College of Arts & Sciences

Academic Leadership and Advising

David M. Edelstein
Dean

Katherine B. Gunter
Chief of Staff

Sue Lorenson
Vice Dean for Undergraduate Education

Bryan McCann
Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs

Elena Silva
Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs

Jennifer L. Woolard
Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs

Thomas N. Chiarolanzio
Senior Associate Dean, Director of Advising

Marlene Canlas
Associate Dean

Mary Beth Connell
Associate Dean and Director of Pre-Health Advising

Bernard J. Cook
Associate Dean

Erin C. Force
Associate Dean

Javier Jiménez Westerman
Associate Dean for First Gen Student Initiatives

Keshia B. Woods
Associate Dean

Stephon Hamell
Assistant Dean

Joseph D. Napolitano
Assistant Dean

Michael T. Parker
Assistant Dean

Stefan N. Zimmers
Assistant Dean

Kelly Cole
Advising Dean

Hyun Ji (Sarah) Lim
Advising Dean

Kathryn Wade
Advising Dean

Aia Yousef
Advising Dean

Lucy Cherner
Assistant Director of Pre-Health Advising

Jennifer Ericson
Assistant Director of Pre-Health Advising

Nikki Harris
Assistant Director, First Gen Student Initiatives

History and Mission

Georgetown College, the oldest Catholic college in the United States, was founded in 1789 by John Carroll, Archbishop of Baltimore. A progressive citizen of his time, he firmly believed in the principles of the United States Constitution. He endeavored to establish an academy open to students of every faith, to form young minds and hearts in the classical and Jesuit traditions, and to prepare graduates to lead and serve in the Church and in the newly independent nation.

On March 1, 1815, President James Madison signed the act of Congress which chartered the College of Georgetown. In 1844 Congress approved its incorporation. During the years of the Civil War, Georgetown students fought for the North and South. Later the colors blue and gray were adopted by the College to signify the reunited nation and the sons of Georgetown who had served on both sides in its civil war.

From its founding to the present day the graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences have taken their places in the forefront of almost every human endeavor, as public servants and public leaders. Graduates of the College work in education, government, business, arts and entertainment, law, medicine, and research, shaping the world and serving their communities.

The College provides a liberal education for young people who will be called to intellectual, moral, and professional leadership, and fosters in them a commitment to a lifelong quest for truth.

As a Jesuit college, it draws upon a dynamic tradition of education, characterized by an optimistic Christian humanism committed to the assumption of responsibility and action. Accordingly, the College encourages the development of critical and creative powers, respect for tradition and human reason, and an appreciation of life and all its endeavors. It promotes not only the intellectual disciplines but also the search for personal values and convictions that will enable its graduates, throughout their lives, to continue redefining and maturing their thought, and also to continue pursuing the integration of their activities, values, and relations with others. High priority is placed on teaching and on developing a community of learning among its faculty, students, and administrators.

In 1995, the School of Languages and Linguistics joined the College as a degree program under the name of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics (FLL), later renamed the Faculty of Literatures, Cultures, and Language Studies (LCL). The mission of the LCL has evolved through the years. In the 1950s, the newly created Institute of Languages and Linguistics reflected the immediate needs of those times, emphasizing language learning for students considering service positions in the diplomatic corps and other government agencies. Later, the Faculty expanded the study of spoken and written languages to focus on the cultural, historical, and political contexts of world languages. Today, the Faculty of Literatures, Cultures, and Language Studies provides immersive and interdisciplinary grounding in a wide range of languages, rooted in literary, cultural, and linguistic studies. True to the fusion of imagination, emotion, and intellect that underlies Jesuit education, the LCL prepares students for success on the international stage and for a lifetime of curiosity and humanist engagement.

The College of Arts & Sciences offers the widest spectrum of courses at the undergraduate level, many of which are also integral to the curriculum of the other undergraduate schools at Georgetown. The College is also home to numerous master’s programs and is the home for all of the doctoral programs on the Main Campus.

The College of Arts & Sciences has embraced pedagogical innovation, including the integration of technology in the classroom, while remaining committed to the residential educational experience and the work of formation. Emphasizing the strengths of the liberal arts—critical thinking, writing, and creative expression—across a broad spectrum of disciplines, the College prepares students for the twenty-first century by providing grounding in both tradition and the most current research methods and fields of inquiry.

The College of Arts & Sciences houses 26 departments and 15 interdisciplinary programs offering over 50 major programs leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.), as well as 60 minors, most open to students in all five undergraduate schools. Students in the College may also pursue many minor and certificate opportunities offered by the other undergraduate schools. The College also offers three new cross-school degree programs: the program in International Business, Language, and Culture (IBLC), a collaboration with the McDonough School of Business that integrates essential elements of the MSB program in international business with a tailored program in one of the existing LCL language majors; the Joint Environment and Sustainability Program (BSES), a program offered jointly by the College of Arts & Sciences and the Earth Commons Institute that leads to a B.S. degree in Environment and Sustainability; and the Joint Program in Public Policy (JPPP), an undergraduate degree program in Public Policy offered jointly by the College of Arts & Sciences and the McCourt School of Public Policy. The College has also introduced a new undergraduate certificate in Artificial Intelligence, which prepares students in the College to engage critically and responsibly with AI as a defining challenge of our time.

Undergraduate Program List

Joint Undergraduate Program List

College of Arts & Sciences and the Earth Commons Institute

The College of Arts & Sciences and the Earth Commons offer a joint undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science in Environment & Sustainability (BS-ES).

The College of Arts and Sciences and the McCourt School of Public Policy

The College of Arts and Sciences and the McCourt School of Public Policy offer a joint undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy.

Public Policy, AB

The College of Arts and Sciences and the McDonough School of Business

The College of Arts and Sciences and the McDonough School of Business offer a joint undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science in International Business, Language & Culture.

International Business, Language & Culture, BS

Post-Baccalaureate

Graduate Program List

Joint Graduate Program List

Academic Policies and Procedures

Degree Requirements

The following are the graduation requirements for all students in the College of Arts & Sciences. Each degree candidate must:

Complete a minimum of 120 credits.
Fulfill all requirements of the University and College core curricula as outlined below.
Fulfill all requirements of at least one major program.
1. Requirements for each major are specified in the Degree Programs section of this Bulletin, below. Majors leading to the AB degree require a minimum of 30 credits. Majors leading to the BS degree require a minimum of 39 credits.
2. Students may elect to complete a second major, or one or more minor or certificate programs. In total students may complete up to three programs, with a maximum of two majors (i.e., at maximum, students may complete two majors and one minor/certificate program or one major and two minor/certificate programs). For rules governing double counting, see the Academic Regulations below (3.4.a).
Achieve a final cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better.

Core Curriculum

As explained in the main Core Curriculum section of this Bulletin, the Georgetown core curriculum has two tiers: the first tier is university-wide, shared by each of the five undergraduate schools; the second is school-specific, and designed to embody the shared learning goals of the university core while at the same time furthering the specific mission and tradition of each school.

