MSFS Brochure

edmund a. walsh school of foreign service

MAS T ER OF SCIENCE IN FOREIGN SERVICE

Georgetown University

The Master of Science in Foreign Service at Georgetown University MSFS: Leadership in Service to the Global Community The Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) is the longest-standing professional masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Its goal is to prepare women and men to be creative leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors of international affairs. In keeping with the vision of the Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founder, Father Edmund A. Walsh, SJ, MSFS seeks to instill in its students a commitment to service in the international community and an appreciation for the ethical dimension of international affairs. The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service MSFS is one of six graduate-level degree programs within the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS). Since its founding in 1919, the Walsh School has devoted itself to educating the next generation of global leaders. Students at SFS benefit not only from the advantages found at the seat of U.S. government in Washington, DC, but also from the wide

array of opportunities at various international organizations, embassies and consulates, trade and consulting groups and non-profit institutions in the area. In addition, SFS students learn from a preeminent faculty of scholars and practitioners, who bring a rich mix of experience in policy, history, trade, culture and diplomacy into the SFS classroom. A truly global school, the Walsh School attracts students from over 70 different countries to comprise a diverse student body of over 1,400 undergraduates and more than 700 graduate students. Students in MSFS often take advantage of the richness of the Walsh School by attending courses or events offered by the other SFS graduate degree programs: n Master

of Arts in Arab Studies (MAAS)

n Master

of Arts in Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies (REES MA)

n Master

of Arts in German and European Studies (MAGES)

n Master

of Arts in Latin American Studies (MALAS)

n Master

of Arts in Security Studies (SSP)

Other academic programs with resources and programming available to MSFS students are: n Asian

Studies Program

n Center

for Muslim and Christian Understanding

n Institute

for the Study of Diplomacy

n Institute

for the Study of International Migration

n Landegger

Program in International Business Diplomacy

n Luce/SFS

Program on Religion and International Affairs

n Program

for Jewish Civilization

The Walsh School of Foreign Service is a member of APSIA, the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs.

Georgetown University The Walsh School of Foreign Service is an integral part of the larger Georgetown University community. Founded in 1789, Georgetown is the nation’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit university and a leading research institution. The University embodies its founding principles in the diversity of its students, faculty and staff, its commitment to justice and the common good, its intellectual openness and its international character. Located in one of the world’s global cities, Georgetown profits greatly from the Washington, DC experience. Washington’s political significance and cosmopolitan population touch students’ lives in many ways. In addition to policymakers and business leaders based in the Washington area, world leaders regularly visit the city and Georgetown, giving students the opportunity to meet and engage with the people driving political, social and economic events around the world.

Mahveen Azam u Wah Cantt, Pakistan u Bachelor of Science in Electrical/ Communication Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila u MSFS 2011: International Development

students

“ If you want to learn from the best in the field of foreign policy, have access to a wide array of courses, meet and make friends with amazing people from diverse backgrounds who share your passion to change the world, and connect with a school whose administrative body is always around to offer you its support, then MSFS is the program for you.”

marc sorel u Washington, DC u Bachelor of Arts in History, Yale University u MSFS/JD 2011: International Relations and Security, Certificate in International Business Diplomacy (IBD) “ The reasons I enrolled in MSFS are the reasons I continue to get so much out of the program: its diverse student body, caring faculty practitioners, plentiful extracurricular learning opportunities and engaging courses are exceptional. Pursuing the MSFS program concurrently with a JD has allowed me to gain the breadth and depth of knowledge I sought from my graduate experience.”

The Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) The Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) is a two-year, full-time program that blends theory and practice to prepare students for leadership and service in a changing world. The curriculum and extra-curricular activities are designed to ensure that students learn with—and from—one another. Because each incoming class is limited to fewer than 100 students, each student gets personalized attention and has the opportunity to establish lasting bonds with professors and peers. Our Students: Diverse and Engaged Our students come to us with a wide array of backgrounds and experiences. Our current student body includes journalists, researchers, teachers, business professionals, military officers and engineers. We regularly welcome participants of academic and professional programs such as Fulbright, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps and Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET), as well as fellowship programs such as Rangel, McNair, Truman, Pickering, Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) and the IIPP program with the United Negro College Fund. Students are on average 26-27 years old when they enter the program, and have 3-5 years of work experience. Typically 35-40% of MSFS students are non-U.S. citizens, and all of our students have lived, studied or worked abroad. Our student body includes citizens of over 40 countries, and normally 25% of our U.S. students are from an underrepresented population. MSFS students organize and participate in various co-curricular activities such as debates, sporting events, happy hours, an annual Holiday party, International Student Night and a Spring Ball. See the box below for additional activities our students pursue. Student activities on and off campus include:

Our Faculty: Top Scholars and Practitioners The Walsh School of Foreign Service brings together leading scholars and practitioners to offer students a full range of knowledge and experience in the field of international affairs. Notable scholars on the School faculty include: Carol Benedict, Victor Cha, Robert Cumby, Carl Dahlman, Raj Desai, John Kline, Charles Kupchan, Susan Martin, Kathleen McNamara, John McNeill, Ted Moran, George Shambaugh, Nancy Tucker, Erik Voeten, James Raymond Vreeland and MSFS Director Anthony Clark Arend. In recent years, MSFS students have had access to courses taught by distinguished practitioners of international affairs such as: Madeleine Albright–former Secretary of State Tony Barclay–President and CEO of Development Alternatives, Inc. Chester Crocker–former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Marc Grossman–former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Fruzsina Harsanyi–former Vice President of Tyco Senator Chuck Hagel Anthony Lake–former National Security Adviser Carol Lancaster–Dean, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service; former Deputy Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development Catherine Lotrionte–former Counsel to the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board Clay Lowery–former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs Andrew Natsios–former Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development George Tenet–former Director of Central Intelligence

MSFS recruits additional practitioner faculty from a wide variety of areas in the public, private and non-profit sectors of international affairs. For more information about our faculty, visit http://msfs.georgetown.edu/faculty/. Our Alumni: A Lifelong Connection More than 2,000 MSFS alumni are working in businesses, governments and non-profit organizations throughout the world. They retain a strong link to MSFS, participating in all aspects of the program. MSFS alumni help recruit new students and serve on the admissions committee. They return to campus regularly to share their knowledge and experience with current MSFS students, offering career sessions or teaching workshops and other courses. They also work with current students in our alumni mentor and Link Up programs, and serve as examiners on the MSFS Final Oral Examinations. Off campus, alumni provide professional guidance to students during “DC Career Days” and the annual MSFS New York City career trip. Alumni submit internship and job postings from around the world to help our students. Students enjoy the support and advice of alumni during the program, and new graduates benefit from the assistance of fellow MSFS alums—as well as the larger network of over 17,000 School of Foreign Service alumni—as they begin their careers.

The Georgetown Journal of International Affairs / The Georgetown European Foreign Service Association / Women in Foreign Service / MSFS Latin America Forum / MSFS Middle East and North Africa Forum / Professionals in Russian, Eurasian and Eastern European Affairs / Women in International Security / Net Impact / Big Buddies Program / Charity Drives and Community Service

Maria Eitel u Seattle, WA u MSFS 1988: International Development u President and CEO, Nike Foundation

W. Gyude Moore u Cape Palmas, Liberia u MSFS 2009: Foreign Policy and International Security, Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies u Aide to the President, Republic of Liberia

alumni

“ There’s a saying ‘iron sharpens iron’ and I think it applies to MSFS. Beyond the exceptional professors, superior environment for learning and a tradition of excellence–it was the quality of my classmates that I remember most about my experience at MSFS.”

“ MSFS opened a whole world of possibility for me. The opportunities I had during the program and as I graduated proved essential keys to my professional path. I have consistently drawn on what I learned and experienced in MSFS in ways that have been a great asset to my career and life.“

Academic Programs Personal Approach One of the distinctive elements of MSFS is its commitment to offering small classes that better facilitate close interaction between students and faculty, as well as among the students themselves. Enrollment in MSFS elective courses is limited to a maximum of 18 students, and the Concentration Workshops are limited to 15 participants. The largest MSFS classes are two of the core economics courses, with 30 students, and the international relations and statistics courses, with enrollments in the low 20s. This small class size is in keeping with our overall desire to maintain a personal touch and create an environment that serves the whole person during his or her time as a student at Georgetown.

