School of Continuing Studies

Kelly J. Otter, Ph.D.
Dean

Ifedapo Adeleye, Ph.D.
Vice Dean, Faculty Affairs

Caitlin Cochran, Ed.D.
Senior Associate Dean, Summer and Program Development

Shenita Ray, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Dean of Online Programs

TBD
Senior Associate Dean, Academic Affairs and Compliance

Carolina Chernacov, M.P.S.
Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships

Kelly Schoepke, M.P.S.
Executive Director, Students and Academic Operations

Leila Sidawy, M.A.
Executive Director of Marketing

Jeremy Stanton, M.B.A.
Chief Digital Officer

Matt Bourdon
Senior Finance Director

Mission Statement of SCS

The mission of the School of Continuing Studies (SCS) is to deliver a world-class, multidisciplinary education to a diverse array of communities and individuals throughout their academic and professional careers, to improve employability, develop workforces and contribute to building a civic-minded, well-informed and globally-aware society.

History of SCS

The School of Continuing Studies (SCS) at Georgetown was founded in 1956 as the Georgetown University Summer School. The name of the school was changed to the School for Summer and Continuing Education in 1971. Liberal Studies, the oldest degree program within the School, was launched in 1974, offering the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (BALS) and the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) to part-time and non-traditional students interested in interdisciplinary education. The Doctor of Liberal Arts (DLS) began in fall 2005.

The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) and Advanced Professional Certificate (APC) programs, emphasizing a balance of theoretical and applied learning, began in 2007 with Public Relations & Corporate Communications and Journalism. Programs in Sports Industry Management and Real Estate began in 2008, and Human Resources Management and Technology Management began in 2009. Both Urban & Regional Planning and the Executive Master of Professional Studies (EMPS) in Emergency & Disaster Management launched in 2013. The Hospitality Management program began in 2014 and changed its name to Global Hospitality Leadership in 2017. Graduate programs in Integrated Marketing Communications, Global Strategic Communications, and Project Management were launched in 2015 with Regulatory Affairs and Applied Intelligence launching in 2017.

In addition to these degree programs, the Center for Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE) offers a variety of non-credit learning options, including open enrollment courses, professional certificate programs, and customized corporate programs in communication, leadership, management, and technology. CCPE combines Georgetown’s traditions of academic rigor and ethical leadership with instruction from leaders in industry, government, and academia.

For over 50 years, the School of Continuing Studies has fulfilled Georgetown University’s mission of educational outreach and inclusivity by offering a wide range of educational options to a diverse community of students and professionals. The School offers more than 600 courses, undergraduate and graduate degrees, and advanced professional certificates.

Undergraduate Programs List

Liberal Studies, BALS

Graduate Programs List

Graduate Certificate Programs

The School of Continuing Studies offers Graduate Certificate programs that can be completed on their own or as part of specific Master of Professional Studies degree programs.

Minimum Requirements for the Professional Studies Graduate Certificate

The requirements for all Graduate Certificate programs include the following:

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000.
12-credit hours as specified by the major.

These requirements cannot be waived or substituted under any circumstances. All coursework must be completed at SCS. Transfer credit or courses taken within other schools at the University cannot count toward Graduate Certificates.

Master of Professional Studies and Executive Master of Professional Studies Degrees

Master of Professional Studies (MPS) Description

The minimum school-wide requirements for the MPS degree are described below; however, each program can have additional and/or stricter requirements specific to their major. Students must contact their academic program with any questions they have about program-level requirements.

Learning Goals for the Professional Studies Graduate Degree

Apply creative and critical thinking to generate novel and relevant ideas, strategies, approaches, or products.
Analyze and respond effectively to global issues relevant to industry practice and collaborate with diverse actors in an intercultural setting.
Develop strategies to incorporate Georgetown’s Jesuit values that address social justice and ethical decision-making relevant to industry practice.
Integrate theory, research, and professional experience with industry-specific knowledge, methods and skills in order to collaboratively develop and execute solutions to complex, real-world problems.
Retrieve information from a variety of sources, assess its credibility, validity, and reliability, and integrate/creatively use it to support data-driven decisions in a professional environment.
Creatively use relevant technology to access and evaluate information, solve problems, collaborate, and design innovative solutions.
Craft professional, creative, and persuasive messages that convey complex ideas and relevant solutions.

