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A. General Program of Study
The graduate programs in Arabic and Islamic Studies aim to combine a thorough understanding of the Arabic language with scholarly research in the literary, linguistic and intellectual traditions of the Arab and Islamic world. The Arabic and Islamic Studies Department offers graduate level courses in Arabic Linguistics, Islamic Studies, and Arabic Literature of the classical and modern eras. M.A. students will complete one major concentration and one minor concentration towards the degree. Similarly, Ph.D. students will complete one major concentration and one minor concentration towards the degree.
B. Language Requirements
Entering students are required to have Arabic language competence equivalent to at least that attained by the end of the third year of intensive language study in the undergraduate program at Georgetown University. In the first week of their first academic year, students who are non- native Arabic speakers are required to take an Arabic language exam. Students who fail this exam are required to be enrolled in advanced Arabic classes, and to take the exam again at the end of the fall semester. If they still do not score satisfactorily, they have until the end of the spring semester to successfully retake the exam. A retake proficiency exam consists of a 3-hours translation of two texts (one modern and one classical) with a dictionary. The objective is quality translation of each text as much as possible, rather than quantity. Students must pass the exam by the start of their second academic year if they are to continue in the program. Arabic language courses taken to enable students to reach the required proficiency level do not count towards degree credits.
Students who desire ACTFL proficiency certification should make arrangements with the department.
C. Admissions Requirements
Obtain an online application form at:
https://www.georgetown.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/
The application requirements checklist is detailed at:
https://grad.georgetown.edu/admissions/application-procedures/#checklist
For detailed Admission requirements, see the Graduate School website:
https://grad.georgetown.edu/arabic-and-islamic-studies/
The Graduate School telephone number is: 202-687-5974.
E-mail: gradstudentservices@georgetown.edu
In addition to advanced proficiency in Arabic, admission application requirements include:
1. A completed Graduate School application form.
2. A non-refundable application fee.
3. A statement of purpose in English of approximately 500 words.
4. Official transcripts of the applicant’s academic record.
5. Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be from professors who have taught the applicant.
6. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score.
7. For non-native speakers of English, a TOEFL score of at least 620 (260 for the computer-based test or 105 for the internet-based test), or the IELTS test with a score of at least 7.5.
8. Writing Sample: a 10-20 page, scholarly essay, preferably on a topic related to the applicant’s field of study.
D. GRE scores
Results of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) not longer required for the Fall of 2023. The student may chooses to submit the GRE. There is no minimum required score on the GRE. Test scores must be received by the application deadline date. Applicants should allow six to eight weeks from the test date for the reporting of scores to the institution. Applications will not be considered without GRE scores. Information on registering to take the GRE can be found at: http://www.ets.org/gre/. THE GRE REQUIREMENT IS WAIVED FOR THE FALL 2021 AND FALL 2022 APPLICATION CYCLES.
E. English Language Writing Test
Non-native speakers of English, if admitted to the program, are required to take an on- campus English Language Screening Test before they register for their first semester of studies at Georgetown. This is usually administered on the morning of the first day of registration. On the basis of the test, the Division of English as a Foreign Language will recommend appropriate courses, if required. Graduate students with a TOEFL score of 620 or above are exempt from this requirement.
F. Financial Aid: Assistantships, Fellowships, and Scholarships
The Department provides several types of merit-based financial aid to graduate students:
Five-year, full scholarship and stipend for Ph.D. students: a yearly stipend, full tuition support for 9 credits per semester; and health insurance. Students on stipend are required to work up to 15 hours per week, for 4 of their first 5 years, usually as a Teaching Assistant to a faculty member teaching a first-year or second-year intensive Arabic course. A fifth-year stipend without a service obligation is intended to support research towards dissertation and, hence, cannot be granted prior to successfully passing the comprehensive examination requirements.
Scholarships: Depending on the availability of funding, the Department may offer a small number of tuition scholarships only. Such financial aid is based on an annual competition.
FLAS Fellowships: Eligible students may apply for summer and/or year-long Graduate Fellowships for Foreign Language and Area or International Studies (FLAS), which provide a stipend of $15,000 and full tuition support for the study of Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. For application material and instructions, see https://nrcme.georgetown.edu/flas For more detailed information concerning financial aid, including need-based aid, please consult the “Financial Support” section of the web site of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: https://grad.georgetown.edu/financial-support/
G. Application deadlines
Candidate applications, and all supporting documentation, are due by January 15.
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