Sample Curriculum Fall semester first year

International Finance

Concentration Course

of Intersocietal Relations (A History Course)

Concentration Course

Analytical and Statistical Skills

Elective

(Specialized Concentration Course)

Concentration Course

Elective

International Trade

n I nternational

Relations: Theory and Practice

n G lobalization

second year

spring semester

n W orkshop

Curriculum During the first year, MSFS students work and learn together in five core courses that lay the foundation for further specialized study. In the middle of the first semester, students choose one of four concentrations in which to focus: Concentrations n International

Relations and Security

n International

Development

n International

Commerce and Business

Self-designed or Regional Concentration

In addition to the core curriculum, students pursue six concentration courses and five electives. Students can choose elective courses from other graduate programs in SFS and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students may also pursue courses in other Georgetown programs such as law, business, public policy and other fields on a space-available basis.

Dual degree programs

Certificates

MSFS works with the School of Foreign Service, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Georgetown Law Center and the McDonough School of Business to offer the following dual degree options.

In addition to the regular degree requirements, MSFS students may use elective courses to complete a certificate in one of the following areas:

n Master

of Science in Foreign Service/ Juris Doctor (MSFS/JD)

n Master

of Science in Foreign Service/Master of Business Administration (MSFS/MBA)

n Master

of Science in Foreign Service/Master of Public Policy (MSFS/MPP)

n Master

of Science in Foreign Service/Master of Arts in Economics (MSFS/MA in Economics)

n Master

of Science in Foreign Service/Master of Arts in Global, International and Comparative History (MSFS/MAGIC)

n Bachelor

of Science in Foreign Service/ Master of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS/MSFS)

n Bachelor

of Science in Business Administration/ Master of Science in Foreign Service (BSBA/ MSFS)

n Arab

Studies

n Asian

Studies

n Eurasian,

Russian and Eastern European Studies

n International n Refugees

Business Diplomacy

and Humanitarian Emergencies

Visit http://msfs.georgetown.edu/academics/ for more details about our curriculum, courses, concentrations and other educational opportunities at MSFS.

Joseph Cirincione u New York, NY

Heather MCLeod u Brooklyn, NY u MSFS 2010: International Development u 2010 DHS Policy Fellow, Department of Homeland Security

“ MSFS provided me with the ability to approach difficult issues and the skills to solve complex problems. The ‘Business of Development’ workshop was instrumental in preparing me for all aspects of implementing and designing a development project. At MSFS your classmates, your professors and, most of all, the alums form a network of support in DC and around the world.”

u u

MSFS 1983: International Security President, Ploughshares Fund

“If a student wants to work on security policy, there is no better training ground than the MSFS program. The school’s unique combination of academic rigor, accessible practitioners, global student body and Washington location is one no other institute can match. It provides both the analytical tools to master the craft and the network to enter it.”

Career Development The goal of MSFS is to give each student an excellent education and help him or her take the next step toward a challenging and rewarding career after graduation. Through career advising, skills clinics, professional panels, career trips and receptions, MSFS prepares graduates not just for a specific job, but rather for evolving careers that often span all three international sectors: public, private and non-profit. Internships The MSFS Internship Coordinator works with students to identify internship prospects that will complement their coursework and position them for successful careers following graduation. Students also take advantage of one-on-one sessions and clinics with the School of Foreign Service Career Development Center to identify internship and job opportunities and refine resumes, cover letters and networking strategies. The Center’s Symplicity system offers a database of thousands of job, fellowship and internship possibilities. MSFS students are automatically given access to this system when they enter the program and are encouraged to post a resume to allow employers to search for them. Students typically intern part-time two semesters during the program, and full-time during the summer between their first and second years. During the summer, approximately 50% of students intern abroad, while most of the rest work in DC or New York. MSFS has established a fund to support students pursuing unpaid internships over the summer, giving a total of $80,000 to 40 students in 2009. The SFS Career Development Center also funds summer internships overseas.

Careers Today, MSFS alumni can be found throughout government agencies, private corporations and non-governmental organizations around the world. MSFS is one of the leading suppliers of Presidential Management Fellows and U.S. Foreign Service Officers, but public service is only one area in which our alumni find opportunities. Our 2009 graduating class of 103 students went into diverse careers in over 60 organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. During the past decade, over 95% of all MSFS graduates reporting have found permanent employment within six months of graduation. Notable MSFS alumni and positions they have held include: Jonathan Baliff–Executive Vice President, Strategy, NRG Energy

Ambassador Gabor Csaba–Ambassador of Hungary to Australia Maria Eitel–President, Nike Foundation Ambassador Janet E. Garvey–U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller–U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Mary B. Goodman–Special Assistant to the President for Financial Markets, Executive Office of the President Zyad Limam–Directeur General, Groupe Jeune Afrique Prince Talal bin Muhammad–Special Advisor to King Abdullah II His Royal Highness Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, Prince of Denmark Ben Powell and Ricardo Teran–co-founders, Agora Partnerships