The University Core

The University Core, shared by all five undergraduate schools, anchors the undergraduate experience in the liberal arts disciplines of the College, in areas that nurture the intellect and the spirit, cultivating inquiry and critical reading, training a deeper sense of self within an expansive worldview. See below for the specific ways in which students in the College of Arts & Sciences fulfill these University Core requirements:

Philosophy: 2 courses
Theology and Religious Studies: 2 courses
Writing: 2 courses¹
Humanities: Art, Literature, and Culture: 1 course
Quantitative Reasoning and Data Literacy: 1 course
Science for All: 1 course
Pathways to Social Justice: 1-credit seminar and two overlay courses²

¹: The Writing requirement begins with WRIT 1150 Writing and Culture Seminar. The second course in the requirement is an Integrated Writing course embedded in the major.
²: The two courses fulfilling the second half of the Pathways to Social Justice (PSJ) requirement may also fulfill other core requirements.

Philosophy

All students in the College of Arts & Sciences take two courses in philosophy, one in ethics and one in an area of general philosophy. Ethics courses include PHIL 1100 Introduction to Ethics and all PHIL courses numbered 2000-2499. General philosophy courses include PHIL 1500 Introduction to Philosophy and all PHIL courses numbered 2500-2999. The first philosophy course must be an introductory course (PHIL 1000-1999), ordinarily either PHIL 1100 or PHIL 1500. The second philosophy course must be at the 2000-level. Students may not fulfill the requirement with two 1000-level courses. Seniors are not permitted in introductory courses, so seniors who have not taken any philosophy previously must fulfill the requirement with two courses at the 2000-level. Acceptable sequences are:

PHIL 1100 followed by any course numbered PHIL 2500-2999.
PHIL 1500 followed by any course numbered PHIL 2000-2499.
For seniors who have not taken any philosophy previously only: one course from PHIL 2000-2499 and one course from PHIL 2500-2999.
For internal transfers from SFS only: PHIL 1900 followed by any course PHIL 2000-2999.

No course at the 3000-level or above may be used to fulfill the Core requirement in philosophy. All courses at the 3000-level or above have a prerequisite of two core courses in philosophy.

PHIL 1101 Intro to Environmental Ethics is an acceptable substitute for PHIL 1100; students who begin with PHIL 1101 may fulfill the second half of the requirement with any course numbered PHIL 2500-2999.

Theology and Religious Studies

Problem of God (THEO 1000) and a second course in Theology and Religious Studies (numbered THEO 1100-3999) fulfill the Theology and Religious Studies requirement. Introduction to Biblical Literature (THEO 1100) may be substituted for Problem of God or taken as the second course. Transfer students are exempt from the Problem of God requirement and may select any two courses in Theology and Religious Studies to fulfill this requirement.

Writing

Every student in the College of Arts & Sciences will take one writing course, WRIT 1150 Writing and Culture Seminar, that provides students with opportunities to connect their writing with critical reading and thinking, inquiry, and analysis.

The second half of the Writing Core is an intensive writing experience located within the student’s chosen major, embedded within the requirements as determined by that program. The Integrated Writing requirement will prepare students to use the relevant forms, styles, and conventions of their chosen area(s) of study. Because writing reflects ways of thinking in academic practice, attention to writing in the major will enhance the student’s learning of concepts, materials, and methods in their fields. Each major’s Integrated Writing requirement is established by the department in order to express the unique conventions and practices of the discipline.

Humanities: Arts, Literature, Music, & Culture

Every student in the College of Arts & Sciences will take one course in the Humanities: Arts, Literature, Music, & Culture. Courses fulfilling this requirement are identified in the course schedule with the “Core:HALM-Hum,Art,Lit,Mus,&Med” attribute in the Schedule of Classes.

Quantitative Reasoning and Data Literacy

Every student in the College of Arts & Sciences will take one course focused on Quantitative Reasoning and Data Literacy (QRDL). These courses are tagged with the “Core:Quant Reasng & Data Ltrcy” attribute in the Schedule of Classes.

Science For All

Every student in the College of Arts & Sciences will take one course to satisfy the Science for All requirement. These courses, identified by the “Science for All” attribute in the Schedule of Classes and varying by semester, aim to illustrate, in the context of a scientific discipline, how scientific understanding is developed, tested, and revised. Science For All courses will help and encourage students to understand better the significant role that science plays in their daily lives, and will include examples of the use of scientific methods in addressing complex social problems and of the ethical issues that science can raise.

Pathways to Social Justice

All students in the College of Arts & Sciences will take CPSJ 1000¹ , the required one-credit University Seminar in Race, Power, and Justice at GU. Additionally, all students in the College will take two “overlay” courses tagged with the “Core: Pthways to Social Justice” attribute in the Schedule of Classes. Because the second half of the PSJ requirement is an overlay requirement, these two courses may also fulfill other core requirements.

¹: Note: This 1-credit course is offered twice each semester, and has a different number in each part of term: CPSJ 1000 in the first half of the fall semester; CPSJ 1001 in the second half of the fall semester; CPSJ 1002 in the first half of the spring semester; and CPSJ 1003 in the second half of the spring semester.

The College Core

The College Core supplements the University Core with a First-Year Seminar requirement and additional requirements in History, Social Science, and Language. These modes of inquiry and domains of knowledge are essential to our liberal arts curriculum and the formation of graduates of the College. See below for the specific ways in which students fulfill each of these three requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 1 Course¹
History: 2 Courses
Social Science: 2 Courses²
Language: mastery of a second language through the intermediate level³

¹: The First-Year Seminar is an “overlay” requirement, which means that courses that fulfill the FYS requirement will also fulfill another core requirement.
²: The Social Science requirement is waived for students pursuing a B.S. degree in certain science majors; see below for specifics.
³: The number of courses and credits required to reach intermediate proficiency varies. Students beginning in a new language can fulfill the requirement in as few as 12 or as many as 24 credits.

First-Year Seminar

The First-Year Seminar (FYS) is a small, discussion-based course designed to introduce students to the intellectual community of the College and model the habits of mind central to a Jesuit education: rigorous inquiry, ethical reflection, and engaged dialogue.

All first-year students in the College of Arts & Sciences are required to take a FYS course. The majority of students will take the FYS in the fall semester, and will be pre-enrolled in a FYS based on their expressed interest. A smaller number of students, primarily those with a declared major in the sciences, will fulfill the FYS requirement in the spring semester of their first year. Note: transfer students are exempt from the FYS requirement.

Because the FYS requirement is an “overlay” requirement, each FYS will also fulfill at least one additional core requirement.

History

The study of history is one of the best ways to challenge one’s ideas and assumptions about the world. Knowledge of history accomplishes this objective because it consists of the integrated study of all elements of the human experience as they change over time. The core requirement in History allows students to explore changes and continuities over time and to engage with the discipline of history as an evidence-based, interpretive, and analytical approach to research and knowledge.

The requirement consists of two courses, for which there is a menu of choices. One, the survey, covers the history of significant world regions over long time spans. This class offers students access to transnational and cross-cultural developments, raising their awareness of global themes and issues and leading them to examine the interaction of diverse cultures and groups. The vast geographic scope and long time spans covered in these courses also give students insight into the deep roots of contemporary globalization.

The other required course, HIST 1099, exposes students to the many components of the discipline of history through focused study of particular historical events, periods or themes. This course also leads students to consider questions of historical sources, analysis, and writing through focused study of specific developments and contexts.

