Undergraduate Celebration
Columbian College of Arts & Sciences
Undergraduate Celebration
Saturday, May 16, 2026 • 12 & 3:30 p.m. EDT
Charles E. Smith Center
Columbian College graduates are invited to attend the in-person Undergraduate Celebration ceremonies on May 16 at the Charles E. Smith Center. The celebration is open to graduates receiving their bachelor's and associate's degrees, along with family and friends. Not sure which ceremony to attend? See the list of participating majors. Graduates will need to register themselves and their guests in order to obtain tickets.
All graduates are also invited to attend the May 17 University-wide Commencement on the National Mall.
We look forward to celebrating the class of 2026! Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #CCASOnward.
Register for Commencement, Your CCAS School Celebration and Departmental Receptions
On March 25, 2026, the Commencement registration portal will open for all students. This is where you’ll register for Commencement on the National Mall, your CCAS school celebration, and indicate whether you plan to attend any departmental/program receptions — all in one place.
Each CCAS undergraduate will receive 4 guest tickets to school ceremonies. Doctoral and master's graduates will receive 6 guest tickets to celebrations.
Bag Policy for School Celebrations
- Bags up to 5" x 7" x ¾" permitted, subject to inspection; expect longer waiting times and delayed entry if bringing a permitted bag. For more information and a list of prohibited items, see the GW Commencement website.
Travel Impacts
- May 16 and 17: WMATA Metro will have no Yellow/Blue Line service between Crystal City and Potomac Yard stations.
- May 17: Freedom250 event may cause street closures around Commencement and increase rideshare demand.
Livestream
Which Ceremony Should I Attend?
- 12 p.m. Ceremony
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Criminal Justice
- Data Science
- Economics
- Human Services and Social Justice
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Political Communication
- Political Science
- Political Science: Public Policy Focus
- Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Sociology
- 3:30 p.m. Ceremony
- Africana Studies
- American Studies
- Anthropology
- Arabic Studies
- Archaeology
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Biological Anthropology
- Biological Sciences
- Biophysics
- Chemistry
- Chinese Language and Literature
- Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies
- Cognitive Science of Language
- Communication
- Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - Art History
- Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - Art History and Fine Arts
- Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - Dance
- Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - Fine Arts
- Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - Graphic Design
- Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - Interaction Design
- Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - Interior Architecture
- Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - Music
- Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - Photojournalism
- Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - Theatre
- Creative Writing and English
- English
- Environmental and Sustainability Science
- Environmental Studies
- French Language, Literature, and Culture
- Geography
- Geological Sciences
- German Language and Literature
- History
- Japanese Language and Literature
- Judaic Studies
- Korean Language and Literature
- Mathematics
- Neuroscience
- Organizational Sciences
- Peace Studies
- Philosophy
- Philosophy: Public Affairs Focus
- Physics
- Religion
- Russian Language and Literature
- Spanish and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
- Special Interdisciplinary Major
- Statistics
- Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- Associate in Arts, General Studies
"As a first-generation college student, deciding to go to GW was a big leap of faith. I had no idea what I was coming into and no reference point for what college or the beginnings of a professional career should look like. Now that my time at school has come to an end I can confidently say I made the right decision. I am incredibly proud to be a graduate of the Columbian College."
Sandra Ochoa Warden
BA '24, Political Science and Government
GW ALMA MATER
Hail Alma Mater
To thy spirit guiding,
Knowledge thy closest friend
In its strength abiding,
Pledge we fidelity
Ne'er its place resigning,
Hail thee George Washington!