In addition to the goals described above, each Professional Studies major has learning goals that are specific to that particular academic and professional field.

Minimum Requirements for the Master of Professional Studies Graduate Degree

The Core requirements for all Professional Studies programs, regardless of the major are:

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000.
One Core course in Ethics with a grade of B or better.
One Core Capstone course with a grade of B or better.
Foundation course requirements as outlined by the program.

Core Course Requirements (Ethics and Capstone)

Ethics and Capstone are the two Core courses unique to the Professional Studies degree and are requirements in all of the majors. Transfer credit cannot be used to satisfy the Core Course requirements. Similarly, Core courses cannot be waived under any circumstances.

All MPS majors require a grade of B or better in Ethics and Capstone, as both courses are required for graduation. Review the individual program requirements for minimum grade requirements for Foundation courses.

Students who earn a B- or lower in Ethics or Capstone cannot graduate, even if they have a cumulative GPA of 3.000 overall. These students are required to repeat the course with a B or better to prevent degree candidacy termination. Both grades remain on the student’s transcript and are factored into the cumulative GPA. Students who are unable to earn the required grade upon repeating the course will be terminated from the program without right of appeal.

Foundation Course Requirements

In addition to the required Core courses (Ethics and Capstone), academic programs have foundation and major requirements. Foundation requirements are courses that provide students with the academic background needed for success within those programs. In some cases, programs require students to earn minimum grades of B or better to satisfy a requirement. Students should consult with their program to ensure that they meet all additional requirements for those majors and the “Program Guidelines” section of this Catalog.

Concentration Requirements and Focus Areas

Certain MPS major programs offer concentrations and/or focus areas.

A concentration is a collection of four or more courses (minimum of 12 credit hours) within an academic program that results in a transcript notation indicating the concentration that was completed. Some majors require students to complete an official concentration for the degree; other programs allow more flexibility with recommended courses for students to build expertise within a focus area.

A focus area is a collection of elective courses within an academic program that allows students to explore various topical areas. Students may elect to complete all courses within a particular focus area or across several focus areas. The completion of a focus area is not reflected on a student’s academic transcript.

For programs that have official concentrations, students must submit a Declaration of Concentration form to their academic program for review and approval. The program will forward approved concentration forms to the Office of Academic Affairs and Compliance for final approval.

Minimum Requirements for the Executive Master of Professional Studies Degree

The Executive Master of Professional Studies (EMPS) degree is a year-long intensive program that combines technology-enhanced learning with hands-on required field-study at various domestic and international locations. The Executive MPS degree is a five module program (6-credits per module/course) taken in a lock-step order as a prerequisite to the next module. Students must successfully complete all courses and residencies, earn a minimum grade of B or better in the designated core courses, and earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 to be eligible for graduation.

Academic Policies

Academic Integrity

See the description of the Georgetown University Honor System in the Academic Regulations section of this Bulletin.

Academic Actions: Probation

If a student fails one course during a semester (grade of F or U), the student is automatically placed on probation and remains in that status until the terms of the probation are satisfied. In addition, a student will be placed on probation if their cumulative quality index is below 2.0 at the end of any academic semester. A student remains on academic probation until a minimal cumulative 2.0 GPA is achieved.

Academic actions: Academic termination (degree candidacy terminated)
Academic termination is determined on one of two grounds: academic integrity or academic ineligibility.

Detailed information about the minimum academic requirements for the program, academic standing policies, and further information about academic probation can be found in the most current SCS Academic Rules & Regulations.

Academic Ineligibility

For students in the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program, earning one F or U in a semester while on probation, two F’s or U’s in any one semester regardless of previous record, or at any time an accumulation of three F’s or U’s results in academic termination.

Students are also terminated under the following conditions:

If their cumulative GPA is at such a low level that raising it to the required 2.000 to be eligible for certificate completion within the program credit limit (120-credits) becomes mathematically impossible (see Academic Overload, SCS Academic Rules & Regulations). Termination for this reason is considered final and not open to appeal. Termination for this reason is considered final and not open to appeal.
If they are unable to complete program requirements with acceptable grades upon having repeated a course once (see Repeating a Course, SCS Academic Rules & Regulations). Termination for this reason is considered final and not open to appeal.
Student is unable to complete program guidelines within the required time limit for degree completion.