All required History courses feature regular small-group discussion, through which students familiarize themselves with history as an analytical tool. In addition to engaged participation in discussions of primary and secondary sources, the courses also include substantive writing assignments. Altogether the courses thus help students hone their critical reading and writing skills, develop their ability to examine evidence, and improve their capacity for verbal and written argument.

History Core courses therefore both contribute to raising students into informed, thoughtful, and active modern citizens, and provide them with effective, useful skill sets for any career field.

To review: all students in the College are required to complete two one-semester courses in History: One broad survey (HIST 1100-1999) with linked discussion section; and one semester of HIST 1099 (note: HIST 1099 has to be fulfilled at Georgetown and cannot be transferred).

Students with advanced credit (e.g., AP or IB credit) in History may be able to fulfill the core requirement differently. See the Advanced Credit section of this Bulletin for full information.

Social Science

Social science is the systematic investigation of human society, including its cultural, economic, educational, governmental, and linguistic structures. Some approaches to social science are quantitative or experimental, while others are observational and interpretive; all examine the ways people think and act as members of social networks, how those networks function as complex systems, and how those systems in turn affect individual lives. Critical study of these familiar structures helps us question preconceptions and biases, guides us in examining the structures and institutions we take for granted, and leads us to greater understanding of the ways the world is organized.

All students except those majoring in Biochemistry, Biological Physics (B.S. only), Biology, Biology of Global Health, Chemistry, Environmental Biology, Neurobiology, or Physics (B.S. only), satisfy their social science requirement by taking two courses from one of the following departments: Anthropology, Economics, Government, Linguistics, Psychology, Public Policy, or Sociology. Note that students may not fulfill the requirement with one course each in two different disciplines; the requirement is two courses in the same discipline/department.

In addition to courses offered by the Linguistics department, certain post-advanced language courses with special focus on linguistics (e.g., CHIN 2101 Intro to Chinese Linguistics; FREN 3595 Making Sense of Language; SPAN 3210 Intro to Spanish Linguistics) may count toward the social science requirement when paired with a Linguistics course.

Language

The study of a language, literature, and culture other than one’s own enables a better understanding of the world. Language learning broadens horizons, expands minds, and enhances professional competence and personal engagement in a globalized world.

To be an effective cross-cultural communicator requires not only language proficiency, but awareness of literary and cultural traditions as well. Understanding language in all its forms, styles, and uses leads to more authentic relationships among diverse peoples.

All students in the College must study a second language (ancient or modern) through the intermediate level. During New Student Orientation, placement exams are offered in most languages. Students who do not place above the intermediate level of a language must fulfill the requirement by completing language coursework through the intermediate level. Please note that the number of courses required varies depending on the language family* and the intensity of instruction.

*In general, students must complete through the 12th credit of an Indo-European language or the 24th credit of other languages. Given the great diversity of languages, and the distinctness of their structures, challenges, and pedagogies, there are exceptions. As such, for languages routinely offered at Georgetown, the College’s language requirement is satisfied by completing the specific “exit course” listed below:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
ARAB 1112	Intens 2nd Lv Mod Stnd Arab II	6
CHIN 1512	Intens Second Lev Chinese II	6
or CHIN 1513	Intens 2nd Lev Chin:Adv Beginr
FREN 1502	Intermediate French II	3
or FREN 1511	Intensive Intermediate French
GERM 1502	Interm Germ II: Exper Germ	3
or GERM 1511	Intens Interm Germany
CLSG 1511	Intermediate Greek	3,4
GREE 1511	Second Level Modern Greek I	3
HEBR 2002	Interm Modern Hebrew II	3
ITAL 1511	Ital Lang & Cult: Interm.	6
JAPN 1512	Intens Second Lev Japanese II	6
KREN 1512	Intens Second Lev Korean II	6
CLSL 1511	Intermediate Latin	3,4
PERS 1012	Intensive 1st Level Persian II	5,6
PLSH 1502	Intermediate Polish II	3
PORT 1500	Accelerated Portuguese	3
RUSS 1012	Intens First Level Russian II	6
SPAN 1522	Intermediate Spanish II	3
or SPAN 1532	Intensive Intermediate Spanish
TURK 1502	Intermediate Turkish II	3

Students are strongly urged to complete the language requirement no later than the end of their sophomore year.

Please note that credit can only be earned once for language study at a given level; the College does not grant credit when levels of instruction are repeated. Language placement tests are recommended for any student who has begun language study elsewhere, whether high school, prior college, etc.

Students with advanced proficiency in a language not offered at Georgetown should contact their advising dean to inquire about the possibility of arranging a placement test in that language. In many cases, students will be referred to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) to certify proficiency in languages not taught on campus.

Note: In general, students are expected to fulfill core requirements at Georgetown. When appropriate, students may receive prior approval from the Dean’s Office to complete a core course away (e.g., study abroad or summer school). Certain requirements (e.g., HALM, SFA) as well as some specific courses (e.g., HIST 1099) must be completed at Georgetown. Additionally, one half of any two-course core requirement must be completed at Georgetown.

For more information about how advanced credit applies to core curriculum requirements, see the Advanced Credit section of this Bulletin.

Academic Regulations

The College of Arts & Sciences holds its students to all of the standards set forth in the Academic Regulations section of this Bulletin, including both the Academic Standards and the Honor System described therein. The former articulates university-wide standards for satisfactory academic performance, while the latter expresses the expectations for academic integrity that govern the intellectual life of our community. Additional regulations specific to the College are as follows:

Residency, Matriculation, and Registration:
1. Residency
  - As noted in the main Academic Regulations section of this Bulletin, all students must complete a minimum of four semesters of full-time study (exclusive of summer study; for these purposes a semester is considered to be fall or spring in the regular academic year only) in residence at Georgetown. Study abroad at one of Georgetown’s campuses (GU-Q, Villa le Balze) counts toward the four-semester residency requirement, but all other Georgetown-approved study abroad programs do not. Semesters at the Capitol Campus (including CALL) also count as semesters in residence.
2. Matriculation
  - As noted in the main Academic Regulations section of this Bulletin, undergraduate degree candidates are expected to be full-time unless an exception is approved by their advising dean, and full-time status is defined as 12+ credits per semester. Exceptions to this policy are considered under the following circumstances:
    - Seniors who have met the residency requirement explained above may petition to be part-time in one semester of the senior year only.
    - Students seeking to enroll less than full-time (LTFT) due to a chronic medical condition must seek the endorsement of the Academic Resource Center and/or Student Health. Requests for LTFT accommodations will be reviewed on a semester-by-semester basis.
  - Students are expected to retain full-time status through the semester, but course withdrawals that result in part-time status (fewer than 12 credits) may be approved in exceptional circumstances. Requests to withdraw to below half-time status (6 credits) will not be approved; students unable to maintain enrollment in a minimum of 6 credits will be advised to request a leave of absence.
  - Any student with more than one incomplete in a given term who is unable to complete the outstanding work by the first day of classes of the next term may not begin new courses without formal review and consent of the Dean’s Office, and may be advised to take a leave of absence.
  - Please note that LTFT accommodations will not be approved in order to facilitate outside work or internship obligations under any circumstances. A student electing to engage in a full-time commitment outside of academic coursework (e.g., employment, internship, or fellowship opportunity) should request a leave of absence.
3. Registration
  - The main Academic Regulations section of this Bulletin clarifies that the full-time credit range in a given semester is 12-20 credits. The standard credit cap is set by the Office of the University Registrar at 17.5, and students seeking to overload (i.e., 18-20 credits) must submit an overload request form to their advising dean for review and approval. Overloads resulting from e.g. intensive language courses or laboratory requirements are approved regularly. Ordinarily, however, students are limited to a maximum of five courses of three credits or more per semester; requests to take a sixth course of three credits or more will receive additional scrutiny, and when approved will be deferred until all students have had an opportunity to register. First-year students are not permitted to exceed the five-course limit under any circumstances.
Transfer Credit
1. A minimum of 60 credits must be completed in residence, via Georgetown coursework.
2. Additionally, students are required to complete at least half of the coursework for a major or minor at Georgetown. Transfer credit in excess of half of a major or minor may be counted as free electives toward the degree. Some departments and programs may set stricter limits on transfer credit within major and minor programs.
3. Students are eligible to transfer a maximum of four college courses taken prior to matriculation at Georgetown (i.e., while in high school) provided that they meet the following conditions: 1) courses must have been taken after the sophomore year of high school; 2) courses must have been taught at the college campus by a member of the college faculty; 3) courses must have been open to students at that college or university, not designed specifically for and limited to high school students; 4) courses must have been eligible for credit towards a degree at the host institution; and 5) courses must be separable from the high school record without affecting or undoing high school graduation requirements. Pre-matriculation courses will generally transfer as free electives. By exception, these courses may be considered for requirements and prerequisites, but students entering as first-years must complete the following Core requirements at Georgetown: Humanities: Arts, Literature, Culture (HALC), Science for All (SFA), and HIST 1099. Transfer credit for language courses must be confirmed with a placement test or continuation in coursework at Georgetown.
4. Once matriculated, a student may transfer no more than 12 credits (typically four courses) of summer school coursework taken elsewhere to the Georgetown degree. Exceptions to the 12-credit limit can be granted when courses are valued at more than 3 credits. Prior approval for all summer coursework taken elsewhere must be obtained from the College Dean’s Office.
5. Students may not transfer coursework taken in a fall or spring semester at another institution, other than coursework taken in an approved study abroad program.
6. Credits earned through the Consortium do not count toward the 60 credit residency minimum.
7. Students on leaves of absence should not expect to transfer credits for courses taken elsewhere during that time. In rare circumstances and with expressed written approval of the Dean’s Office, students may be allowed to transfer a limited number of courses. In no instance will more than four courses be transferred to the Georgetown record, and these credits will count against the “summer school” limit noted above (2.d).
Additional Limits and Minimums
1. In the spirit of a liberal education, a balance of breadth and depth will distinguish each College degree. This balance is achieved in part through the completion of the University and College core requirements and the requirements of at least one major. Students may elect to add a second major, and/or minors and certificates, but they are also encouraged to use additional space to choose free electives, in keeping with our emphasis on breadth and diversity of study. The following guidelines are intended to reinforce our emphasis on breadth and depth in the liberal arts:
  1. Students are required to take at least 24 courses outside of their primary major department/program.
  2. First-year students may not take two courses in the same subject in a single semester (except when required by the major).
  3. Sophomores should continue to emphasize breadth of study, fulfilling core requirements while exploring potential major and minor interests. Proposed schedules that overemphasize depth in a particular field of study may not be approved by the student’s advising dean.
  4. No more than six courses in business (from MSB or from outside institutions) may be counted towards the degree.
  5. No more than twelve credits of Military Science (MLSC) may be counted toward the degree. Preference is given to courses offered at 3 credits over courses that carry less than 3 credits in applying courses to the degree. This rule holds across the ROTC programs—Army at Georgetown University, Navy at The George Washington University, and Air Force at Howard University.
2. Normally the College approves a maximum of four courses for summer school work at Georgetown per academic year.
3. Other than standard Georgetown summer courses, which are administered by the School of Continuing Studies (SCS), students may not enroll in any SCS degree or program courses.
4. ENFL courses are excluded from the College degree; students seeking additional writing preparation in English are advised to take WRIT courses.
Other
1. A single course may satisfy a core requirement and also fulfill a major, minor, or certificate requirement.
  1. A single course may not fulfill two different core requirements, except in the case of the two (First-Year Seminar and Pathways to Social Justice) “overlay” requirements.
  2. As a general rule, a single course may not double count in two majors, a major and a minor, or any other combination of major, minor, and certificate programs. A course may double count in two programs if and only if at least one of the two programs requires credits in excess of the standard minimums, as follows: (1) AB majors must require a minimum of 33 credits in order to double count a 3-credit course; (2) BS majors must require a minimum of 42 credits in order to double count a 3-credit course; and (3) a minor or certificate program must require a minimum of 21 credits in order to double count a 3-credit course. In cases where both programs require credits in excess of these minimums, up to two courses (or a single 4-credit course) may be shared between programs, but in all cases students must reach the minimum number of stand-alone credits in each program (30 for an AB major, 39 for a BS major, and 18 for a minor or certificate program). Note that many major programs require corollary coursework in related fields; corollary requirements are not included in the credit count for a major program, and as such may be applied freely to other major or minor programs.
2. In general, only free electives may be taken pass/fail. Courses fulfilling core or major/minor/certificate requirements (including corollary requirements) must be taken for a letter grade (unless the course is only offered on a pass/fail basis). Students may take courses in core curriculum fields of study as electives, on a pass/fail basis, only after they have already fulfilled that core requirement. Similarly, students who wish to take a course in their major or minor field of study on a pass/fail basis may do so only after all requirements for that major or minor have been fulfilled. Those seeking an exception to this rule must consult the relevant director of undergraduate studies or program director. If the pass/fail option is approved by exception, the course will not, under any circumstances, count in the major or minor.
3. The College does not recognize courses for audit.
4. Students majoring in two fields that lead to different degrees (e.g., English and Biology) must choose the degree (A.B. or B.S.) they wish to receive.

Study Abroad Policies and Processes

For a complete overview of the study abroad application process, please see the Global Education section of this Bulletin or visit studyabroad.georgetown.edu. Study abroad is ordinarily pursued in the junior year; applications to study abroad in the spring of sophomore year or fall of senior year will be considered, but should be accompanied by a petition to the advising deans explaining the rationale. All students in the College are required to have their study proposal(s) reviewed and approved by both the major department(s) and their advising dean. Departments and programs set their own limits and maximums for transfer credit in major and minor programs; please refer to the program pages here in the Bulletin or department and program websites for full information about transfer credit policies. It is possible to fulfill core requirements abroad, but all courses must be approved by the advising dean (who will consult the core departments as necessary); note also that half of each core requirement must be completed in residence at Georgetown (single-course requirements such as WRIT 1150, HIST 1099, and HALC are not eligible to be transferred from abroad). All other coursework taken abroad will be transferred as elective credit.