Rob Boone–Director, Rule of Law Initiative, American Bar Association

Ambassador Michael A. Sheehan–President and co-founder of Lexington Security Group; former Assistant Secretary General, United Nations; former U.S. Ambassador at Large for Counterterrorism

His Royal Highness Prince Felipe de Borbon y Grecia, Prince of Asturias

Kate Snow–Correspondent, Dateline, NBC News; co-anchor, Good Morning America, ABC

Joseph Cirincione–President, Ploughshares Fund

Ambassador Nancy E. Soderberg–President of Connect U.S. Fund; former Senior Policy Advisor, International Crisis Group; former Member of U.S. Delegation to the United Nations; former Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

Ambassador Marcia Bernicat–U.S. Ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau

Jay Collins–Chief Executive Officer, Public Sector Group, Citigroup Leslie Black Cordes–Director of Partnership Development, United Nations Foundation

Recent MSFS student internships have included: n Conducting

interviews with FINCA microentrepreneur loan recipients in Nicaragua

n Working

with Survivor Corps in Rwanda to bring genocide survivors and ex-combatants together to rebuild their communities

n Promoting

social entrepreneurship in Brazil with Ashoka

n Facilitating

communication between the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan and national and international observers

n Conducting

market research and testing for a social enterprise focusing on recycling plastic bags into solar cookers and water pasteurizers in Mozambique

victor cha u Professor of Government and D.S. Song-Korea Foundation Chair in Asian Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University u Director of Asian Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University u Former Director of Asian Affairs, National Security Council, White House (2004-2007)

faculty

“ The MSFS curriculum offers a unique blend of theory and practice which imparts upon students the tools necessary to succeed in the public or private sectors. I love teaching MSFS students–they are smart, eager, and bring a variety of different experiences to the classroom. The peer interaction is fantastic–among the best I have seen at many different elite educational institutions.”

dean Carol Lancaster u Dean, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University u Director, MSFS: 1998-2002 u Former Deputy Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development “ The MSFS program, ranked as a top master’s program in international relations, prepares graduates for professional careers of leadership and service. The program is multidisciplinary, bringing theory and practice together to illuminate the world of yesterday, today and tomorrow. But, as a relatively small program, it also creates among its students, past and present, a strong sense of community and network.”

Admissions MSFS is a highly selective program that accepts students on the basis of excellent academic records, international experience and professional achievements. The program normally receives around 1000 applications and admits approximately 25%. Our goal is to select a diverse and talented pool of students who can not only benefit from the program, but also have valuable experiences to share with their fellow students. Requirements for admission: n A

bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent) from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (or the equivalent)

n One

course in macroeconomics and one course in microeconomics, both with final grades of B or better by matriculation. Admission may be granted on a conditional basis until this condition is met

n One

set of standardized test scores (see “How to Apply” for details)

n Proficiency

in two languages: English and one other modern spoken language

n A

personal statement that provides insight into the applicant’s motivation for study at MSFS and how the program can help the applicant reach his/her professional goals

A competitive applicant

How to apply

Beyond the basic requirements, successful applicants will have:

All application materials must be received by January 15 to be considered for admission for the following fall semester. A completed application includes:

n Overseas

work, volunteering or study prior to matriculation

n Work

experience related to the applicant’s area of interest. For example, a stated interest in Development or Conflict should be supported by experience abroad in developing or conflict regions of the world

n Demonstrated

current proficiency in a modern language other than the applicant’s native tongue. An admission condition may be placed on applicants who have not utilized their foreign language in the past three years.

n Statistics

and calculus coursework is helpful

Students admitted in the 2007-2010 admission cycles had average scores and characteristics in the following ranges: GPA: 3.63 – 3.70 GRE: Verbal: 630 – 642 (90-92%)

Quantitative: 688 – 701 (68-72%)

Analytical Writing: 4.9 – 5.2 (77%-81%)

