Required courses 

Core courses (18 credits)

• GEST 5001: German & European History
• GEST 5002: European Union
• GEST 5003: European Economy
• GEST 5004: European Culture
• GEST 5005: International Affairs in Europe
• GEST 5006: MAES Seminar

Concentrations 

You’ll work with your faculty advisor to create an individualized concentration, which you declare in the second semester of your first year and begin in your second year. Completely customized, this is a chance to advance your knowledge in your particular interest areas. Your concentration will frame the topics and practical skills you want to develop. 

Self-designed concentration examples 

Electives 

You will take eight elective courses totaling 24 credits. We encourage you to tailor your elective courses to your customized concentration. 

Oral examination

Oral examinations are an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery and critical understanding of knowledge acquired in courses or through independent research. You can reflect on central problems in your course of study in an interdisciplinary fashion. They are not a “test” but are rather more like having a conversation with two professionals representing different fields of study on a topic that you suggest in your statement. Specific instructions for the oral exams will be distributed by the end of September. You must complete this in the fall of your second year. 

Oral presentation

The exam begins with a five-minute oral presentation based on a prepared one-page topic statement. You will then present a question, an argument about the question and explain how the topic relates to the core themes explored in your interdisciplinary study. 

Oral exam

The examination panel will consist of two faculty members, one of whom you may request. The exam will last approximately 30 minutes and will build on the question and argument raised in your oral presentation.

Foreign language proficiency 

By spring break of your final semester, you must demonstrate proficiency in one European language (other than English) by passing an oral proficiency exam.

Accepted languages

Any language other than English that naturally arose on the European continent can fulfill the language proficiency requirement. Students most commonly choose German, French, Spanish or Russian, but languages such as Azerbaijani, Irish, Georgian, Latin and Turkish have also been selected. Proficiency in a signed language (British Sign Language, French Sign Language, etc.) may also satisfy the oral proficiency requirement.

Oral proficiency

The oral proficiency exam tests whether you have sufficient speaking and listening ability to use the target language professionally. The format of the exam varies among the administering departments.

Native speaker status

If your secondary education (high school, Gymnasium, colegio, etc.) was in a European language other than English, you may substitute secondary school transcripts or exit exam credentials for the oral proficiency exam.

To receive native speaker certification, provide the Associate Director with secondary school exit exams, a diploma or other proof that the language of instruction was a European language other than English.

Culminating experiences 

Capstone project 

You will complete a capstone during your second year of study based on the sustained research you have done throughout the program. Your chosen concentration determines the topic and scope of the project. It may be presented as a written thesis (academic research paper, policy memo, etc.) or in an alternative media format (website, documentary film, etc.). If you choose an alternative media format, it’s key that you have the necessary technical skills before starting and you must get approval from your capstone course professor. 

You will have two advisors: your capstone course professor and an expert in your area of research. In general, this advisor may be from any department at Georgetown University. For students in the joint MAES/Ph.D. program, at least one advisor must be from the respective Ph.D. department. You should discuss topics with both advisors and complete a project proposal and literature review in the fall semester of your second year. You must meet regularly with your second advisor throughout the spring semester.

In your final spring semester, you enroll in the Master’s Project Seminar (GEST 5006) to develop your project format. You will use this course to complete your research project and also act as a critic of other projects by participating in interdisciplinary dialogue. 

Colloquium

In the spring, the final colloquium prepares you to participate in academic and professional conferences. You’ll present your master’s projects to faculty and fellow students, while first-year students serve as commentators. It is an opportunity to connect with faculty while experiencing the interdisciplinary nature of and diverse academic interests in the program. 

Grade point average 

To complete the program, you must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 

Accelerated degree

The accelerated program is for highly qualified undergraduate students in the Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences or the BSFS undergraduate program to complete the M.A. in European Studies with one additional year of study. You will complete your senior undergraduate year and the first year of graduate study simultaneously, completing the M.A. the following year. 

You must complete the full 42 credit hours for the M.A. in European Studies degree, as well as the requirements for the undergraduate degree. A maximum of two courses (six credit hours) may double-count toward the accelerated degree requirements. These double-counting courses must be pre-approved by the College associate dean for academic programs and the M.A. in European Studies associate director.