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Georgetown University Graduate School

Admissions Information

Why does Georgetown offer a joint JD/PhD Government degree?

Law can be better understood in the context of the political institutions and processes in which it operates, and government can be better understood in the context of the legal system on which it is based. The JD/Government program stimulates interdisciplinary work examining the interaction between law and American national institutions such as the presidency, Congress, agencies, and the courts, and between law and political processes like electoral politics, political behavior, and mass media.

Does the program have an international law focus in addition to a domestic one?

Yes, the joint degree fosters inquiry into international law and organization; the interplay between law and international politics and political economy; the relationship between law and foreign policy; the constitutional law of U.S. foreign relations, and other aspects of national security law.

Further, the program seeks to impart an understanding of the traditions of thought that have been influential in shaping political experience, and the analysis of normative issues intrinsic to legal processes, including questions having to do with ethics, rights, and democracy.

What are the degree requirements?

Degrees/certificates awarded	Degree Requirements
J.D. PhD in American Government, International Relations, Comparative Government or Political Theory MA degree en passant to students who complete 48 credits and course distribution requirements in government program Joint Program Certificate	76* law hours 48 in government for the M.A., with 9 credits of Government course work counted toward the J.D., and an additional 15 for the Ph.D.   Approximately 21 credits from the JD count toward the PhD Therefore, students must take about 27 credits unique to the PhD. Satisfactory performance on the written foreign language examination for PT, CG and IR majors (this requirement can be waived for IR majors and with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies) Major Field Comprehensive Examination Thesis Defense First Year Workshop Dissertation
Typical Credit Distribution	Curriculum/Course Requirements
First 31* JD Second 24 PhD Third 24 JD, 3 PhD Fourth 21 JD, 6 PhD Fifth 6 PhD (Comparative, IR, or Political Theory Majors) 9 PhD (American Government Majors) Sixth Dissertation	JD Requirements First year of law school as an intact block either first or after completing one year of government course work Satisfactory completion of the upperclass legal writing requirement Course in Professional Responsibility PhD Requirements    Theory and Methods Requirements (15 credits) GOVT-780, Fundamentals of Political Theory (3 credits) GOVT-701, Analysis of Political Data (3 credits) GOVT-702, Advanced Political Analysis (3 credits) Elective (Political Theory Graduate Level Course) (3 credits) Elective(Political Theory or Methods Course) (3 credits)     Typically, two Political Theory courses, appropriately selected, will double count.    Major Field Requirements (18 credits) Refer to the Government Department's Web site or the  Graduate Handbook for specific field requirements for Political Theory, International Relations, Comparative Government or American Government Students are required to take 6 courses in their major field of study (18 credits)    Minor Field Requirements (9 credits) Courses taken for the J.D. fulfill this requirement (9 credits) Minor Field Exam: waived for students who successfully complete all Law School course and exam requirements    2 General Electives (6 credits) Electives (in any field) (6 credits)

*NOTE: 1 fewer credit is required for students who completed the first year law curriculum prior to 2007-2008.

Revised October 28, 2009 (DB)