Refer to the most current SCS Academic Rules & Regulations (see Academic Standing) for detailed information about the minimum academic requirements for the program, academic standing policies, and further information about academic termination can be found in .

Termination Appeal

Students are terminated for failing to meet the program and degree requirements outlined in the academic standing regulations. The Office of Academic Affairs and Compliance notifies students in writing of the change in their status, if they are eligible to submit a termination appeal, and the deadline for submitting the appeal. Once the deadline for submitting an appeal has passed, materials will no longer be accepted and the termination becomes final without right of appeal.

The Office of Academic Affairs and Compliance convenes the SCS Academic Council to conduct a blind review of these exception requests. Blind reviews are conducted so that each student receives an objective and impartial review of their appeal. Once the Council has reviewed a case and a decision has been made, students will be notified in writing of the outcome. All decisions made by the Council are final and without right of further appeal.

A return to study should not be expected. Appeals will only be considered for cases in which the unsatisfactory grades that led to the academic termination were the result of exceptional circumstances that were unforeseen and/or unavoidable. In such cases, the Academic Council will consider the student’s academic record, appeal materials, and feedback from the academic program to determine if a return to study is possible based on the circumstances, and if it is in the best interest of the student and the School. While the academic program will be contacted for feedback, student appeal materials are not shared with them.

If an appeal is denied, students are not permitted to submit new/additional appeal materials for review; are not permitted to submit a new admission application to return to study in the program from which they were academically terminated; nor are they permitted to submit a new admission application to another credit-bearing program at SCS.

If an appeal is approved, students will return to study on probationary status and be provided with conditions they must adhere to. In all cases, the original termination notice remains on the official transcript. A second termination is final and without right of further appeal.

Refer to the most current SCS Academic Rules & Regulations (see Termination Appeal) for detailed information about the termination appeal policy, process, eligibility guidelines, and submission requirements.

Grade Appeal

Students may appeal the final grade for a course after the grade has been posted to the transcript for the reasons outlined under Grounds for a Grade Appeal below. Faculty members have been chosen due to their unique experience and expertise in their respective fields. As such, SCS strongly believes in the authority of its faculty to determine the academic merit and grades of their students. While students may request a review of their final course grade, they should also keep in mind that the faculty member is considered the academic and professional expert in determining their grade. A disagreement with the professional judgment of the instructor is not grounds for an appeal nor will it result in the change of grade.

No additional or revised coursework can or will be accepted to improve a student’s course grade after that course has been completed. Assignments that were graded real-time during the semester cannot be re-evaluated after the course has been completed. For example, if students were evaluated on in-class presentation skills or received a grade for in-class participation, the points/grades for those assignments cannot be altered at a later time as they were assessed based on the student’s real-time performance in the course.
Once the grade appeal deadline has passed for a course, the grade is considered final and cannot be changed.
After the degree has been conferred, the transcript is considered final.
The grade appeal procedure is not set up to address allegations of discrimination. However, SCS takes all such allegations very seriously and advises that students who believe they have been discriminated against make a formal complaint through the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Affirmative Action (202-687-4798; ideaa@georgetown.edu). The Grievance Procedure and Discrimination Complaint Form can be found at ideaa.georgetown.edu/policies/.
The grade appeal process only applies to final grades issued in SCS courses. Students with questions about grades received on individual assignments while a course is in-progress should speak directly with their instructor. Students seeking a grade appeal for courses taken outside of SCS must contact the academic department and school that delivered the course.
The syllabus serves as a guideline with the understanding that instructors can make amendments to their syllabi during the semester (adding or deleting assignments, for example, or changing a percentage allocation for an assignment under unusual circumstances) if needed as long as all students in the course are held to the same academic standards.

Grounds for a Grade Appeal

Grounds for a Grade Appeal
Grounds	Explanation
Mathematical error	The numerical calculation of scores earned on course deliverables was incorrect, resulting in an incorrect final course grade.
Error in the grading procedure	There was a mistake or substantive deviation in the grading procedures stated on assignments, syllabus or other course communication, resulting in an incorrect final course grade.
Inequity in the application of policies stated in the course syllabus	There was demonstrable unfairness in the application of policies in the syllabus that resulted in an incorrect final grade.

