Graduate Schools in the Distict of Columbia | DC Graduate Programs

Majestic monuments. Tree-shaded parks. Extraordinary museums. A happening beer, wine, and cocktail culture. An impressive culinary scene. The White House. A rock and roll show at the 9:30 Club.

Let’s not forget a rural road trip to Virginia or a leisurely cruise to Chesapeake Beach for some sun and surf. This is the District of Columbia – Washington D.C. and the world around it. You can discover endless activities and adventures inside and outside the city. And with its astonishing collection of universities, grad students just may be in for a real inspirational treat.

Why Go to Grad School in the District of Columbia

Anchoring the southern end of the eastern-seaboard-city-quadfecta that starts with Boston followed by New York City and Philadelphia, Washington D.C. sparkles proudly, as the country’s capital should. It’s bold, vibrant, and downright stunning – overflowing with world-class culture at every turn. Students going to grad school in District of Columbia can pursue a variety of degrees in some of the finest private and public universities in the United States.

Fun Fact

Two former U.S. presidents had pet alligators in the White House – Herbert Hoover and John Quincy Adams.

Living and Learning in the District of Columbia

The energy is palpable in Washington D.C., from the politics to the lively debates at a local wine bar. Outside this energy, road trip to Virginia or Maryland for a rural respite. D.C.’s climate is similar to nearby Baltimore and Philadelphia – hot, humid summers; mild springs and autumns; and snowy, chilly winters.

D.C. is well-served for air travel – the city is a major hub for international and national flights, plus easy shuttle flights to New York City. Amtrak connects to Boston, NYC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, among other communities, and a number of bus services do the same.

The Metrorail service makes it easy to get around the city, so you can easily live here without a car, unless you choose to live outside the metro area.

Capitol Culture

Washington D.C. is quite simply a treasure trove of monuments, museums, plaques, statues, and gardens – all commemorating the inspirational people that have shaped and inspired this country, from artists to generals.

The National Mall overflows with treasures – the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the National Gallery of Art, the National Air & Space Museum, the Holocaust Museum, the African Art Museum and so much more – all overlooked by the stately Capitol Building.

And then there are the world-renowned Smithsonian collections – 19 museums holding some 150 million objects of all kinds – can take one’s breath away. And they’re all free. More art museums, history museums, and more are spread across other parts of the city – a true feast for the senses.

Food, Drinks, and Other Culinary Highlights

Washington has come a long way in recent years, rivaling New York City as a culinary kingdom. You can find stellar cuisine everywhere in the city, from fine dining rooms of the hottest new chefs and innovative vegan cafes to ethnic eateries of all international flavors and tasty local specialties.

Naturally, given its up-close location to the Atlantic, seafood selections are certainly culinary stars. It is not surprising to find a mix like Indian bistros, haute American cuisine spots, Ethiopian hubs, Japanese noodle shops, Spanish tapas, Colombian cafes, Fresh bistros, and sushi bars in one neighborhood.

For the forever thirsty, craft brew pubs, swanky cocktail lounges, stylish wineries, sports bars, and pubs all fuel the liquid lovers scene.

City Happenings

Sports, music, theater, dance, festivals, and events of all kinds highlight D.C. culture. Think events like the Washington Auto Show, the Library of Congress National Book Festival, the Washington Travel Show, the National Independence Day Parade; or festivals like the National Cherry Blossom Festival, or the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Catch a performance at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre or Ford’s Theatre, or a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. The live music scene is always buzzing with national and international acts at the 9:30 Club, DC9, U Street Music Hall, and Velvet Lounge, while Blues Alley is a superb place to catch jazz and blues.

If sports is more your thing, you’ll find both competitive college and professional teams – think the NFL’s Washington Redskins, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards, MLB’s Washington Nationals, and a full roster of college teams.

Major District of Columbia Industries

Students going to grad school in the District of Columbia can pursue a variety of post-graduate opportunities including those in government, tourism, finance, education, science, and more. Federal agencies, embassies, world banks, and Georgetown University are some of the top employers in the district.

Rural Pleasures

You won’t have to drive far to find rural respites. Inside the D.C. borders, Rock Creek Park has running trails, hiking trails, picnic spots, and more. Roosevelt Island serves not only as the location of the Teddy Roosevelt Memorial but a pleasant park of forest and swamp to wander and think.

