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ELLIOTT SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Dean M.E. Brown
Associate Deans H.L. Agnew, D.A. Grier, E.A. McCord
The Elliott School of International Affairs offers graduate and undergraduate programs to prepare individuals for understanding and working in an increasingly globalized world. The historical roots of the Elliott School extend back to the establishment of the School of Comparative Jurisprudence and Diplomacy in 1898. In 1966, the School separated from the School of Government, Business, and International Affairs to become an independent unit, the School of Public and International Affairs. In 1987, the name was changed to the School of International Affairs, and in 1988 the School was renamed in honor of Evelyn E. and Lloyd H. Elliott. Lloyd Elliott was the President of The George Washington University from 1965 to 1988.
Master’s Degree Programs
The Elliott School offers degree programs leading to the Master of Arts in the fields of international affairs, Asian studies, European and Eurasian studies, international development studies, international science and technology policy, international trade and investment policy, Latin American and hemispheric studies, and security policy studies. The Elliott School also offers a Master of International Policy and Practice degree for mid-career professionals and a Master of International Studies degree for students enrolled in master’s degree programs at universities with which the Elliott School has a special partnership.
These programs provide advanced academic and professional training in international affairs as preparation for employment in public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Focusing on major historical and contemporary issues in international affairs, the programs are both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary, combining courses offered through the School with courses offered by other schools and departments of the University.
Admission Requirements
Admission is normally for the fall semester and may be for full- or part-time study. Admission to master’s programs in the Elliott School is highly competitive. To be considered for admission, applicants must present a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Records of academic performance, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement are the principal components of an application. Scores on the general test of the Graduate Record Examination are required for Master of Arts applicants and encouraged but not required for Master of International Policy and Practice applicants. In addition, the applicant’s motivation, professional experience, and academic preparation in economics and foreign language study will be considered in the selection process. Eight years of professional experience are generally required of Master of International Policy and Practice applicants.
The following additional requirements pertain to all applicants whose native language is not English and who have not graduated from a college or university in which English is the language of instruction—Applicants are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The Test of Written English (TWE) is recommended for those who take the TOEFL. To be considered for admission, applicants are normally expected to have a minimum score of 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based) or 100 (Internet-based) on the TOEFL, or an overall band score of 7.0 on the academic IELTS with no individual band score below 6.0. Applicants admitted as degree candidates will be required to take the English as a Foreign Language Placement Test at George Washington University before registering. Applicants who receive a TOEFL score of 620 on the paper test or 260 on the computer test or 105 on the Internet test and have a 5 or better on the TWE, or have an overall band score of 7.0 on the academic IELTS, with no individual band score below 6.5, are exempted from the EFL placement test. EFL course work may be required, depending on the applicant’s performance on the placement test, but may not be applied toward the degree. Students who are required to take EFL courses must do so at their own expense and may find that their progress toward completing the degree may be delayed.
International Affairs—The applicant’s undergraduate program should include courses in international affairs or other relevant social sciences, including introductory micro- and macroeconomics and at least two years of undergraduate study of a modern foreign language. In the case of major deficiencies in the social sciences (especially economics) or foreign language preparation, additional course work may be specified beyond the minimum requirements for the master’s degree.
Asian Studies—An undergraduate major in a pertinent field and at least two years of study of an appropriate Asian language are required.
European and Eurasian Studies—An undergraduate major in a relevant field is preferred, including a good background in European history and political systems. The undergraduate program should include satisfactory completion of at least two years of an appropriate European or Eurasian language.
International Development Studies—The applicant’s undergraduate program should include courses in international affairs or other relevant social sciences, including introductory microeconomics, a course in statistics, and at least two years of study of a modern foreign language. International experience in development or a related field is important and can compensate for gaps in academic preparation.
International Trade and Investment Policy—The applicant’s undergraduate program should include at least one semester each of intermediate microeconomic theory, intermediate macroeconomic theory, statistics, and at least two years of study of a modern foreign language. Undergraduate courses in intermediate micro- and macroeconomics are highly desirable.
