School of Foreign Service

History and Mission

“Having entered upon the stage of world politics and world commerce, we assume worldwide obligations,” wrote the Reverend Edmund A. Walsh, S.J., the School of Foreign Service’s first dean.  “Our viewpoint can never be the same again.” – Walsh said in 1919, five years before the United States diplomatic corps renamed itself the Foreign Service, as the United States and the world emerged from the horrors of World War I. By creating the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown sought to educate students about global issues and prepare them for a life of service – in business, government, or for a humanitarian agency.  This mission reflected both the University’s Jesuit heritage, with its emphasis on intercultural understanding, and its origins as an institution of the American Enlightenment, dedicated to human rights and the education of citizens.

Today the undergraduate program of the School of Foreign Service offers over 1,400 students an interdisciplinary program built on a liberal arts education. Students begin their studies with the SFS and University core curriculum, giving them an understanding of philosophy, theology, the humanities, economics, political science, history, and other disciplines.  During their sophomore year, students choose from one of nine majors, Culture and Politics, Global Business, International Economics, International Political Economy, International History, International Politics, Regional Studies, Science Technology and International Affairs, and the joint degree from the Walsh School of Foreign Service and McDonough School of Business, the Dikran Izmirlian Program in Business and Global Affairs (BGA). The major allows students to further develop specialization in one area of international affairs. 

Over the years, we have broadened the scope of our majors to bring new skill sets to solving global problems. Our major in Science, Technology and International Affairs combines coursework in the biological and physical sciences, geography, bioethics, government and policy studies recognizing the need to ground our global policy making in a deep understanding of science and technology. Our unique dual degree in Business and Global Affairs with the McDonough School of Business prepares students to mobilize the power of the private sector to address global challenges.  Our interdisciplinary major in Culture and Politics allows students to design their own approach to breaking traditional boundaries between the arts, narrative, performance and international affairs to deepen our cross-cultural understanding.

This dual emphasis on international affairs and the interdisciplinary approach distinguishes the curriculum of the School of Foreign Service from that of other liberal arts programs. In addition to their academic study on campus, many SFS students engage in study abroad, independent research, service learning or internships during their time at Georgetown. Over 75% of SFS students participate in a global experience including academic study, research or work abroad.  We have integrated fieldwork countries all over the globe into our innovative Centennial Labs, allowing students not only to study global problems but to engage on the ground with those working to solve them.

Our students learn about international affairs not only from globally recognized scholars but also from high-level practitioners, combining analysis with action.  Our location in Washington DC ensures that SFS students get a “front row seat to history” engaging with leaders and changemakers from around the world.