georgetown university phd international relations

MAGES/Ph.D. in Government

CGES and the Department of Government offer a dual course of study leading to a MAGES/Ph.D. in Government. Within the Ph.D. program, students can choose from one of two tracks: Comparative Government or International Relations.

The curriculum includes a total of three years (63 credits) of course work drawn from the MAGES program and the Department of Government. This program is oriented towards students who wish to complement their disciplinary studies in Government with the interdisciplinary regional focus of the MAGES Program.

Candidates complete all requirements for both the Ph.D. in Government and the MAGES degree requirements with the following variations:

• MAGES free elective course work must be comprised of required courses from the Department of Government.
• Students must pass the MAGES second foreign language examination prior to taking departmental comprehensive examinations.

Application

Students who are interested in this program may either apply to both degree programs jointly, or may apply for the Ph.D. portion of the program during their first year of study in the MAGES program. Applicants to the joint MAGES/Ph.D. program must complete all application procedures and fulfill all entrance requirements for the MAGES program. Applicants must also submit a separate application packet for the Government program according to the guidelines set out by the Department of Government. Application requirements for the Government program can be found on the Department of Government website.

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J.D./Ph.D. in Government

Juris Doctor/Doctorate in Government (Master of Arts En Passant)

The J.D./Government program awards the Juris Doctor and a Doctorate in Government (with an M.A. en passant). The program allows students to specialize in American Government, International Relations, Comparative Government, or Political Theory. Students may enroll in the joint degree program on a full-time or part-time basis. Students in the joint degree program are required to take the first year of law school as an intact block. This first year at the Law Center may be taken prior to or after completing one year of Government coursework, but no earlier or later.

J.D./Ph.D. students must satisfactorily complete graduation requirements for both the J.D. degree and the Ph.D. degree. Separate diplomas will be awarded, and upon satisfactory completion of the program, a Joint Degree Certificate will be awarded as well. An M.A. degree is awarded en passant to students enrolled in the Ph.D. program upon completion of 48 academic credits and course distribution requirements in the Government program and at least 6 credits of upperclass J.D. coursework. A student in this joint degree program may receive his or her J.D. degree before the completion of the program, provided that the coursework for the J.D. degree has been completed and the student has completed 48 credits of Government coursework.

J.D./Government students must complete all required courses and the total number of academic credits for graduation (76 credits of Law Center courses and 48 credits in Government for the M.A. degree). Students must complete an additional 15 credits of Government coursework for a Ph.D. degree in the fields of Comparative Government, International Relations, or Political Theory. Alternatively, students interested in earning a Ph.D. degree in American Government must complete an additional 18 credits of Government coursework.

Nine credits of Government coursework will count towards the J.D. degree requirements, and approximately 21 credits of J.D. coursework will count towards the Ph.D. degree requirements. The program also requires a J.D./Government student to:

• perform satisfactorily on a written foreign language examination;
• submit a dissertation proposal;
• successfully complete and defend a dissertation in Government;
• successfully complete all degree requirements for the J.D. degree; and
• and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00/4.00 in their Government program and the required minimum cumulative grade point average for the J.D. program (see the Juris Doctor Program chapter of the Georgetown Law Student Handbook of Academic Policies).

Note: The Government program will waive the minor comprehensive exam requirement for J.D. students who earn a B+ or better in three law courses.

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J.D. ADMISSIONS INFO

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Title: Magazine: Georgetown First Worldwide for Graduate International Affairs Study

Foreign Policy magazine ranked Georgetown No. 1 in the world for graduate study in international relations for the fourth time.

“We are both proud and flattered that Georgetown University again ranks high among the schools to study international affairs,” says James Reardon-Anderson, School of Foreign Service interim dean, of

“We are both proud and flattered that Georgetown University again ranks high among the schools to study international affairs,” says James Reardon-Anderson, School of Foreign Service interim dean, of Foreign Policy magazine’s high rankings for the school’s programs.

Foreign Policy magazine has once again ranked Georgetown No. 1 in the world for graduate study and No. 4 for undergraduate programs in international affairs.

Georgetown also ranked first for its international affairs master’s degree programs in 2007, 2009 and 2012 in the magazine’s rankings.

The magazine cited Georgetown’s two-year master’s programs, which allow students to supplement coursework with mentorship from its prestigious faculty, as well as with professional internships in Washington, D.C., and abroad.

Service of Humanity

“We are both proud and flattered that Georgetown University again ranks high among the schools to study international affairs,” says James Reardon-Anderson, School of Foreign Service (SFS) interim dean.“This is a great credit to the students, faculty and staff of Georgetown and confirms the wisdom of our commitment to education for the service of humanity.”