Latin American and Hemispheric Studies—The applicant’s undergraduate program should include background course work related to Latin America and at least two years of study of Spanish or Portuguese. Majors in other fields may be considered for admission provided that undergraduate course work includes Spanish or Portuguese and sufficient course work in one of the following areas: anthropology, economics, geography, Hispanic literature, history, and political science.
International Science and Technology Policy—Undergraduate majors in a social, life, or physical science or in engineering are eligible for admission. Analytic skills and interest in policy issues with significant science or technology dimensions are more important determinants of success in the program than any particular formal training or academic background.
Security Policy Studies—An undergraduate background similar to that specified above for International Affairs would be appropriate. Work experience in the military or national security fields might compensate in part for some gaps in academic preparation. A background in economics or quantitative analysis skills is helpful.
Readmission
A graduate student who has not been continuously enrolled or on approved leave of absence must file an application for readmission the semester before planning to return to school.
Scholarship Requirements
Information on grades and computing the grade-point average is under University Regulations. Courses taken to satisfy degree requirements cannot be taken on a Credit (CR) basis, with the exception of Thesis Research and capstone courses for M.A. students and the M.I.P.P. Seminar for M.I.P.P. students.
Graduate students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0. Students whose cumulative grade-point average falls below 3.0 at any time after having completed at least 9 credit hours will be given an additional semester in which to raise the grade-point average above 3.0. Those who fail to bring their grade-point average over 3.0 at the end of the additional semester will not be allowed to continue in the program. For part-time students and those enrolled in summer sessions, a semester is interpreted to mean a time interval in which at least 9 credit hours have accrued.
A master’s candidate who receives a grade of F is required to present cause as to why he or she should be allowed to continue in the program of studies.
The symbol I (Incomplete) indicates that a satisfactory explanation has been given to the instructor for the student’s failure to complete the required work of the course. When work for the course is complete, the grade earned will be indicated by the letter I followed by the letter grade. An Incomplete cannot be made up after the lapse of one calendar year. An Incomplete that is not made up by the end of one calendar year becomes a grade of IF on the student’s record. An Incomplete cannot be removed by reregistering for the course. If there are more than two Incompletes outstanding on the record, the student is not permitted to register for any courses, including the capstone course.
A student who fails to meet the established deadlines for completion of course work or other requirements of the program and is granted an extension may be required by the dean and the Dean’s Council to register for 3 credit hours of graduate Reading and Research for each semester that the work is delinquent.
General Requirements for Master of Arts Degree Programs
Programs leading to the Master of Arts degree require a minimum of 40 credit hours of graduate course work and may include a thesis (the Security Policy Studies program does not have a thesis option). In all programs, students must pass a multidisciplinary capstone course at the conclusion of their program.
Candidates for the degree of Master of Arts are required to submit an advisor-approved plan of study (fields, supporting course work, etc.) to the Student Services office by the end of the first semester in residence. Master’s degrees are awarded by vote of the faculty after the student has completed the required course work and an acceptable thesis (if one is elected), has satisfied the foreign language requirement, and has successfully completed the capstone course.
Under special circumstances undergraduate courses numbered 101–200 may be counted toward the master’s degree when registration for graduate credit has been approved at the beginning of the course by the curriculum advisor, the instructor, and the dean. The student who takes an undergraduate course for graduate credit is expected, by arrangement with the instructor, to do work at the graduate level in addition to the regular work of the course. Normally, no more than 9 hours of undergraduate course work may be taken for graduate credit in the 40-credit-hour program. Academic credit counted toward a previous degree may not be counted toward the master’s degree.
All master’s degree candidates must complete degree requirements within five years of their admission to the program. A student who is unable temporarily to continue the plan of studies may request a leave of absence not to exceed one year. Extensions beyond the five-year period may be granted in exceptional circumstances, but the student will be required to register and pay for 3 credit hours of Reading and Research each semester.
No more than 6 hours of graduate credit may be transferred from other accredited institutions or another division of the University, and these may be accepted only under limited conditions of time, grades, and relevance to the student’s program.
Curriculum Requirements
Curriculum requirements for the Master of Arts programs are listed under the appropriate heading in Courses of Instruction—International Affairs, Asian Studies, European and Eurasian Studies, International Development Studies, International Science and Technology Policy, International Trade and Investment Policy, Latin American and Hemispheric Studies, and Security Policy Studies. Students should consult the program director concerning Special Topics courses that may be applicable to their program.
