Georgetown University Degree Programs: A Comprehensive Overview
Georgetown University, a private Jesuit research university located in Washington, D.C., offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degree programs across its eleven schools. Known for its strong emphasis on global perspectives, interdisciplinary learning, and a values-based approach rooted in the Jesuit tradition, Georgetown aims to cultivate leaders who can address complex challenges and contribute to the common good. This article provides a structured overview of the diverse degree programs available at Georgetown University, with a particular focus on the McDonough School of Business and the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Georgetown University: An Overview
Georgetown University is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity". The university offers degree programs in forty-eight disciplines, enrolling an average of 7,500 undergraduate and 10,000 graduate students from more than 135 countries.
A Rich History and Tradition
Founded in 1789, Georgetown University has a long and storied history, deeply intertwined with the development of the United States. The university's origins can be traced back to the efforts of Jesuit settlers in colonial Maryland. Despite facing periods of financial strain and challenges such as the American Civil War, Georgetown has consistently evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of society.
Distinctive Features
Several key features distinguish Georgetown University from other institutions:
- Jesuit Tradition: The university's centuries-old Jesuit tradition emphasizes a values-based approach to education, encouraging students to consider ethical implications and strive for the common good in their future endeavors.
- Global Mindset: Georgetown's programs are designed to foster a global perspective, preparing students to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.
- Interdisciplinary Focus: Students have access to leading scholars across various disciplines, promoting an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving.
- Location in Washington, D.C.: The university's location in the nation's capital provides unparalleled access to global leaders across industries and opportunities to engage with policy and international affairs.
Undergraduate Programs
Georgetown University offers a variety of undergraduate programs through its different schools, catering to diverse academic interests and career aspirations.
Read also: Notable Figures from Georgetown Law
Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences
Students in the Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences may major, major with a minor, double major, double major with a minor, or major in one field with two minors. Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences students may earn a certificate in a regional study, which is offered through the School of Foreign Service. Certificates are the functional equivalent of minors, so they count as one of the (maximum) three academic components a student may complete toward the degree (i.e., a major plus two other components).
Special Programs
- The Ignatius Seminars: These courses are offered in the fall semester for first-year students, focusing on an integrative and personal approach to learning.
- The LCL Hager Scholars program: This yearlong program is designed for declared majors in languages, linguistics, and comparative literature, fostering a sense of community and intellectual growth.
- The Ways of Knowing Seminar: This integrated learning experience in the fall places two core disciplines into conversation with each other to confront questions of truth, knowledge, expertise, belief, and meaning.
- Problem-Based Learning Seminars: Several of Georgetown College’s departments and programs are offering distinctive seminar experiences to first-year students that prioritize problem-based learning, small class environments, introductions to disciplines and fields of research, and close faculty mentoring.
McDonough School of Business (MSB)
The McDonough School of Business offers undergraduate programs designed to cultivate bold, innovative, caring, and committed leaders. The B.S. programs at McDonough are designed to maximize the school’s global mindset, access to leading scholars across disciplines throughout the university to cultivate an interdisciplinary focus on solving complex challenges, and location in the global capital city of Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Science in Business and Global Affairs
In addition, the McDonough School of Business offers a Bachelor of Science in Business and Global Affairs. This is a joint program designed and delivered by McDonough and the School of Foreign Service (SFS).
Bachelor of Science in International Business, Language, and Culture
In addition, the McDonough School of Business offers a Bachelor of Science in International Business, Language, and Culture (IBLC). This is a joint program designed and delivered by McDonough and the Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences (CAS).
The mission of the McDonough School of Business is to educate students to be ethically responsible and effective global business leaders. Our goal is that students be able to improve the management of existing organizations and create new ones in order to responsibly help raise global standards of living. Our students will be skilled in the analysis of both qualitative information and quantitative data.
Read also: A Tradition of Excellence at Georgetown
Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS)
The School of Foreign Service (SFS) was founded in 1919 by Edmund A. Walsh to prepare students for leadership in diplomacy and foreign commerce. The Walsh School of Foreign Service offers an interdisciplinary B.S.
Each of the eight BSFS majors and the joint degree from the Walsh School of Foreign Service and McDonough School of Business, the Dikran Izmirlian Program in Business and Global Affairs (BGA), is designed around 24-36 credits of required and elective classes. Some majors have additional pre- or co-requisites.
Majors Offered
- Culture and Politics
- Global Business
- International Economics
- International History
- International Political Economy
- International Politics
- Regional Studies
- Science, Technology, and International Affairs
It is possible for students who wish to pursue a modified version of one of the eight major fields to petition for permission to do so. Usually the modifications involve substituting one or two courses for those included on the current course lists. There are rare cases in which a student has received permission to pursue an independent major that does not fall under the jurisdiction of one of the eight major field committees.
Graduating from the SFS requires a minimum of 120 credits. A typical student needs to earn 73-85 credits to meet the Core (53 credits) and major (24-36 credits) requirements, leaving 35-47 credit hours for electives, minors and certificates. However, the majority of students use some of those elective credits to take classes needed to develop second language proficiency. Certificates typically require 18 credit hours including a significant project. Some certificates also have specific language requirements. Of special note: Up to 6 credits (typically two courses) may double-count for both a certificate and a major.