If none of these grounds apply to your matter, it is not eligible for resolution via the grade appeal process. Students are encouraged to contact their instructor to better understand how the grade recorded came to be. Please remember that disagreement with the instructor’s grading or dissatisfaction with a final grade are not grounds for appeal. Please consult your advisor if you have questions about how the earned grade affects your academic plan.

Note: Grades earned as a result an Honor Council violation are considered final and are not eligible for a grade appeal (Honor Council Procedure; Section D; Item 7. https://honorcouncil.georgetown.edu/system/policies/procedure/).

Refer to the most current SCS Academic Rules & Regulations (see Course Grade Appeals) for detailed information about the grade appeal policy, process, grounds/eligibility guidelines, and submission requirements.

Academic Policies and Procedures for Visiting Students

All of the credit and degree programs within the School of Continuing Studies are application-based. Acceptance to one undergraduate program within the School does not guarantee or imply acceptance into another undergraduate program within the School or University. Specific student handbooks and policies have been developed to reflect the unique undergraduate populations (such as part-time, non-traditional, or visiting students) served within the School of Continuing Studies. Students in these programs should refer to their program handbook for policies that govern their study (http://scs.georgetown.edu/academic-affairs/student-handbooks).

Undergraduate and Precollege Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies Degree Program

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies was designed for adult learners interested in a values-based interdisciplinary education. The program helps students build a multidimensional understanding of a complex world.

The Core Area curriculum in the on-campus program brings together work from a variety of integrated disciplines in the areas of Culture, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Social Sciences, and Writing. Additionally, students choose one or more of the following concentrations: Business and Entrepreneurship, Humanities, Individualized Study, International Relations, Professional Media and Communication.

The Core Area curriculum in the online program brings together work from a variety of integrated disciplines in the areas of Humanities, Writing, Philosophy, and Science. Additionally, students choose one or more of the following concentrations: Business & Entrepreneurship; Cybersecurity, Analytics & Technology; Politics & International Relations; Media, Communications & Humanities; and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Admissions

The successful applicant for the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program will typically have completed some course work at a postsecondary institution or have professional, military, or life experience prior to applying to the program. Applicants who do not have previous post-secondary college experience may be considered for provisional admission (see Provisional Non-Degree Enrollment, SCS Academic Rules & Regulations); we strongly recommend that these applicants submit a resume with their other application materials.

Acceptance to the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program does not guarantee or imply acceptance into another undergraduate program within the School or University. Students admitted to the program who wish to transfer to one of the four undergraduate schools must apply through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

A student is officially admitted to the program when a notice of acceptance has been received and registration has been completed. All new students are encouraged to attend New Student Orientation and register online through GU Experience prior to the beginning of their first semester on the designated date for that term.

Transfer Credit

The School of Continuing Studies accepts up to 64 transfer credits, including military training, which can be applied toward elective credits.

The program maintains three articulation agreements with two-year colleges in the area: Montgomery College, Northern Virginia Community College, and Prince George’s Community College. Please note that these agreements are exclusively between these institutions and the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program and do not apply to other undergraduate programs or Schools at Georgetown. Details of each agreement are outlined on the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies Admissions page.

Transfer credit ordinarily is not awarded for study at other institutions after you have started study at Georgetown. However, students sometimes seek to take summer classes at institutions outside the Washington DC area. Consult with the academic program before registering for such classes, so you can be sure that they will apply to your academic program.

Students applying to the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program who have previously attended another Georgetown University undergraduate program should be aware that their entire undergraduate academic record will be reflected on their transcript. This means that all courses, grades, and credits earned at Georgetown University will be factored into the cumulative GPA and credit totals without exception. While all previously completed undergraduate coursework will be reflected on the transcript and will be applied towards the cumulative GPA and credit totals, students are still responsible for completing all of the program requirements, including all Core Area and Concentration courses.

Advanced Placement/CLEP Credit

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program offers Georgetown credit for students who have completed certain Advanced Placement examinations and College Level-Examination Program examinations with qualifying scores. These credits count against the 64-credit maximum for transfer credits. In awarding credit for Advanced Placement, the program follows the standards outlined in the university’s Undergraduate Bulletin Advanced Credit section. Credit for CLEP examinations is offered only for scores equal to a course grade of B or higher. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to arrange for the College Board to send the AP or CLEP scores directly to the program; AP or CLEP scores listed on another college’s transcript will not be evaluated.

