Master of Science in Foreign Service

Language Proficiency

Proficiency in English and at least one other language is essential for a successful career in international affairs and thus a requirement for graduation from the MSFS program. The MSFS program assesses language proficiency in the following ways:

Admissions

Applicants to the MSFS program are judged in part on their proficiency in English and one other language. For further details on language requirements for admission to the MSFS program, visit our frequently asked questions page.

Language Placement Exam

During orientation, each entering MSFS student takes a placement exam in his or her second language. Students whose native language is not English must declare English as their second language and take the English Language Placement Exam. Students whose native language is English take the appropriate Foreign Language Placement Exam. Placement exams are currently offered in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Modern Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish and are administered by the appropriate language department of Georgetown University. Students wishing to demonstrate proficiently in a language not currently listed should discuss this with the MSFS associate director after the Add/Drop period. The results of the Language Placement Exam, which are posted on the first day of class, indicate whether the student needs additional language training or may proceed directly to the Oral Language Proficiency Exam.

Language Courses

Students who are advised to take English or other foreign language course(s) before proceeding to the Language Proficiency Exam should enroll for an additional (fifth) course during their first semester. Language courses taken prior to passing the Language Proficiency Exam must be taken for a letter grade -- not audited or taken on a pass/fail basis. Students who do not pass the Language Proficiency Exam by the end of their first year may take additional language courses during the summer at their own expense. After passing the Language Proficiency Exam, a student may enroll in language course(s) on a pass/fail basis. Language courses do not count for course credit toward the MSFS degree; grades received in language courses do not count in determining the student's grade point average (GPA); full-time students do not pay additional tuition for language courses.

Oral Language Proficiency Exam

At the appropriate time, either immediately after completing the Language Placement Exam or after taking one or more language courses, each MSFS student must pass an Oral Language Proficiency Exam in his or her second language with a grade of "good" or better. The responsibility for scheduling, administering, and judging the Oral Language Proficiency Exam rests with the appropriate language departments. MSFS students are notified of the schedule and contact information for the exam, but it is the responsibility of the student to contact the approriate language department, obtain relevant information regarding the content and procedure of the exam, and schedule a time for his or her exam. The language departments normally require advanced registration for the Oral Language Proficiency Exam and charge fees to students who must reschedule or retake an exam due to absence or failure.

Language Departments

All language examinations and courses are administered by the appropriate language departments.

MSFS notifies students of the results of the Oral Language Proficiency Exam upon receiving notice from the language department(s). Proof of language proficiency must be submitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by the deadline for completion of requirements for graduation. MSFS strongly encourages all students to take and pass the Oral Language Proficiency Exam as soon as possible after enrolling in the Program.