Joint degree options

The graduate Security Studies Program (SSP) offers two joint degrees in partnership with other Georgetown programs: a joint M.A. and J.D. program with the Law Center and a joint M.A. and Ph.D. program with the Department of Government.

SSP/Georgetown Law joint M.A./J.D. program

The joint M.A./J.D. program with the Georgetown University Law Center is an accelerated program that allows successful applicants to earn a Master of Arts in Security Studies and a Juris Doctorate in four years. You must satisfactorily complete course requirements for both the J.D. and M.A. degrees. In addition to the J.D. and M.A. degrees, a joint program certificate will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the program.

In the M.A./J.D. program, you’ll undertake a four-year course of study comprising a minimum of 109 academic credits (79 Law Center credits and 30 Security Studies credits). Six credits from the Law Center will satisfy Security Studies degree requirements with the approval of the SSP Director of Graduate Studies. Six credits of Security Studies coursework will satisfy J.D. requirements. You must take at least six credits of coursework on international law and are encouraged to draw heavily from course offerings on the use of force, humanitarian law, conflict resolution and other relevant topics.

Application

To apply for the joint M.A./J.D., you must apply independently to the Security Studies Program and the Law Center, meet the admissions deadlines and satisfy the admissions requirements for both programs. The joint M.A./J.D. applications are only accepted for matriculation in the fall semester.

You can apply to the programs simultaneously, during your first year of coursework in the Security Studies Program, or at the Law Center. Acceptance into one program does not guarantee acceptance into the other, and conversely, not being admitted to one program does not necessarily mean that you will not be admitted to both.

Applicants to the joint M.A./J.D. program can submit LSAT scores in lieu of GRE scores. GMAT scores will not be accepted.

M.A./J.D. curriculum outline and requirements

The course plan will vary depending on if you begin your studies in the Security Studies Program or Law Center. However, all students in the joint degree program must take:

• 24 credits of Security Studies coursework, including completion of all core courses for the program
• 31 credits of the required first-year law curriculum
• 32 credits in further law courses, including professional responsibility and the legal writing requirement
• 16 credits in international law courses, including three credits in international law I and 13 credits in further international law courses, at least three of which need to be in international/national security law
• Passage of the Security Studies Program comprehensive exam
• If needed, nine credits of additional Security Studies free elective credits
• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for the Law Center and a 3.0 for the M.A. in Security Studies.

Upon admission to the joint program, you will be assigned an academic advisor from both the Law Center and Security Studies Program to discuss your course of study in further detail.

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SSP/Georgetown Government joint M.A./Ph.D. program

The joint M.A./Ph.D. program with Georgetown University’s Department of Government is an accelerated program that allows you to complete coursework that simultaneously satisfies the requirements for both the Master of Arts in Security Studies and a Ph.D. in Government.

In this program, you must take a total of 60 credit hours of coursework, with up to 24 credits double-counting toward both the M.A. and the Ph.D. When applying, you must select international relations as your area of focus for the Ph.D. If admitted, you must also attain proficiency in relevant languages and research methodologies and complete and defend a dissertation to be awarded the Ph.D.

Application

You can only be admitted to the joint M.A./Ph.D. program in the fall semester. A separate application must be submitted to both the Security Studies Program and the Department of Government; the Department of Government’s application deadline is earlier than the Security Studies application deadline. Please refer to the Department of Government for additional information. This program must be completed on a full-time basis.

M.A./Ph.D. curriculum outline and requirements

Upon admission to the joint program, you will be assigned an academic advisor from both the Department of Government and the Security Studies Program to discuss your course of study in further detail.

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Accelerated degree

The Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS)/M.A. in Security Studies five-year program is an accelerated degree program that allows you to gain admission to the Security Studies graduate program during your junior year at Georgetown. You should work closely with your undergraduate dean on all coursework requirements.

Degree framework

• Four of your Security Studies courses may count for your BSFS and M.A. degree.
• If you decide to take two additional Security Studies courses in your senior year (six total), those two additional courses will only be applied towards your M.A. degree.
• You may take a maximum of three graduate courses in your first semester of the accelerated program.