Minors are optional. Most are open to all, and may be declared when declaring a major, or at any time after. Some minors require an application, typically submitted in the spring of sophomore year. The College students may earn a certificate in one of the regional study programs below offered through the School of Foreign Service. Certificates are the functional equivalent of minors, so they count as one of the maximum three academic programs that a student may complete as part of the degree. In keeping with SFS policy, students may not pursue two certificate programs.
Read also: Georgetown Admission SAT
At most 6 credits (typically two courses) can be double-counted between the SFS Economics Core and the Economics minor, i.e. students who take ECON 1001 and 1002 (or fulfill either or both by AP or other credits) will double-count these with the Minor and will not be able to double-count ECON 2542/2543/2544. Students who take ECON 1003 will double-count it with the minor and additionally double-count one course among ECON 2542/2543/2544. No courses may double-count between a major and a minor.
The School of Foreign Service and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences sponsor several accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs for those qualified students who plan to continue their professional education in international affairs at the graduate level and desire to complete the two degrees in approximately five years. Students with appropriate undergraduate coursework may count graduate level courses toward the undergraduate degree. Admission to the accelerated degree programs is highly competitive. Applicants must satisfy all application procedures as outlined by the Graduate Admissions Office. Successful applicants matriculate fully into the graduate program in the fourth year and graduate with the Bachelor’s Degree upon completion of all undergraduate degree requirements.
Joint Programs
The College of Arts & Sciences and the McCourt School of Public Policy offer a Joint Program in Public Policy (JPPP), leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy (AB-PP).
Graduate Programs
Georgetown University's graduate programs span a wide range of disciplines, offering advanced study and research opportunities for students seeking to deepen their expertise and advance their careers.
McDonough School of Business (MSB)
The McDonough School of Business offers a variety of MBA and Master of Science programs designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today's dynamic business environment.
MBA Programs
- Full-time MBA: This program blends a global management curriculum with a values-based approach to business, preparing students to drive positive change.
- Flex MBA: Offered in both in-person and online formats, this part-time program allows students to balance the demands of a rigorous degree with full-time employment.
- Executive MBA: This program delivers the skills, confidence, and knowledge needed to create meaningful change, with a customizable curriculum and access to global leaders.
- Executive MBA Dubai: This program brings Georgetown's top-ranked Executive MBA to the MENASA region, offering senior decision-makers the opportunity to advance their international and regional business capabilities.
Master of Science Programs
- Master of Science in Management (MiM): This 10-month, STEM-designated, full-time program is designed for recent undergraduates with 0-3 years of work experience.
- Master of Science in Finance (MSF): This online program transforms professionals into rising industry leaders with essential skills for finance careers.
- Master of Science in Business Analytics: This program teaches students how to create, share, and sustain value using data, with both full-time and part-time options.
- Master of Science in Global Real Assets: Offered in partnership with the Steers Center for Global Real Assets, this program focuses on the evolving real estate industry.
Master of Arts Programs
- Master of Arts in International Business and Policy: This program delivers a strategic blend of business knowledge and policy expertise for success in an interconnected world.
- Master of Arts in International Business and Policy Dubai: This program adapts the university’s signature IBP program for the MENASA region. Offered jointly by the McDonough School of Business and School of Foreign Service, the program bridges the realms of business and international affairs, emphasizing sustainable growth, innovation, and social impact.
Custom Executive Education Programs
McDonough’s Custom Executive Education Programs draw expertise from across Georgetown University and the extensive Washington, D.C., network of business and policy leaders to create programs tailored to the specific needs of corporate clients.
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
The Edward B. Bunn, S.J. Master's and doctoral programs are offered through the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the Law Center, the School of Medicine, the McCourt School of Public Policy, and the School of Continuing Studies.
Specific Programs
- M.S. in Addiction Policy and Practice: Provides students with a comprehensive understanding of addiction, including public health and criminal justice policy, basic science, and evidence-based prevention, treatment and recovery.
- M.A. in American Government: A one-year program designed for highly motivated students to gain practical experience and political science knowledge: learning theories about American government and then applying them in a practicum setting.
- M.A. in Applied Economics: Provides students with a solid foundation in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. Coursework teaches students to comprehend empirical analyses pertinent to the discussion of economic issues and equips them with the skills to undertake original research projects and data analysis.
- Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics: Prepares students for research and teaching careers in academia, industry, or government.
- Ph.D. in Arabic and Islamic Studies: Aims to combine a thorough understanding of the Arabic language with scholarly research in the literary, linguistic and intellectual traditions of the Arab and Islamic world.
- M.A. in Arabic and Islamic Studies: Aims to combine a thorough understanding of the Arabic language with scholarly research in the literary, linguistic and intellectual traditions of the Arab and Islamic world.
- M.A. in Art and Museum Studies: A selective program that combines the academic study of art history and museum practice and emphasizes the international contexts of museums in the modern world.
- M.A. in Asian Studies: Gives students a unique combination of functional training and regional expertise, and provides students with the skills necessary to meet the demands of global private and public sector interests in Asia.
