Dual and Joint Degrees
It is possible to combine the MA in Arab Studies program with undergraduate degrees at the School of Foreign Service (BSFS) and College of Arts and Science (College), the JD program at the Law Center, or with a PhD program in Government or History.
You must complete individual applications for each, pay separate application fees and be admitted into each program independently.
Accelerated BSFS / MAAS Degree
Accelerated BSFS / MAAS students complete both degrees in five years. Students apply to the program in their junior year of their BSFS and start the MAAS program in their senior year. Accelerated students must fully meet the requirements of both degrees including: maintaining a minimal B (3.0/4.0) average, passing the MAAS Arabic language oral and written proficiency examinations, and successfully completing the oral comprehensive exam or thesis requirement. BSFS students who have passed Arabic proficiency prior to entering the MAAS program will need to retake the Arabic proficiency after matriculation.
Accelerated College / MAAS Degree
Accelerated College / MAAS students complete both degrees in five years. Students apply to the program in their junior year of their undergraduate and start the MAAS program in their senior year. Accelerated students must fully meet the requirements of both degrees including: maintaining a minimal B (3.0/4.0) average, passing the MAAS Arabic language oral and written proficiency examinations, and successfully completing the oral comprehensive exam or thesis requirement. Students who have passed Arabic proficiency prior to entering the MAAS program will need to retake the Arabic proficiency after matriculation.
Joint MAAS / JD Degree
MAAS / JD degree candidates must satisfactorily complete course requirements for both the JD and MAAS degrees. In addition to the JD and MAAS degrees, a Joint Program Certificate will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the program. Students undertake a four-year course of study comprising a minimum of 108 academic credits (78 credits of Law Center courses and 30 credits of MAAS work, with 6 credits from the Law Center counted toward the MAAS degree and 6 credits of MAAS coursework counted toward the JD). Candidates for this joint degree must satisfy the academic standards of the two programs including: maintaining a minimal B (3.0/4.0) average, passing the MAAS Arabic language oral and written proficiency examinations, and successfully completing the oral comprehensive exam or thesis requirement.
Dual MAAS / PhD in Government Degree
The joint MAAS / PhD in Government requires a total of 60 credit hours. Joint students must fulfill each requirement of the MAAS program in full (including the language proficiency and comprehensive exam or thesis option). The Government Department will count the MAAS degree as satisfactory completion of the minor field in the PhD. Typically, MAAS comprehensive exams will count for the Government comprehensive exams in the minor field. Students must meet with the Director of Academic Programs in the Government Department to discuss the specifics of the curriculum.
Dual MAAS / PhD in History Degree
The requirements of the History PhD program at Georgetown University have four components, each of which must be successfully completed within the course of seven years of full time study: at least two foreign language examinations (exception: those in the U.S. field must pass only one language exam); 36 hours of relevant graduate-level coursework; a series of written and oral comprehensive examinations; and a dissertation. Please consult with the Director of Academic Programs and your advisors to discuss the specifics of the joint curriculum.
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