Military Training

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program follows recommendations from the American Council on Education to grant transfer credit, on a case-by-case basis, for certain military training. The student should have the Joint Services Transcript sent directly to the academic program for evaluation. These credits count against the 64-credit maximum for transfer credits.

Part-Time and Full-Time Registration Status

Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program are permitted to enroll as part-time or full-time students. Full-time status for undergraduate students is 12 credits in the fall and spring semesters, and nine credits in the summer.

Prospective students on J-1 or F-1 student Visa status must enroll full-time. Please consult with the Office of Global Services when making enrollment decisions that could affect your Visa status.

Academic Advising

The program offers academic advising for students in the program. The advising staff helps students to make wise choices in their academic programs and to navigate through difficulties that they may encounter.

Continuing students are encouraged to meet with the Liberal Studies advising team at least once each semester prior to the start of registration for the following semester’s courses. The academic program team is also available to meet with students who are encountering difficulty in their studies. Advisors may refer students to supportive services throughout the University, including the Academic Resource Center, the SCS Writing Center, the Career Center, and Counseling and Psychiatric Services.

Students with disabilities seeking accommodations are strongly encouraged to contact the Academic Resource Center before the start of classes to discuss the documentation guidelines and accommodation process. There is a formal procedure for requesting an accommodation that must be completed before accommodations can be implemented. Instructors are not permitted to make accommodations until a student has completed this process and accommodations are not retroactive. As such, it is imperative that students contact the Academic Resource Center to initiate the process.

Program Learning Objectives

A graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program will be able to:

Critically analyze and engage with historical, contemporary, and enduring questions of the human experience;
Understand fundamental concepts and methodologies in the humanities, the sciences and mathematics/statistics, and the social sciences; apply these methods to the analysis of complex problems;
Discover and analyze primary and secondary sources relevant to specific research questions in particular academic disciplines;
Recognize and respond to social justice issues, locally and globally; enact ethics-based approaches in study and work;
Write well and present information clearly for specific audiences in appropriate forms and media;
Demonstrate the ability to apply intercultural knowledge and competence by meaningfully and ethically engaging others.

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies On-Campus Degree Requirements

Core Courses

All students are required to take one course from each Core Area (3 credits each/18 credits total); multiple courses will fulfill each core area requirement. Each Core Area required course will be interdisciplinary.

Culture – Integrated disciplines include, but are not limited to, Classics, Non-Western, Ancient Civilizations and Cultural Studies
Humanities – Integrated disciplines include, but are not limited to, Literature, History, Art and Art History
Natural Sciences – Integrated disciplines include, but are not limited to, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geology
Philosophy – Integrated disciplines include, but are not limited to, Philosophy, Theology/Religious Studies and Ethics
Social Sciences – Integrated disciplines include, but are not limited to, Economics, Psychology and Sociology
Writing – Integrated disciplines include, but are not limited to, Writing, Rhetoric, Communication and Technology

Detailed descriptions of the course are available online in the university’s course catalog.

Program Concentrations

In addition to completing the core courses, students must complete 48 credits (16 three-credit courses) in one of the program’s concentrations.

Business & Entrepreneurship

The Business & Entrepreneurship concentration will prepare you with the skills you need to become an ethical leader in a variety of professional environments. You’ll build a foundational understanding of practical business knowledge, including techniques for identifying business opportunities and effectively applying skills in the areas of accounting, marketing, finance, and management. This concentration is ideal for students who work in business or those who want to pursue a career in business.

Humanities

In the Humanities concentration, you’ll examine human values and complexities from a range of academic perspectives—leading to a broad comprehension of philosophical, religious, literary, and artistic movements in human history. You’ll consider the human experience, which will influence your understanding across the intersections of history, culture, politics, and religion in the modern world.

Individualized Study

The individualized study concentration provides you with the unique opportunity to combine multiple disciplines of interest, choosing from a broad selection of courses offered within the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program. This concentration offers the flexibility to study under multiple concentrations without fully committing to a single degree path. The individualized study concentration is a good fit for students who would like exposure to a variety of academic disciplines. Additionally, the concentration is suitable for students who are considering a graduate degree and who would like to explore more than one academic discipline within liberal studies.

