New CCAS Graduate Degrees Expand Advanced Learning Opportunities

A new slate of interdisciplinary graduate degrees is being launched within the George Washington University's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS)-introducing faculty-driven innovative programs that prepare students for careers as diverse as museum professionals, election experts, urban planners and environmental consultants.

Anchored in a commitment to interdisciplinarity and building on existing faculty expertise, the degrees-including both newly developed offerings and program expansions-began rolling out this fall and will continue into the fall 2025 semester. From museum studies, history and political science to psychology, environmental studies and strategic communications, the programs offer new learning and research opportunities for graduate students whose academic and career interests span several different fields.

"Dean Paul Wahlbeck's academic innovation initiative invites faculty to re-envision existing programs and create new ones in ways that reflect their research strengths," said CCAS Associate Dean of Academic Innovation Kavita Daiya, professor of English and women's, gender, and sexuality studies. "At the same time, these new programs equip students with the competencies they need to succeed and thrive in the world today."

Among the new offerings is the M.A. in museums, history & culture, a unique joint degree program that will be available starting fall 2025. It draws on the expertise of faculty in the Departments of History, American Studies and Museum Studies, providing a firm grounding in historical training and American studies methods-along with museum fundamentals such as exhibition development, public engagement, collections management, museum administration and ethics.

"The program appeals to students who are interested in museum studies but who want to think through the intellectual conversations happening in history or American studies," said Professor of American Studies and International Affairs Melani McAlister, the inaugural director of the new program.

The result, she said, is a history-based M.A. that offers a multi-disciplinary learning experience steeped in theory and practice. With the opportunities GW's location presents for on-site education, internships and networking throughout Washington, D.C., the program positions graduates for careers in museums, historic sites and a range of other public-facing historical programs.

"They will be well-trained to step into any place where information is presented to the public in an accessible way," McAlister said.

Likewise, the new Master of Science in Quantitative Social Sciences (MSQSS), which will be available in fall 2025 through the Political Science Department, crosses disciplines for a data-driven curriculum.

Integrating research techniques and perspectives from four social science disciplines-political science, economics, sociology and statistics-the program emphasizes developing skillsets for analyzing and presenting data. It's aimed at both recent college graduates and professionals looking to advance their careers through fields such as academia, research, government, nonprofits or election campaigns.

MQSS "is a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary program that trains students to employ a diverse set of quantitative, data-analytic tools to answer substantive social science research questions with real-world consequences," said Professor of Political Science Brandon Bartels, the MSQSS program director.

Also starting in fall 2025, the new M.S. in applied psychology teaches students how to use psychological theory and methods to inform and improve real-world operations and outcomes, noted Stephen Mitroff, professor of cognitive neuroscience and director of graduate studies for the new M.S. program in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences.

The curriculum focuses on psychological theories, methods and techniques, including social and clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, research methods and statistical and qualitative analysis.

Mitroff said the degree addresses the growing job market need for employees with "mixed methods" techniques and focuses on "quantitative and qualitative methods and a broad education in psychological theory to provide the graduates with a flexible set of skills to expand their career potential for work in industry, public service, government and related fields."

Meanwhile, the M.S. in geography & environment-offered in fall 2025 through the recently renamed Department of Geography and Environment-is a STEM-designated program aimed at helping students address complex environmental challenges and make meaningful change in their communities and the world.

With courses that cover topics ranging from urban planning and geographic information systems (GIS) to climate change and social-ecological systems, students receive hands-on learning experiences with advanced, data-driven geospatial tools.

"The conversion of the department and programs like the M.S. in geography and environment helps us better reflect who we are as a department, which spans sustainability, GIS and human and physical geography," said Michael Mann, associate professor of geography and the department's director of graduate studies. "The new title and STEM designation should help our students communicate their broad technical and qualitative skill sets and set them apart in the job market."

Other new offerings launched this fall include a climate and sustainability communication track in the M.A. in media and strategic communication. The new track, offered through the School of Media and Public Affairs, teaches aspiring media and political communication experts how to communicate critical environmental issues.

The Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration (TSPPPA) also introduced a certificate in regulatory policy and practice this fall. And TSPPPA's newly reimagined Master of Arts in Environmental and Sustainability Policy offers an interdisciplinary approach to environmental and sustainability studies by combining public policy and research methods with environmental economics, science and law.

"These exciting new opportunities place GW on the cutting edge of graduate education," Daiya said. "They offer students in-depth and interdisciplinary expertise in a range of fields, positioning them for success in diverse careers after graduation."