- Ph.D. in Biology: Provides graduate students with an introduction to graduate-level biology across diverse fields of biological science.
- Ph.D. in Chemistry: Prepares graduates for a variety of research and leadership careers in industry, government, and academia.
- M.S. in Climate, Environment, and Health: An interdisciplinary program based in Washington, D.C.
- M.A. in Communication, Culture & Technology (CCT): Studies the impact of technology on society, using tools from multiple disciplines to develop fresh insights and solutions.
School of Continuing Studies (SCS)
The School of Continuing Studies (SCS) campus is located in a 95,000 square foot, state-of-the-art building in downtown Washington, D.C. The current building, which was completed in 2013, includes 30 classrooms, a 125-person auditorium, a digital media lab, a broadcast studio, an interfaith chapel, and a dedicated library.
Specific Programs
- Online Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP): Prepares registered nurses to manage the care of patients with acute and chronic conditions.
- Advanced Biomedical Sciences (ABS) certificate program: In partnership with George Mason University, is offered through our GeorgeSquared Program.
- American Conversational English program: Provides you with expert instruction in grammar, conversation, and listening skills.
- The American Studies Program: Offers an interdisciplinary Major that encourages students to ask critical questions about power, identity, and American culture.
- M.A. in Intelligence Studies: Prepares you to navigate today’s complex intelligence landscape. You’ll engage with a faculty of leading scholars and practitioners, and be exposed to the latest technologies and best practices.
Other Graduate Programs
Master's students occasionally share some advanced seminars with undergraduates, and most undergraduate schools offer abbreviated bachelor's and master's programs following completion of the undergraduate degree. The McDonough School of Business and the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service both offer master's programs.
Georgetown University's Campuses and Global Presence
Georgetown University has four campuses in Washington, D.C.: the undergraduate campus located in the neighborhood of Georgetown, the Medical Center, the School of Continuing Studies (in Chinatown) and the Law Center.
Main Campus
The undergraduate campus and Medical Center are together in the Georgetown neighborhood in the Northwest Quadrant of Washington and form the main campus.
Other Centers
Other centers are located around Washington, D.C., including the Center for Continuing and Professional Education at Clarendon in Arlington County, Virginia. Transit between these locations and the Washington Metro is supplied by a system of shuttles, known as GUTS buses.
Global Locations
Georgetown also has branches of the School of Foreign Service in Doha, Qatar, and Jakarta, Indonesia, as well as villas in Alanya, Turkey, and Fiesole, Italy.
Georgetown University in Qatar
In 2002, the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development presented the School of Foreign Service with the resources and space to open a campus in Education City in Al Rayyan, Qatar. SFS-Qatar opened in 2005 as a liberal arts and international affairs undergraduate school for regional students. It offers the same Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS) as the main campus, in addition to three certificates.
Villa Le Balze (Italy)
In December 1979, the Marquesa Margaret Rockefeller de Larrain, granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller, gave the Villa Le Balze to Georgetown University. The Villa is in Fiesole, Italy, on a hill above the city of Florence.
McGhee Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies (Turkey)
The main facility for the McGhee Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies was donated to Georgetown in 1989 by alumnus and former United States Ambassador to Turkey George C. McGhee. The school is in the town of Alanya, Turkey within the Seljuq-era Alanya Castle, on the Mediterranean.
Student Life and Activities
Almost all undergraduates attend full-time. A majority of undergraduates, 76%, live on-campus in several dormitories and apartment complexes, including all underclassmen. As of 2011, 1255 undergraduates and 339 graduate students live off-campus, mostly in the Georgetown, Glover Park, Burleith, and Foxhall neighborhoods. Since Fall 2022, housing is available for on-campus graduate students at 55 H St. NW, which is 30 minute from the Hilltop campus via the Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS). Students at the Law Center are accommodated at the Gewirz Student Center.
As of 2012, 92.9% of Georgetown University undergraduates are involved in at least one of the 179 registered student organizations which cover a variety of interests: student government, club sports, media and publications, performing arts, religion, and volunteer and service. Students also operate campus stores, banks, and medical services. Students often find their interests at the Student Activities Commission Club Fair, where both official and unofficial organizations set up tables. The Georgetown University Student Association is the student government organization for undergraduates.
A Cappella Groups
There are seven a cappella groups on campus, including The Georgetown Saxatones, The Georgetown Chimes, the Phantoms, Superfood, The GraceNotes, the Chamber Singers, Essence, Harmony, and the Capitol G's. These groups perform annually at the "D.C.
Social Justice and Political Activism
Georgetown University student organizations include a diverse array of groups focused on social justice issues, including organizations run through both Student Affairs and the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching, & Service (CSJ). Georgetown has many additional groups representing national, ethnic, and linguistic interests. Georgetown has the second-most politically active student body in the United States according to The Princeton Review. Groups based on local, national, and international issues are popular, and political speech is protected on campus. Student political organizations are active on campus and engage their many members in local and national politics. As a Catholic university, the pro-life organization Georgetown University Right to Life is officially recognized by the uni…
tags: #georgetown #university #degrees #programs