Foreign Language Requirements
In most degree programs, a candidate for the degree of Master of Arts must demonstrate reading and speaking proficiency (certified by the relevant language department) in a modern foreign language. Students in regional programs must demonstrate their ability in a language appropriate to the study of the specific region. If a student selects a language not offered by the University, a testing fee will be charged.
Each student whose native language is English must take a diagnostic exam in a foreign language during graduate student orientation. Students must also pass a reading and oral proficiency exam after successful completion of 20 hours of residence in the program. No student may take the proficiency examination more than three times. Students who fail to pass the exam in three attempts are subject to dismissal from the University. Students should consult their program guidelines for specific requirements, possible academic credit, and options concerning the language requirement.
Candidates in security policy studies may substitute advanced course work in statistics for a foreign language. Candidates in international science and technology policy have no foreign language requirement; however, proficiency in a foreign language may be used to meet the program’s analytical competency requirement if it can be shown to be integral to the student’s program of study.
For all Elliott School degree programs, students who are not native speakers of English are also required to pass an English examination; this requirement is in addition to the TOEFL required for admission. The examination, which tests high-level reading and writing proficiency, is administered by the Language Center, and should be successfully completed before the end of the candidate’s second semester. This requirement is in addition to the statistics requirement in the security policy studies program and the analytical competency requirement in the international science and technology program.
Capstone Course
Every student must successfully complete a capstone course near the conclusion of the master’s program. Most programs offer the capstone course once a year, during the spring semester. The student must have a 3.0 grade-point average and must have completed or registered for 30 hours before participating in the course. If there is a lapse of time between completion of other course work and the capstone course, the student must be continuously enrolled during this period. A student who fails to successfully complete the capstone course may repeat it with the permission of the dean. If the student fails a second time, no further opportunity to complete the course will be permitted and the degree will not be conferred. Details concerning the capstone course vary across programs. Students should consult their program guidelines for details.
Thesis Option
Exceptional students may write a thesis if they qualify by having a minimum 3.5 grade-point average for at least 20 hours of course work in their program, submitting for approval a previously written research paper of high quality, and developing a formal thesis proposal approved by their prospective thesis advisor.
The thesis subject should be selected as early as possible so as to permit effective integration with the course work. A student will not be permitted to register for Thesis Research (IAff 299–300) until the thesis subject has been formally submitted to the dean’s office. Most programs set additional requirements in order to qualify to write a thesis. The subject must be approved by the member of the faculty under whom the thesis is to be written, a second member of the faculty who will serve as a reader, and the student’s program director. The thesis in its final form must have the approval of the thesis director and one other reader, and two copies must be presented to the dean by the student no later than the last day of regular classes each semester or the second summer session. Printed copies of detailed regulations regarding the form and reproduction of the thesis are available in the Student Services office. A fee for binding must be paid upon completion of the thesis.
Payment of tuition for thesis research entitles the candidate, during the period of registration, to the advice and direction of the thesis director and the other reader. In case a thesis is unfinished, the student must maintain continuous enrollment and is allowed one calendar year to complete it. If the preparation of the thesis extends beyond the additional calendar year, the student must register for the entire 6 hours of thesis again and pay tuition as for a repeated course.
General Requirements for the Master of International Policy and Practice Degree Program
The Master of International Policy and Practice requires a minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate course work. Students are required to take one course in either international or comparative politics, one course in international economics, and the M.I.P.P. Seminar. For the remainder of the program, students must submit a plan of study, approved by the program director, to the Student Services office by the end of the first semester in residence.
Under special circumstances undergraduate courses numbered 101–200 may be counted toward the master’s degree when registration for graduate credit has been approved at the beginning of the course by the program director, the instructor, and the dean. The student who takes an undergraduate course for graduate credit is expected, by arrangement with the instructor, to do work at the graduate level in addition to the regular work of the course. No more than 6 hours of undergraduate course work may be taken for graduate credit in the 27-hour program.