TOEFL: 108 – 111 (Internet-based) IELTS: 8.0 – 8.3 Average Age Entering the Program: 26 – 27 Average Amount of Work Experience: 4 years

n Application n Statement

form and fee of Purpose

n Resume n All

official transcripts, with official translations if not in English

n Letters

of recommendation (three recommended, only two required for MSFS)

n The

combined Supplemental Data Sheet and Foreign Language Proficiency form

n Standardized

Test Scores

• Applicants with a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education where English is the language of instruction must submit either the GRE or GMAT. The one exception to this rule is for Georgetown MSFS/JD applicants, who may submit the LSAT in lieu of the GRE or GMAT. • Applicants who do not have a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education where English is the language of instruction must submit the TOEFL (minimum internet-based score 100) or IELTS (minimum score 7.0). Note: MSFS is a full-time program with only fall admission. We do not offer a Ph.D.

n Contributing

to a study on Guatemalan rural development

n Drafting

a proposal for a non-profit organization project to assist NGOs and civil society in Macedonia

n Evaluating

the financial and business viability of an airport in Central America and an office building in the West Bank for OPIC

n Writing

and coordinating production of television programs at the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs office in Indonesia

n Preparing

a study for the Asian Development Bank on the role of asset management and resolution companies in bank restructuring and enterprise privatization

Visit http://msfs.georgetown.edu/admissions/ to learn more about how to make your application competitive, schedule a campus visit or RSVP for a recruiting event in your area.

24% non profit

2009 Employment by Sector and Organization 39% public

37% private

The following list is a summary of all reported employment locations of 2009 MSFS graduates. In many cases, more than one graduate is employed at a listed organization. Information on specific departments, programs and geographic locations has been noted when provided by the reporting alumni.

Canadian Embassy (Beijing, China)

U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration

Government of Japan – Ministry of Defense (Tokyo, Japan)

U.S. Senate Finance Committee (Washington, DC)

Government of Liberia – Office of the President (Monrovia, Liberia)

World Bank (Port-au-Prince, Haiti)

Public Sector

Non Profit Sector Center for Clean Air Policy (Washington, DC) Center for Strategic and International Studies (Washington, DC)

World Bank (Washington, DC)

Center for Strategic and International Studies – Energy and Security Program

Private Sector

Friederich Ebert Stiftung Foundation

Government of Norway – Foreign Service (Oslo, Norway)

ASET International Services (Arlington, VA)

Georgetown University Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship

Government of Sweden – FOI Swedish Defense Research Agency (Stockholm, Sweden)

Booz Allen Hamilton (McLean, VA)

Government of Lithuania – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Vilnius, Lithuania)

Government of Turkey – Ministry of Trade Inter-American Development Bank International Finance Corporation – World Bank Millennium Challenge Corporation (Washington, DC)

APCO Worldwide (Washington, DC) Castalia (Washington, DC) CENTRA Technology (Arlington, VA) Citigroup (New York, NY) DAI – Afghanistan Small and Medium Enterprise Project (Kabul, Afghanistan) Deloitte Consulting (Washington, DC) Dual Citizen (Founder)

National Defense University (Washington, DC)

Emerging Market Partnership (EMP) Latin America (Washington, DC)

New York State Government (New York, NY)

Frontier Strategy Group (Washington, DC)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Washington, DC)

Good Harbor Consulting (Arlington, VA)

U.S. Department of Energy

Kirkland and Ellis (London, UK)

U.S. Department of Energy – Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Washington, DC)

Goldman Sachs (New York, NY) ITR LLC McKellar Corporation (Washington, DC) MergeGlobal

U.S. Department of State – Foreign Service

Mizuho Corporate Bank

U.S. Department of the Treasury (Washington, DC)

SAIC (Washington, DC)

U.S. Government Accountability Office (Washington, DC)

TechOp Solutions

U.S. Institute for Peace (Washington, DC)

The Crumpton Group (Washington, DC)

SolFocus TENNIS S.A. (Medellín, Colombia)

International Foundation for Electoral Systems (Washington, DC) Liberty House (Los Angeles, CA) Microfinance Information Exchange (Washington, DC) The Carter Center The Henry L. Stimson Center (Washington, DC) The National Endowment for Democracy (Washington, DC) The Project on Middle East Democracy (Washington, DC) The Tribal Liaison Office – Afghanistan (Kabul, Afghanistan) U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Foundation (Washington, DC) Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Washington, DC) World Vision (Washington, DC) For more detailed information on where our students are interning and working, as well as the Career Development tools we offer to help them get there, visit http://msfs.georgetown.edu/careers/. Please also visit the SFS Career Development Center’s website at: http://sfs.georgetown.edu/careers/graduate/.