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Georgetown University Graduate School

Admissions Information

JD/Government Student Profile

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 hours in government for MA with 9 JD credits counting towards government requirements and vice versa. Approximately 21 credits from the JD count toward the PhD Therefore, students must take about 27 credits unique to the PhD. Satisfactory performance in the oral/reading foreign language examination Satisfactory completion of one major and one minor comprehensive examination Dissertation Proposal 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 6 courses in a major field of Comparative Government, International Relations, Political Theory, or American Government 3 courses in chosen minor field 5 courses in "Theory and Methods" required minor field 2 General Elective courses Participation in "First Year Workshop" (yearlong; non-credit; non-graded requirement) Demonstrated research competence in one language or statistics through examination (Statistics competency for American Government majors only) Comprehensive Examinations in the major and one minor fields. The second minor is unexamined and is achieved by receiving at least a B+ in at least three courses in the minor field. For American Government major the 6 courses must include: Approaches and Topics in American Politics; Research in American Politics and National Institutions; at least 2 courses from the "American National Institutions" section (Legislative Process; Judicial Politics; American Presidency; Bureaucratic Politics); and at least 2 courses from the "Political Processes and Behavior" (Political Behavior; U.S. Political Parties; Public Opinion and Voting Behavior; Media in American Politics; Presidential Electoral Politics). For International Relations major the 6 courses must include: Foundations of International Relations; International Relations: Applied Theories and Approaches; at least one core course in at least two sub-fields (from among subfields A International Law, Norms, and Institutions; B International Security; C International Political Economy; D Foreign Policy and Policy Process); and two additional IR elective courses. For Comparative Politics major the 6 courses must include: Methodology of Comparative Politics; Comparative Field Seminar; and four electives within the major field of study

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

Revised May 22, 2007 (VW)