Core Curriculum

The School of Foreign Service's interdisciplinary core curriculum consists of the following requirements:

I.   One Proseminar (INAF 100) (Waived for Transfer Students)

Every first year student in the SFS takes a proseminar during the fall semester. Proseminars are small interdisciplinary courses designed to train students in the academic reading and writing skills necessary for success in the SFS program. Each proseminar is limited to 15 students in order to promote intensive interaction and camaraderie among students and professors. The structure and format of the course encourages students to explore new ideas and to develop critical approaches to the study of global issues. The proseminars offer some of Georgetown’s finest professors the opportunity to teach and serve as mentors to first year students.

Note for transfer students: Students who transfer to the SFS are asked to take another course in place of the proseminar to meet the 40-course requirement for graduation.

II.  Two Philosophy courses

1. Political & Social Thought (PHIL 099) 
2. A second PHIL course numbered between 001-199 

  • All SFS students take Political & Social Thought during the first year. Students in the first half of the alphabet take the course in the fall semester and students in the second half of the alphabet take the course during the spring semester.

  • SFS students should not take GOVT 080 Elements of Political Theory. First year students complete this material in PHIL 099.

Notes for transfer students: External transfer students take Political & Social Thought during the fall semester. Internal transfer students take Political & Social Thought during the spring semester. Students who completed Elements of Political Theory (GOVT 080) may not take PHIL 099 and should take one general philosophy course (PHIL 001-049, 150-199) and one ethics course (PHIL 050-149).

III.  Two Theology courses

1. The Problem of God (THEO 001) or Introduction to Biblical Literature (THEO 011)
2. A second THEO course 

IV.  Writing Requirement

1. Writing and Culture Seminar (WRIT 015)
 

  • This requirement may be completed with advanced credits. Students with AP scores of 4 or 5 on either English exam may receive credit for WRIT 015. Students with IB (HL) scores of 6 or 7 may receive credit for WRIT 015.

  • International students may apply the SFS English as a Foreign Language course (ENFL-114) towards WRIT-015.

V.    Humanities, Arts, Literature and Culture (HALC)

1. A course selected from the HALC list.

  • Students may select any English course between ENGL-100 - ENGL-299 or select a course from the approved list to complete the second Humanities & Writing requirement.

VI.  Two Government courses

1. Introduction to International Relations (GOVT 060)
2. Comparative Political Systems (GOVT 040) 
 

VII.  Three History courses

1. Introductory History - Choices: HIST-007 Intro Early History or HIST-008 Intro Modern History. 
2. Two courses from the the approved non-western regional history list.
3. Among the above three history courses, students must take at least one early history course and one modern history course.

  • The first history requirement may be completed with advanced credits. Students with AP scores of 4 or 5 on the European History or World History exam complete the requirement. Students with IB (HL) scores of 6 or 7 in European History also complete the first year history requirement.

  • Students must complete at least one early and one modern history course, among the three courses.

  • Students are encouraged, but not required, to take both regional histories in the same region.

  • International students may request permission from their dean to take US History (HIST 180 or 181) to complete the regional history requirements.

Courses that meet the Regional History requirements

VIII.  Four Economics courses

1. Microeconomic Principles (ECON 001)
2. Macroeconomic Principles (ECON 002)
3. International Trade (ECON 243)
4. International Finance (ECON 244) 

  • The first economics requirement may be completed with advanced credits. Students with an AP score of 5 on the Microeconomics exam complete the requirement. Students with IB (HL) scores of 6 or 7 also complete the requirement.

  • The second economics requirement may be completed with advanced credits. Students with an AP score of 5 on the Macroeconomics exam complete the requirement. Students with IB (HL) scores of 6 or 7 also complete the requirement.

  • The Economics Department and SFS jointly offer free tutoring to students taking ECON 001 and ECON 002.

IX.  Map of the Modern World (INAF 008)

  • All first year and transfer students take this one credit hour course, which explores the fundamental forces that shape physical geography and the effects of these forces on human history in each region of the world.

  • Students who fail Map of the Modern World must repeat the course until it is successfully completed. Students who fail the course will be placed on academic probation. Students should note that Map is only offered during the spring semester.

  • Map is a pass/fail course and does not impact cumulative GPA.

X.  Proficiency in a Modern Foreign Language

Students may track their progress towards their degree using the online degree audit.