Upon receipt of an official final transcript, credit will be posted for all courses in which the student has earned the minimum passing mark. All transfer credit in major, minor, and certificate programs is subject to departmental review via the Transfer Credit Evaluation process. Grades from study abroad coursework are not computed in the Georgetown grade point average but are recorded on the transcript, except for students studying at a Georgetown Global Living and Learning site or at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), in which case grades are both recorded on the transcript and computed in the Georgetown grade point average. In most cases, a maximum of five courses and 17 credits per semester are transferred to the Georgetown degree.

Please note that Georgetown Global Living and Learning sites and GU-Q are considered to be “in residence,” but all other study abroad programs are not; thus (internal and external) transfer students should pay particular attention to residency requirements (in terms of both semesters in residence and credit minimums) when considering study abroad options.

Academic Standards

The policies and procedures described below are consistent with and in addition to the University-wide Academic Standards described elsewhere in this Bulletin.

The College of Arts & Sciences is an intensive and immersive intellectual community. Students are embraced by a network of faculty, advising deans, counselors, and peer advisors who are committed to nurturing their education, their development, their intellectual potential. An advisor’s role is to guide and counsel; students’ academic performance and academic records are their own. The Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, and Academic Counselors advise students throughout their undergraduate experience. Together they make up the Council on Studies of Georgetown College. The Council is also charged with upholding the academic standards of the College.

Faculty and students, upon initiation into this intellectual community, agree to high standards of academic performance and integrity, standards that establish the conditions for personal and intellectual formation. Failure to meet these standards may result in temporary or permanent separation from the university.

The Council on Studies convenes at the conclusion of the fall and spring semesters to review the grades of each student in the College. When a student’s performance falls short of the standards of the community, the Council considers that student’s circumstance carefully, decides on the necessary course of action, delivers that decision to the student, and maintains a process by which the student can appeal the decision. The Council may take one of four courses of action: letter of concern, probation, suspension, or dismissal.

Letter of Concern: When the Council on Studies detects difficulty in a given semester, often represented by grades that are passing but low (D or D+), they may communicate their concern in a letter to the student. The letter is a reminder of both available support and the formal academic standards of the College. The letter does not constitute a change of one’s standing and does not appear on any formal record.

Probation: When a student receives a failing grade, incurs a cumulative grade point average below 2.0, or fails to complete a full-time semester for a second time in their career, the student is placed on academic probation. Probationary status is automatic, resulting from performance in the last semester attended (even if a break has intervened), and lasts through the next semester, after which each student’s performance is reviewed again. Probationary status is conveyed to the student in writing, but it does not appear on the academic transcript.

Suspension: Academic suspension is a temporary measure taken to halt a student’s progress in the degree. Academic suspension is a sobering, serious consequence, but implicit in the sanction is a hope that the student will return, having reflected deeply and learned to manage whatever issues intruded on their academic success. When the Council on Studies determines that a student’s performance warrants suspension (see Undergraduate Bulletin Academic Standards section for academic deficiencies that can result in suspension), the decision is conveyed in writing with the length and conditions of the suspension addressed.

Dismissal: Academic dismissal is permanent separation from the university. In rare cases, the Council on Studies occasionally discovers that a student’s performance is too deficient, or that improvements have not been made despite prior attempts at intervention and remediation, resulting in the difficult decision of dismissal (see Undergraduate Bulletin Academic Standards section for academic deficiencies that can result in dismissal). In the case of dismissal, students may not expect to return to Georgetown in the future.

Academic Appeals

Students who are either dismissed or suspended may appeal the decision of the Council on Studies before a Board of Academic Appeals. As an extension of the educational process, an Academic Appeal hearing is not a court of law, but an opportunity for a student to appear before an impartial body for an additional hearing. Academic Appeals are primarily appropriate when previously unseen evidence exists to shed light on extenuating circumstances that affected a student’s performance. Academic Appeal hearings represent venues for sharing that evidence, or acknowledging important contexts that were heretofore obscure, in order to argue for a different outcome or solution. Without new evidence to present or contexts to acknowledge, an appeal hearing is unwarranted.

The Board of Academic Appeals shall consist of two members of the faculty and one of the advising deans in the College; this dean will not participate in the original decision during grade review. No member of the faculty may serve on a Board who:

has taught and at any time failed the student who is appealing.
has at any time acted as faculty advisor to the student.

Upon notice of suspension or dismissal, the student will be informed of the process for appeal and the deadline to request an appeal hearing in writing. The student’s request must be a substantive statement indicating the grounds for possible reconsideration and must be submitted within the specified time limit. The student will be notified of the date, time, and location of the hearing before the Board of Academic Appeals. Students are strongly encouraged to appear in person at the hearing; however, if circumstances prevent attendance, the student may participate by telephone or provide a written argument or summary for the Board to review.

When presenting an appeal to the Board, the student may appear alone or may bring a member of the University community to provide silent support. This person may not be a member of the student’s family. The Board aims to create conditions that will permit a student to speak freely and honestly, on their own behalf. The Board will have access to the student’s academic record and his or her written request for an appeal.

The student may submit evidence of extenuating circumstances and may be present for all stages of the hearing except for the final deliberation by the Board. The Board may uphold the Council’s decision or it may mitigate that sanction, e.g., instead of dismissal, a suspension; instead of suspension, a voluntary leave of absence or strict probation. It cannot assign a harsher decision or completely abrogate the original sanction.

Advising

CAS Advising Mission Statement

The mission of the Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences undergraduate academic advising office is to provide personalized, compassionate, and comprehensive support to each student. We strive to recognize the uniqueness of each student’s lived experience, which includes intersecting social identities and nuanced personal histories. Guided by the principle of cura personalis, we are committed to nurturing the intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth of our students. Whenever possible, we accompany students as they connect their academic study with the complexity of their lives. Through collaborative advising, we empower students to explore their intellectual interests, set and achieve meaningful goals, and develop the skills and values necessary for lifelong learning, service, and purpose. Our dedication to justice, service, and the holistic development of each individual reflects our commitment to preparing graduates who are ready to make a positive contribution to the common good.

Academic Advising Program

Students in the College are supported by advising that embraces the freedom of the liberal arts, Georgetown’s Jesuit and Catholic tradition, and each student’s distinctive interests, needs, and strengths. Cura personalis, care for individuals as individuals who are distinct, complex, full, and forming, is the central inspiration for College advising. Students enter the College with intellectual interests and goals, and with a vast array of curricular choices and possibilities. Advisors form relationships with students to introduce them to this array, and to listen to, learn from, interrupt, inform, and accompany them through their decisions and development.

Advising in the College is shared by the advising deans and the faculty. Students with majors declared have both an advisor in the Dean’s office and a faculty advisor in their major discipline. As most students remain undeclared until sophomore year, the advising deans help students navigate the Core Curriculum, adjust to the rigors of Georgetown’s intellectual environment, and explore broadly, mixing existing interests with new and emerging interests. Students are invited to design an open-ended Academic Road Map (ARM) with their dean to discuss majors, minors, and study abroad, and to be in touch with questions, updates, and concerns throughout the year.

With the transition to their third year, all students will have declared their majors and acquired faculty advisors, and are supported by advising deans within their discipline. Exploration continues as a point of emphasis in advising, while depth and focus in one’s major and in one’s progress toward graduation become more central. The advising deans help students through changes of academic program, study abroad and transfer credit, honors and thesis programs, capstone projects, degree completion and commencement, and post-graduation plans.