International Relations

In the International Relations concentration, you’ll form a critical awareness of the complex issues in foreign policy and international relations, as well as an ethical framework for making informed decisions about these issues. You’ll identify and characterize the major social, political, and economic developments in a specific country or regional grouping while drawing from the body of Western intellectual and moral tradition. Throughout the program, you’ll analyze global issues and international relations with an emphasis on questions of global social justice.

Professional Media & Communication

The Professional Media & Communication concentration is interdisciplinary in design, incorporating media theory and history, ethics, the social sciences, digital media practices, and technological and cultural perspectives. This concentration prepares you for the contemporary and evolving media landscape. Through a blend of theory and practical application, you’ll explore modern-day industry challenges while examining the intersections between media and organizations in both the public and private spheres.

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies Online Degree Requirements

Core Courses

All students are required to take one course from each Core Area (3 credits each/12 credits total); multiple courses will fulfill each core area requirement. Each Core Area required course will be interdisciplinary.

Humanities – Integrated disciplines include, but are not limited to, Literature, History, Art and Art History
Writing – Integrated disciplines include, but are not limited to, Writing, Rhetoric, Communication and Technology
Philosophy – Integrated disciplines include, but are not limited to, Philosophy, Theology/Religious Studies and Ethics
Science – Integrated disciplines include, but are not limited to, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology

Detailed descriptions of the course are available online in the university’s course catalog.

Program Concentrations

In addition to completing the core courses, students must complete 18 credits (six, 3-credit courses) in one of the program’s concentrations.

Business & Entrepreneurship

Cybersecurity, Analytics & Technology

The concentration in Cybersecurity, Analytics & Technology is designed for students who are interested in pursuing careers in intelligence, cybersecurity, criminology, or technology. The program provides a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, with a focus on analytical methods, cybersecurity fundamentals, criminological principles, and the latest advancements in technology.

Politics & International Relations

In the Politics & International Relations concentration, you’ll form a critical awareness of the complex issues in foreign policy, international relations, law, and governance, as well as an ethical framework for making informed decisions about these issues. You’ll identify, characterize, and analyze major social, political, and economic developments in both regional and global contexts. Throughout the program, you’ll analyze global issues, policy concerns, and international relations with an emphasis on questions of local and global social justice.

Media, Communications & Humanities

The Media, Communications & Humanities concentration offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of design, culture, media theory and history, and human values from a range of academic perspectives. Through a blend of theory and practical application, you’ll explore modern-day communications challenges, while considering the cultural representation of the human experience over time and across a range of geographic areas.

Interdisciplinary Studies

The Interdisciplinary Studies concentration provides you with the unique opportunity to combine multiple disciplines of interest, choosing from a broad selection of courses offered within the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program. This concentration offers the flexibility to study under multiple concentrations without fully committing to a single path. The individualized study concentration is a good fit for students who would like exposure to a variety of academic disciplines. Additionally, the concentration is suitable for students who are considering a graduate degree.

Degree Audit

Each student is encouraged to review their MyDegree Audit each semester. Degree Audit is a computerized analysis of the student’s progress toward the degree that will indicate which requirements remain to be completed. The MyDegree Audit is available on GU Experience. Every student majors in liberal studies and must also have a concentration. An admitted student is initially enrolled in the concentration that they declared in the admissions application. Students must meet with their academic advisor to discuss whether changing concentrations will necessitate additional coursework by the student.

Degree Conferral Timeline

In addition to completing the Core Area courses and concentration requirements, all students must complete 120 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.000 or better to qualify for graduation. In some cases, students may need to complete more than 120 credits in order to satisfy all Core and concentration requirements. The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies degree must be completed within 10 years of first registration. Students may submit a request to the academic program for an extension with documentation of exceptional circumstances. Such requests must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Academic Affairs and Compliance. If approved, students will receive a limited extension to complete their studies. If the request is not approved, students will be terminated from the program.

Enrollment Requirements

A student who does not register for class in either the fall or spring semester will be involuntarily withdrawn from the program. In these cases a notation of “Withdrawn for Failure to Register” will appear on the official transcript. A student can avoid being withdrawn by instead requesting an official Leave of Absence during a fall or spring semester. Contact the academic program for information on requesting a Leave of Absence and for deadlines for requesting return from leave. Students must consult with the Office of Financial Aid on the consequences of taking a leave of absence.