You can find smaller parks, gardens, and green spaces – usually containing monuments or plaques – throughout the city. The C&O Towpath is a popular spot for bicycle riding along the historic Chesapeake & Ohio canal, once used for shipment of goods.

Outside the district, head out to Maryland: go boating on the Chesapeake Bay and camp and swim at Assateague Island National Seashore, or road trip west to the Appalachian Mountains for hiking, biking, rock climbing, leaf-peeping, and more. Virginia also has a plethora of national parks to explore – Great Falls Park, Shenandoah National Park, and the Cumberland Mountains, to name a few.

Fun Fact

Clearly the citizens of Washington D.C. really love their wine; according to the Beverage Information Group, D.C. residents drink more wine than any other state in the union.

Explore Graduate Schools in the District of Columbia

Prospective graduate students can find a diverse body of schools in the District of Columbia. You may find one that suits not only your area of study but also one that has an environment that fits your lifestyle. The following are a few highlights:

• Georgetown University
• University of The District of Columbia
• Trinity Washington University
• American University

Popular Graduate Programs in the District of Columbia

The District of Columbia offers a variety of graduate school opportunities in the cluster of universities based within its borders. Here are some of the top options to study at the graduate level.

4 Choices for Government Degree Programs

1. The Master of Public Administration and Policy graduate degree at American University arms you with the skills and knowledge needed to master the interdependency between public administration, policy, and the critical role both play in modern governance.
2. At Georgetown University, the Democracy and Governance graduate program is designed for those seeking to develop or enhance careers working on behalf of democratic change, governance reform, and human rights.
3. The graduate program in Government at Johns Hopkins University gives students the tools to examine governmental and social institutions in our society, explore areas of reform, and most importantly, bring about change.
4. At the University of the District of Columbia, the Public Administration graduate program seeks to prepare students for careers as public managers, planning specialists and policy analysts in governmental, nonprofit, and labor organizations.

4 Picks for Science Degree Programs

1. At the Catholic University of America, the Physics graduate program prepares students for a professional research career including such areas as astrophysics, nuclear, condensed matter, statistical, and vitreous state physics.
2. For the graduate program in Chemistry at The George Washington University, students will explore both theory and practice in courses that will help them meet the needs of an increasingly complex society.
3. At Howard University, the Microbiology graduate program specializes in Immunology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Microbial Genetics, Microbial Physiology, Pathogenic Bacteriology, Medical Mycology, Medical Parasitology, and Virology.
4. The research-intensive Cancer Biology, Prevention and Control graduate program at the University of The District Of Columbia focuses on the causes and treatments of cancer and teaches students about genetics, cell growth and development, and the immune system.

4 Options for Education Degree Programs

1. The University of The District Of Columbia graduate program in Adult Education provides a comprehensive, theoretical, and practical understanding of adult education, preparing students to serve in a variety of settings such as adult basic education, General Education Development, and English as a Second Language.
2. The Linguistics graduate program at Georgetown University includes internationally renowned scholars in discourse analysis, language acquisition and pedagogy, linguistic theory, and natural language processing.
3. At Howard University, the graduate program in Education specializes in Counseling, School Psychology, Educational Psychology, Educational Administration and Policy, Curriculum and Instruction, and Human Development.
4. The masters program in International Training and Education at American University offers students a grassroots approach to educational and international development that balances traditional and participatory learning methods and fuses practical and theoretical course work.

4 Choices for Health & Medicine Degree Programs

1. American University’s Healthcare Management graduate program emphasizes management, decision making, data analytic skills and analytical reasoning, and communication skills relevant for those looking to enter mid- and senior-level healthcare management positions, internal/external and independent healthcare consulting, and healthcare policy analysts and advisor positions in private and public sectors.
2. The Nursing graduate program at the Catholic University of America includes such core courses as Research, Advanced health assessment, Health Care Policy, Population Health, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology.
3. At the University of the District of Columbia, the Nutrition and Dietetics program strives to prepare health professionals to serve the health and nutritional needs of urban and international populations and to be leaders in effecting needed regulations and laws to reduce health disparities.
4. The Clinical Operations and Healthcare Management graduate program at the George Washington University prepares students to lead clinical operations across multiple health service delivery systems; the curriculum seeks to help students improve communications, lead quality improvement efforts, and conduct data analysis for strategic organizational development.

Find a Graduate School in the District of Columbia

Want to pursue a graduate degree in District of Columbia? You have many schools and settings that you can choose from. Browse the programs above or look around GS.com and find the perfect program for you. Get started now!