Faculty advisors, working in tandem with the advising deans, are essential mentors and partners in students’ chosen areas of study. They advise their students on proper sequencing of courses required for their majors, discuss students’ proposed course selections during registration periods, facilitate research opportunities, and offer professional and, where appropriate, career insights for students as they advance. Faculty advising is a hallmark of Georgetown’s intellectual community, where teaching and learning are at once personal and communal.

Most students enter the College “undeclared”, and begin a process of exploration and discernment with the help of the assigned advising deans. In general, majors are declared during the sophomore year, and at the point of the declaration the faculty advisor is chosen. By contrast, students majoring in a language, science, mathematics, or computer science program may begin their Georgetown career with those majors declared and faculty advisors assigned. Transfer students enter with majors and faculty advisors assigned as well, across all disciplines.

All students, declared and undeclared, are encouraged to continue their exploration, consult with their advisors, and respond to changes in their interests and plans.

Preparation for Graduate and Professional Schools

A number of the graduates of the College each year go on to graduate and professional schools. The College attempts, through its curricula, programs, and advising system, to give its students strong preparation for graduate work.

Students who are considering graduate study are encouraged to visit the College Dean’s Office at any time during the academic year to discuss their interests. Undergraduates should also consult with faculty advisors who can offer viable guidance regarding preparation for graduate studies.

Another university resource available to assist students with graduate school plans is the Career Education Center. Students interested in pursuing competitive fellowships should research opportunities with the Office of Fellowships, Awards, and Resources (GOFAR).

Pre-Legal

Georgetown has a long tradition of preparing students to enter the legal profession. While there is no “pre-law” curriculum, students preparing for law school should concentrate on courses which require analytic thinking and clear written expression.

Most students who plan to go to law school major in one of the humanities or social sciences. However, there is no specific major required for admission to law school. The flexibility of the College curriculum gives students in any major ample opportunity to elect a diverse array of courses which may provide an appropriate background for law. Students interested in pursuing law school should plan to meet with the pre-law advisor in the Career Education Center.

Students who have achieved high honors should consider applying to the Georgetown University Law Center through the Early Assurance Program. This program allows exceptionally well-qualified students to submit an application to the Law Center during the junior year. The LSAT is not required for application and admission, though students admitted through the Early Assurance Program will be required to submit LSAT scores prior to matriculation. Students not admitted under the Early Assurance Program may apply again through regular admission during the senior year. Interested students should contact the Law Center Office of Admissions for applications and details at the beginning of their junior year.

Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental

Georgetown offers a number of programs that prepare students to enter medical, dental or other health professions schools. Some schools may have specific additional coursework, but in general, the student must take the following pre-requisite science and math courses (a full year of each):

Mathematics (one semester of Statistics and one semester of Calculus)
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Principles of Physics
Foundations in Biology I and a second biology course with lab (e.g., Foundations in Biology II, Genetics, Mammalian Physiology)
One semester of Biochemistry

Students may choose to major in any B.S. or A.B. program as they complete their pre-medical/pre-dental requirements.

The B.S. programs with majors in Biochemistry, Biological Physics, Biology, Biology of Global Health, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Biology, Mathematics, Neurobiology, and Physics include all or some of the above courses. The remaining courses on the list are taken as electives to round out the pre-medical/pre-dental requirements. The B.S. programs are strong science programs, and are particularly appropriate for students who are interested in taking more than the minimum of science and math courses required for medical school admission.

Students may also choose to major in an A.B. program in one of the humanities, social sciences, languages, or linguistics and at the same time fulfill the minimum science requirements for medical or dental school. Further science courses may be taken as electives at the option of the student in consultation with his or her advisor. The proximity of the College to the Georgetown University Medical Center allows the student to be exposed to the challenges of the medical professions.

The Georgetown Pre-Health Recommendation Committee includes advising deans and several faculty from the College, as well as one faculty member each from the SOH and Medical School and one advising dean from the SOH. Students preparing to enter medical or dental school request the committee recommendation at the end of the spring semester in their junior or senior year or as an alumnus.

The College has an Early Assurance Program agreement with Georgetown School of Medicine whereby a select number of pre-medical students, at the end of their sophomore year, may be assured of admission to the Medical School upon satisfactory completion of their junior and senior years. The program is designed to encourage exceptional students to undertake ambitious programs with a degree of security about eventual admission to medical school. Georgetown University Medical School will exempt these students from the MCAT requirement.

Degree Conferral and Commencement

Degrees are conferred three times a year: in May, August, and December. Seniors are prompted by the Dean’s Office to file an application for the degree by the Dean’s Office; failure to do so in a timely fashion may delay the conferral of the degree.

Commencement Exercises take place once a year, in May. Students graduating in August may participate in the May Commencement exercises preceding or following the conferral of the degree. Students graduating in December may participate in the following May Commencement exercises. Note that for purposes of determining graduation honors, both August and December graduates are included with the following class of May graduates.

Majors

The College of Arts & Sciences offers the following majors leading to the Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) degree:

American Musical Cultures
American Studies
Anthropology
Arabic
Art
Art History
Biological Physics
Black Studies
Chinese
Classics
Computer Science
Computer Science, Ethics & Society
Disability Studies
East Asian Languages & Cultures
Economics
English
French & Francophone Studies
German
Global & Comparative Literature
Global Medieval Studies
Government
History
Interdisciplinary Studies
Italian
Japanese
Justice & Peace Studies
Korean
Linguistics
Mathematics
Philosophy
Physics
Political Economy
Portuguese
Psychology
Public Policy¹
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Theater & Performance Studies
Theology & Religious Studies
Women’s & Gender Studies

¹: The Joint Program in Public Policy (JPPP) is a cross-school program offered by the College of Arts & Sciences and the McCourt School of Public Policy.

The College offers the following majors leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree:

Biochemistry
Biological Physics
Biology
Biology of Global Health
Chemistry
Computer Science
Environmental Biology
Environment and Sustainability¹
International Business, Language & Culture²
Mathematics
Neurobiology
Physics

¹: The BS in Environment and Sustainability is a program offered jointly by the College of Arts & Sciences and The Earth Commons Institute.
²: International Business, Language, & Culture is a joint degree program offered by the College of Arts & Sciences and the McDonough School of Business (MSB).

Minors

Minors are optional. Most are open to all, and may be declared when declaring a major, or at any time after. Some minors, noted below with an asterisk, require an application, typically submitted in the spring of sophomore year. The following minors are available to students in the College of Arts & Sciences:

Anthropology
Arabic
Art
Art History
Biology
Black Studies
Business Studies
Catholic Studies
Chemistry
Chinese
Classical Studies
Cognitive Science
Computer Science
Creative Writing
Disability Studies
Economics
Education, Inquiry & Justice
English
Environment and Sustainability
Film & Media Studies
French & Francophone Studies
German
Global Health
Global Medieval Studies
Government
Greek
History
Hebrew
International Development
Islamic Studies
Italian
Japanese
Jewish Civilization
Journalism
Justice & Peace Studies
Korean
Law, Justice, and Society
Latin American Studies
Linguistics
Mathematics
Medical Humanities, Culture & Society
Music
Muslim-Christian Understanding
Performing Arts
Persian
Philosophy
Philosophy & Bioethics
Physics
Portuguese
Psychology
Public Health
Religion, Ethics & World Affairs
Russian
Russian Literature & Culture (in Translation)
Science, Technology & International Affairs
Sociology
Spanish
Statistics
Tech, Ethics & Society
Theater & Performance Studies
Theology & Religious Studies
Turkish
Women’s & Gender Studies

Certificates

College students may earn a certificate in one of the regional study programs below offered through the School of Foreign Service. Certificates are the functional equivalent of minors, so they count as one of the maximum three academic programs that a student may complete as part of the degree. In keeping with SFS policy, students may not pursue two certificate programs. Double counting policies for certificates conform to College policies for minors.