Please Note: The above policy does not apply to continuing students during summer semesters. Students need not request a leave in order to avoid taking classes during summer.

Degree Conferral (Graduation)

Earning the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies degree requires a total of 120 credits, earned at Georgetown or elsewhere (depending upon transfer credits), with a minimum GPA of 2.000. These are divided among core, concentration, and elective courses. The GPA only reflects coursework completed at Georgetown. Courses accepted for transfer credit are not factored into the Georgetown GPA, though the credits apply towards the 120 required for graduation.

Degrees are conferred in May, August, and December. Students should contact the academic program in their final semester to review their remaining requirements and ensure that they are on track for degree completion. Students must apply online in GU Experience to graduate by the deadline for the semester in which they intend to complete all requirements.

Financial Clearance

Students must settle all financial obligations to the University—e.g., overdue tuition, library fines, and late fees—so that their account balance is $0 before submitting their thesis or completing their last course to be eligible to graduate and receive a diploma and final transcript. The financial clearance deadlines are Dec. 1 if completing the degree in December, May 1 if completing the degree in May, or August 1 if completing the degree in August.

Commencement Ceremony

Commencement is held in May of each year. Students who graduated in the prior Fall and Summer terms are invited to participate in the ceremony. Degrees are formally conferred, and each graduate is recognized at the ceremony.

Undergraduate Certificates

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program offers two credit-bearing undergraduate certificates within the on-campus program. An undergraduate certificate can be completed while enrolled in the on-campus program.

Undergraduate Certificate Requirements

Undergraduate certificates consist of 18 credits (6 courses).
Students pursuing an undergraduate certificate must complete all coursework for the undergraduate certificate as outlined in the requirements below.
Students may be eligible to transfer credits towards the certificate pending program approval.
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 to remain in good academic standing and to be eligible to earn the certificate.
The undergraduate certificate must be completed within three years of beginning the program.

Summer Study at Georgetown

Each year, Summer at Georgetown University offers more than 250 courses and more than 25 programs for high school, undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students.

Enrollment in summer courses is open to:

newly admitted or matriculated Georgetown undergraduate and graduate students in good standing with permission of their academic deans;
undergraduate and graduate students in good standing at other colleges and universities;
high school students who have been admitted through the Summer College program;
foreign students who can provide documentation of a TOEFL score of 550 and above or 600 for Linguistics courses; and
individuals whose educational background and experience qualify them for the courses they wish to take.

The School offers three distinct summer sessions: the presession, first session, and second session. The presession, which starts in mid-May, allows students to take courses during a four week period. Because of the pre-session’s compressed and intensive nature, students are permitted to take only one course. The first and second summer sessions run consecutively, the first beginning in June, the second in early July; each session lasts five weeks.

Summer Programs for High School Students

The School of Continuing Studies offers a diverse series of programs for high school students. Students can participate in non-credit programs from eight days up to three weeks, depending on the programs. The School of Continuing Studies offers the following non-credit programs: Medical Institute; American Politics; College Preparatory; Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship; Forensic Science; International Relations; Broadcast Journalism; Law Institute; Leadership; Medicine; National Security and Counterintelligence; Sports Industry Management.

The School of Continuing Studies also offers the following credit programs during the five week Summer Sessions to high school students: Summer College I; Summer College II; Fundamentals of Business, English, Economics, Law, Medicine and American Government.

Academic and Administrative Policies

Students should familiarize themselves with the rules, regulations, and procedures relevant to pursuing a degree at SCS and attendance at Georgetown. Unawareness of these rules will not be accepted as an excuse for failure to act in accordance with them. Students in the School of Continuing Studies are required to adhere to all School and University regulations while completing their studies. The most up-to-date policy guidelines are found in the SCS Academic Rules & Regulations. Additionally, students must meet program specific requirements as outlined in the Undergraduate Bulletin and as reflected on university websites.

Questions about any policies should be directed to the Liberal Studies Program. In addition to the policies described in Academic Policies, students are responsible for the academic and administrative policies, procedures, rights, and responsibilities (including the SCS Academic Rules and Regulations, the Code of Student Conduct; the Honor Code; Disability Support; Immunization Requirements; Tuition Refund Guidelines; and others) that apply to all SCS and Georgetown University students. University policies can be found online here.

2026-2027 Edition

Mission Statement of SCS

History of SCS