M.I.P.P. candidates must complete degree requirements within three years of their admission to the program. A student who is temporarily unable to continue the plan of studies may request a leave of absence not to exceed one year. Extensions beyond the three-year period may be granted in exceptional circumstances, but the student will be required to register and pay for 3 credit hours of Reading and Research each semester.
No transfer credit from any institution other than The George Washington University is accepted into the M.I.P.P. program. No more than 6 hours of graduate credit taken in any degree or nondegree status within The George Washington University, including the Elliott School, may be transferred to the M.I.P.P. program.
Special Programs
Joint Master of Arts and Juris Doctor Degree Program
The Elliott School of International Affairs cooperates with the Law School in offering a program of study leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Juris Doctor. A student must be accepted for admission by both the Elliott School and the Law School. Applications should be made separately to each school, with a notice of interest in the combined program. Students may also apply for the joint degree program after they have begun either program. The Law School stipulates that the first year of course work for the Juris Doctor degree must be taken as a unit; students should consult with the Law School’s Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
The Master of Arts degree program consists of a 40-credit-hour program that may not include a thesis. The student selects a degree program offered by the School and fulfills all of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree as well as fulfilling the requirements for the Juris Doctor degree. As part of this program, each School accepts up to 12 credit hours of course work from the other school in fulfillment of its degree requirements. The program takes approximately four years of full-time study for completion. Joint degree students must meet all requirements for both programs prior to receiving either diploma. All work for this combined degree program must be completed in five years, unless an extension of time is granted by the respective deans.
Joint Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration Degree Program
The Elliott School of International Affairs cooperates with the School of Business in offering a program of study leading to the degrees of Master of Arts in one of five fields and Master of Business Administration with a field of study in international business. The joint degree program is offered in the Elliott School fields of international affairs, international trade and investment policy, Asian studies, European and Eurasian studies, and Latin American and hemispheric studies. The student must be accepted for admission by both the Elliott School and the School of Business. Applications should be made separately to each school, with a notice of interest in the combined program. Students may also apply for the joint degree program after they have begun either program.
The joint degree program consists of 66–70 credit hours of course work. As part of this program, each school accepts up to 12 credit hours of course work from the other school in fulfillment of its degree requirements. The program takes approximately three years of full-time study for completion. Joint degree students must meet all requirements for each program prior to receiving either diploma. All work for this combined degree program must be completed in six years, unless an extension of time is granted by the respective deans.
Dual Master of Arts and Master of Public Health Degree Program
The Elliott School of International Affairs cooperates with the School of Public Health and Health Services in offering a dual degree program leading toward the Master of Arts in one of four fields and the Master of Public Health in international health. The dual degree program is offered in the Elliott School fields of international affairs, international development studies, Asian studies, and Latin American and hemispheric studies. The student must be accepted for admission by both the Elliott School and the School of Public Health and Health Services. Applications should be made separately to each school, with a notice of interest in the combined program. Students may also apply for the dual degree program after they have begun either program.
The dual degree program consists of approximately 68 credit hours of course work. As part of this program, the Elliott School accepts up to 12 credit hours of course work from the School of Public Health and Health Services in fulfillment of its degree requirements. The program takes approximately three years of full-time study for completion.
Dual degree students may complete the requirements for each degree and receive a diploma for each degree independently. However, all work on each degree must be completed within five years from the student’s entry into that program, unless an extension of time is granted by the respective deans.
Graduate Certificates
The Elliott School of International Affairs offers programs of study leading to a graduate certificate in regional studies in Asian studies, European and Eurasian studies, and Latin American and hemispheric studies, and topical specialties in international trade policy, international science and technology policy, international security policy, U.S. foreign policy, and political psychology. The program is open to all graduate students presently enrolled in the Elliott School, Columbian College of Arts and Science, the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, the School of Business, and the School of Public Health and Health Services at The George Washington University, and to graduate students from other universities, persons who have already earned a graduate degree, and persons with a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of eight years of relevant work experience. Additional information is available in the Elliott School Graduate Admissions office.
Master of International Studies
The Master of International Studies is open only to students in master’s degree programs at universities with which the Elliott School has developed special partnerships. Consult the Elliott School for specific requirements.
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