African Studies
Arab Studies
Asian Studies
European Studies
Eurasian, Russian & East European Studies

See the Certificates page for the full requirements for each of the above programs.

Joint Degree Programs

International Business, Language & Culture
- The College of Arts & Sciences and the McDonough School of Business offer a joint undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science in International Business, Language, and Culture (BS-IBLC).
Joint Program in Public Policy
- The College of Arts & Sciences and the McCourt School of Public Policy offer a Joint Program in Public Policy (JPPP), leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy (AB-PP).

Accelerated Bachelor/Master Degree Programs

Some graduate programs offer qualified undergraduate students the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in an accelerated program format. In this structure, students may:

Double count two graduate-level courses toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and
In many cases, with approval of the graduate program, count two additional graduate courses taken during the undergraduate career to apply to the master’s degree exclusively, provided those courses are “above and beyond” all undergraduate requirements (i.e., major/minor/core/certificate and 120-credit graduation minimum).

Undergraduate enrollment in graduate-level courses is at the discretion of each program; please consult the specific graduate program of interest for program details. Students ordinarily apply to the graduate program in the junior year (in some cases, students are able to apply in the senior year as well) and, with the approval of the graduate program director, must identify any double-counted and graduate-only classes in the final semester of the undergraduate degree.

Currently, the following accelerated degree programs are available to qualified students with appropriate undergraduate coursework:

Arabic & Islamic Studies
Art & Museum Studies
Communication, Culture & Technology
Computer Science
Conflict Resolution
Data Science & Analytics
Democracy & Governance
Engaged & Public Humanities
English
Epidemiology
Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies
Finance (offered by the McDonough School of Business)
German
Global, International & Comparative History
Global Infectious Disease
Global Real Assets (offered by MSB)
Government
Italian Studies
Latin American Studies
Learning, Design & Technology
Linguistics
Management (offered by MSB)
Mathematics & Statistics
Security Studies
Spanish

Special Academic Programs for First-Year Students

Ignatius Seminars

The Ignatius Seminars are courses offered in the fall semester for the intellectually curious student interested in an integrative and personal approach to learning. These seminars introduce Georgetown College first-year students to the depth and diversity of Georgetown’s dynamic intellectual community. Favorite topics of College faculty form the offerings for these seminars that invite small student groups to join their professors in the creative exploration of mind and spirit. All incoming first-year students are invited in the summer prior to matriculation to apply to participate in the Ignatius Seminar program.

LCL Hager Scholars Program

The LCL Hager Scholars program is for declared majors in languages, linguistics, and comparative literature, designed to create a sense of community and opportunities for intellectual growth. Over the course of this yearlong program, Hager Scholars will gain a greater appreciation of the possibilities available to students and scholars of language(s), inside the classroom and in the world beyond. In addition to a course in their declared major, FLL Hager Scholars will be enrolled in designated courses that fulfill core requirements, and a 1-credit colloquium addressing critical and contemporary issues where language plays an illuminating, deepening, or complicating role.

Ways of Knowing

The Ways of Knowing Seminar is an integrated learning experience in the fall, placing two core disciplines into conversation with each other to confront questions of truth, knowledge, expertise, belief, and meaning. Thematic material and disciplines represented in the Ways of Knowing Seminar will vary from year to year, but the two courses each year will be closely tied to each other, designed together as a unified experience. Students in the seminar take both courses and form a tight community of learners and explorers, dedicated to unpacking the process of knowing.

Departmental and Interdisciplinary Seminars

Several of Georgetown College’s departments and programs are offering distinctive seminar experiences to first-year students that prioritize problem-based learning, small class environments, introductions to disciplines and fields of research, and close faculty mentoring. Examples in Fall 2022 include seminars from psychology, Italian, government, and American Studies. Some seminars expand to comprise multiple courses and multiple disciplines, placing at the center of focus a problem, one that requires interdisciplinary attention. The Ways of Knowing seminar, described above, follows this model, as does the American Studies program’s Race and Class in DC seminar.

Interdisciplinary Programs

Interwoven throughout Georgetown’s traditional department-based curriculum are interdisciplinary programs, majors, and minors that take advantage of the breadth as well as depth of intellectual resources on the Georgetown campus. These programs are based on themes that cross departmental boundaries and reflect the emergence of significant new perspectives on human knowledge. They are the result of collaborative efforts by faculty from several disciplines to create curricular offerings to address complex questions from multiple disciplinary directions.

The College offers interdisciplinary majors and minors in:

American Studies (major only)
Black Studies
Disability Studies
Global & Comparative Literature (major only)
Justice & Peace Studies
Global Medieval Studies
Political Economy (major only)
Women’s & Gender Studies

The College offers interdisciplinary minors in:

Catholic Studies
Cognitive Science
Education, Inquiry & Justice
Environmental Studies
Film and Media Studies
Jewish Civilization
Journalism
Medical Humanities, Culture & Society
Religion, Ethics, & World Affairs
Science, Technology & International Affairs
Tech, Ethics & Society

The College also offers qualified students the opportunity to design their own formal interdisciplinary major, integrating multiple disciplines, through the Interdisciplinary Studies program. All students, however, are encouraged to seek connections and synthesis in and amongst their majors, minors, core courses, and electives in order to more fully appreciate the connectedness of the many ways of knowing.

Undergraduate Research

The College of Arts & Sciences places a central emphasis on research in the formation of students through the ongoing quest for deeper knowing, toward fulfillment of the academy’s public responsibility to expand and improve humanity’s understanding of the world. Students are invited to join faculty in their scholarly work, to learn the methods and approaches of research from disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, and to become independent seekers through asking and answering original research questions. The College provides a variety of opportunities for students to pursue undergraduate research, including in-class projects, fellowships and funding options for independent research in semesters and summers, faculty collaborations as research assistants, and senior capstones and theses.

The Faculty of Literatures, Cultures, and Language Studies (LCL)

Approach to the Teaching of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Now more than ever, it is essential that all of us learn to see the world through the eyes of another. The study of languages, literatures and cultures other than our own enables us to understand the world better, identify commonalities, and respect cultural differences. Jaroslav Pelikan, the eminent scholar/writer, eloquently expresses this concept in The Idea of the University: A Reexamination: “Society must require of its educational system that it guide and assist the members of the next generation to transcend the particularities of their own culture in the name of humanity.” He is reminding us that the changes in recent decades in countries around the globe, and the accompanying new developments in technology, contribute to an expanded worldview. Georgetown University’s long tradition of fostering international understanding is particularly embodied in the teaching and learning of languages and cultures offered by the Faculty of Literatures, Cultures, and Language Studies (LCL) within the College of Arts & Sciences.

