of anthropology and anthropological principles to the general public through the media.

Jillian Dipersio

BA Candidate, International Affairs

"My research has focused on the social effects of desertification and drought. Through conversations with local professors, livestock famers, and government officials my hope is to propose policy solutions to desertification in the Sahel, a region in Africa."

A display of world flags