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Georgetown University School of Foreign Service

Admissions Information

JD/MSFS Student Profile

What is the JD/MSFS?

The JD/MSFS is a joint degree offered by the Georgetown University Law Center and the School of Foreign Service. The program is a four-year full-time program in law and international studies in which graduates earn both a Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Science in Foreign Service degree. Through the integration of the curricula of the two schools, enrolled students can earn these degrees in an accelerated program of four years, instead of the five normally required when completing the degrees separately.

How can a person balance the requirements of the Law Center with the requirements of a demanding graduate program?

This is precisely the advantage of pursuing the two degrees simultaneously. The Law Center and the School of Foreign Service have designed a program that allows students to earn the two degrees within a condensed time frame by offering reciprocal credit for coursework. The combined curriculum requires 115* credit hours. The program requirements are summarized below.

Degrees/certificates awarded	Degree Requirements
JD MSFS (Master of Science in Foreign Service) Joint Program Certificate	4 year program 115* credit hours (76* in law, 39 in MSFS courses) Perform satisfactorily in the MSFS oral/reading foreign language exam, and MSFS oral examination  Satisfactory completion of the upperclass legal writing requirement Course in Professional Responsibility
Typical Distribution	Curriculum/Course Requirements
First Year 24 MSFS Credits Second Year 31* JD Credits Third Year 21 JD Credits 9 MSFS Credits Fourth Year 24 JD Credits 6 MSFS Credits	15 hrs of core MSFS courses taken during first year:  International Trade, International Finance, Globalization of Intersocietal Relations, International Relations:  Theory and Practice, Analytical and Statistical Skills;     21 hrs in M.S.F.S. electives related to one of four broad divisional concentrations: International Relations & Security; International Business; International Development; or a self-designed concentration (subject to approval, including regional studies) taken in the first, third and fourth years;     3 hrs MSFS Workshop taken in the third or fourth year;     31* hrs required first-year law curriculum;     16 hrs International Law J.D. courses including: a 3 credit International Law I course, 4 credit hours from the International Law "core" courses, and 9 credit hours chosen from the International Law "core" and/or International Law "related" courses; and View JD/MSFS international law core courses View JD/MSFS international law related courses 29 hrs in additional J.D. courses, including Professional Responsibility and successful completion of the legal writing requirement, in the third or fourth year.

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

Revised July 16, 2008 (DB)