The LCL’s intercultural curriculum is designed to educate students in a well-developed program of studies, to evaluate ideas and values from a humanistic and a theoretical/critical perspective. Thus, understanding language in all its forms, styles, and uses ultimately leads to successful cross-cultural communication and more authentic relationships among peoples. The aim is to produce graduates who are sensitive to the needs of the world community, open to exploring new ways to improve life, and ready to approach problems with an intercultural perspective.

Today’s corporate world places high priority on developing and utilizing an internationally sophisticated executive workforce. Joint ventures with companies abroad are an everyday practice. To respond to these professional needs, the LCL has collaborated with the McDonough School of Business to develop and offer a joint degree program in International Business, Language, and Culture. All students in the College also have the option to pursue a business studies minor.

The LCL offers a wide range of major and minor programs in languages and literary and cultural studies. Students may major in Arabic, Chinese, Classics with a concentration in Greek or Latin, French, German, Global and Comparative Literature, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, or Spanish & Portuguese Studies. In addition, coursework is available in Catalan, Modern Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Persian, Polish, Turkish, Swahili, and Ukrainian. Language majors may also double major in any of the other programs offered in the College. Certificate programs, such as in regional studies including Asian, African, Arab, European, Latin American or Russian & East European Area Studies, are open to LCL students. Some of the LCL departments offer Senior Seminars and a Senior Honors Thesis option.

The Global and Comparative Literature program focuses on literature as a universal phenomenon with diverse forms and manifestations. The program emphasizes the study of broad currents of thought, style, and major literary schools across national boundaries.

Consistent with Georgetown University’s traditions and its overall multicultural and international commitment, the LCL considers an overseas experience to be a highly valuable component of the curriculum. An overseas study experience is required for some language majors (see department listings). Although intensive overseas study experiences while in high school may fulfill the requirement, students are encouraged to participate in an overseas experience while at Georgetown. In addition to intensive summer programs organized by LCL departments, students may spend a semester or a year abroad. Usually, this will occur during the junior year but where appropriate for the academic plan, students may opt to go during their sophomore year. At overseas study sites where target languages are spoken, students matriculate directly into the host university system. Because of their exceptional level of language competency, language majors are highly successful participants in overseas study programs.

Students who enter the College of Arts & Sciences with a declared major in an LCL program have their language abilities evaluated by a departmental placement exam to ensure that they begin their language study at the appropriate level.

LCL Degree Programs

Majors

Arabic
Chinese
Classics, with concentrations in:
- Latin
- Greek
- Latin and Greek
- Classical Studies
- Hellenic Studies
East Asian Languages & Cultures
French
German
Global and Comparative Literature
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Spanish & Portuguese Studies

Minors

Arabic
Chinese
French
German
Greek (Modern)
Hebrew
Islamic Studies
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Persian
Portuguese
Russian
Russian Literature and Culture (in Translation)
Spanish
Turkish

The Department of Slavic Languages also offers instruction in Polish and Ukrainian.

Senior Honors Thesis

A selected number of seniors who have achieved a minimum 3.5 GPA both in the major and overall will be invited by their major department to write a Senior Honors Thesis in the context of a designated upper-level course (5000 and above), the senior seminar, or, in very special cases, a tutorial. The thesis consists of a 30–35 page research paper. If written in the context of a course, the thesis satisfies the paper requirement for that course.

Students selected to participate in a Senior Honors Thesis program should seriously consider the invitation, particularly those students considering graduate studies. The program offers students the opportunity to work closely with a faculty mentor, to engage in critical analysis and scholarly research, and to produce a major research paper.

Students should explore topics of interest and initiate research as early as possible. In April of senior year, students will present the thesis in a public forum.

Upon successful completion of the thesis, “Senior Honors Thesis” or “Senior Honors Thesis with Distinction” is recorded on the transcript.

Procedures

During the summer before senior year, department chairs and/or directors of undergraduate studies will contact eligible students.
Invited students should make an appointment with the department chair or DUS to discuss research interests, suitable courses, and potential mentors.
During Add/Drop in the fall, each student will choose a course and faculty mentor (the instructor of the course). Students are encouraged to write the thesis in conjunction with a fall course in order to have two semesters to complete the thesis. If this is not possible, students may select a spring semester course, but are urged to begin research in the fall.
Working with their mentors, students should submit copies of the Senior Honors Thesis proposal and bibliography to the department chair by October 1 if the thesis is written in conjunction with a fall course or by November 1 for a spring course.

International Business, Language, and Culture

Students interested in the serious study of language and culture and their intersections with business, may wish to pursue the IBLC, a joint degree offered by the College and MSB. This program has a distinctive and important LCL stamp: students in the program choose a language of focus, which will then be listed alongside the IBLC degree as their concentration (BS-IBLC with a concentration in Spanish and Portuguese, for example). Curricular information and further details about the IBLC degree are available on the International Business, Language, and Culture Bulletin page, here.

Career Opportunities and Professional Development

Language majors pursue many and varied careers in areas such as business, investment banking, law, international affairs, communications, the arts, education, and medicine. The IBLC program, the business studies minor, and language-specific business courses prepare students for the corporate world.

In order to complement academic work with practical experience, the LCL maintains a network of internship sponsors. Many organizations in Washington participate in internship programs, allowing students to learn about certain fields before seeking employment. Previous internship sites include the Embassies of France, Argentina, Canada, Germany, and Italy, the Organization of American States, CNN, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian Institution. In some instances, internships have led to full-time permanent positions.

An increasing number of students accept positions in various areas of private industry every year. Graduates are now working in Education, Finance, Government, Law, Management, Consulting, Marketing, Medicine (including Doctors without Borders), Public Relations and Publishing.

Various branches of the federal government need language experts, both at home and abroad. Some positions involve translation and/or data analysis for the protection of our national security. Others may require some knowledge of politics or economics along with language ability.

Finally, many LCL graduates have also achieved rewarding careers in academia and the art world. Students have pursued doctoral education at a host of top-tier institutions, including Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and Princeton University.

The Language Learning Technology Center

As a branch of the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS), the Language Learning Technology (LLT) Center is committed to serving and supporting the study and instruction of languages at Georgetown University. It offers faculty, staff and students a wide range of services, materials, equipment, and support in using technology to enhance language research, teaching, and learning.

The LLT Center consists of the following rooms:

Language Lab (ICC 224) The lab houses an extensive collection of audio, video and learning materials for all levels of the languages taught at Georgetown University. Students and faculty use this facility on a walk-in basis for independent language study.
Technology Classroom (ICC 227) This technology-enhanced classroom is equipped with innovative audio-visual and on-line technologies to promote a more efficient, authentic, interactive and dynamic student-centered learning environment. Faculty and graduate students use this room for teaching and/or research purposes.
Development Space (ICC 226) In this facility instructors can use the available computer equipment and multimedia software to digitize, edit, and convert video and audio, scan images and text, create digital/audio recordings, participate in real-time video conferences, and set up on-line research environments.

A language technology fee is added to each language course requiring materials and services from the Language Learning Technology Center.

2026-2027 Edition

Academic Leadership and Advising

History and Mission