The oldest school of its kind in the world, SFS is home to eight graduate programs spanning many issues and regions.

Thematic degrees include the Master of Science in Foreign Service, Master of Arts in Security Studies and Master of Global Human Development.

Regionally focused degrees span the globe, including separate Master of Arts degrees in: Asian Studies, Arab Studies, Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies, German and European Studies and Latin American Studies.

Rigorous Education

The SFS undergraduate program offers 1,500 students over four years the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS).

The program features an interdisciplinary liberal arts core curriculum that focuses on the study of international affairs.

Students undergo a rigorous education that includes courses in international affairs, government, economics, philosophy, theology, history, literature, language training and geography.

According to Foreign Policy , “the … survey offers a window into how America’s top IR (international relations) scholars see the world today – and which institutions are effectively nurturing future generations of thinkers and policymakers.”

Foreign Policy Wonks

A collaboration between Foreign Policy and the Teaching, Research, and the International Policy (TRIP) project at the College of William and Mary, the survey gathered responses from 1,615 international relations scholars drawn from 1,375 U.S. colleges and universities.

The survey also asked about trends in international affairs and which issues are the most important foreign policy issues to the United States today. Answers ranged from global climate change to armed conflict in the Middle East to China’s rising military power.

Foreign Policy noted that while there are debates about higher education, “scholars and policymakers alike rightly agree, however, that language skills, expertise about regions of the world, and other knowledge gleaned in the classroom make for a stronger, more effective corps of foreign-policy wonks.”

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Master's Programs

Where in the world will your talents, training, and contributions to our most pressing global issues take you? Graduates of the Elliott School of International Affairs are leading experts in business, security, diplomacy, public service, development, conflict resolution, public health, and other fields. 

We offer an array of interdisciplinary master’s degrees with many specializations, dual-degree and joint-degree options , as well as accelerated programs designed specifically for mid-career professionals. The Elliott School has deep roots and global recognition for excellence, scholarship, and prestige. You will be joining a school community of peers at the forefront of shaping the ever-changing international landscape. 

All of our master’s programs hold courses in the evenings, with the option to study full-time or part-time. Students in our accelerated Master of International Policy and Practice (MIPP) program and M.A. in Security Policy Studies program also have a 100% online program option. Whichever program you choose, you will find we have maximized the flexibility of our degrees for your priorities, interests, and career goals.

Explore our programs below and let us send you more information about the programs that could be a fit for your interests and goals.

Our Master’s Degrees in International Affairs at a Glance

Master of Arts in Asian Studies

Explore the major political, economic, and historical issues affecting Asian diplomacy, business, security, culture, and more. Focus your studies with thematic specializations, including Politics and Policy or Business and Development, and further refine your degree with one of eight professional specializations.

Learn more about M.A. Asian Studies

European & Eurasian Studies

Master of Arts in European and Eurasian Studies

Beginning in the fall of 2023, the Elliott School is no longer offering admission to the MA in European and Eurasian Studies.

Master of Arts in Global Communication

This master’s program has a dual emphasis on international affairs as well as communication and journalism. Pursue or advance your career in public, private, or non-profit sectors as you gain the skills to connect with audiences around the world.

Learn more about M.A. Global Communication

Master of Arts in International Affairs

Become a seasoned leader in the global issues that matter the most. This master’s program offers both a broad foundation for understanding pressing economic, social, political, and cultural issues, as well as at least one specialized area of knowledge expertise.

Learn more about M.A. International Affairs

Master of Arts in International Development Studies

Global development challenges for some of our most vulnerable populations are highly complex and this master’s program will equip you to engage with other leading innovators. The curriculum leverages a combination of field-based research, studies in cultural contexts and ethics, and innovative practices to develop your marketable skills and experience.

Learn more about M.A. International Development Studies

Master of Arts in International Economic Policy

Get the hard skills that will give you an advantage in the competitive fields of international business, development economics, international economics, and more with this master’s program designed for working professionals and students pursuing internships in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about M.A. International Economic Policy (MIEP)

International Science & Technology Policy

Master of Arts in International Science and Technology Policy

More than ever before, innovation and advances in science and technology have a global impact. The policies that govern these fields are drafted and revised by a handful of leaders, but they affect billions of individual lives. This master’s program will give you the skills, experience, and access to begin making your contribution at the forefront of these fields.

Learn more about M.A. International Science and Technology Policy

Latin American & Hemispheric Studies

Master of Arts in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies

Beginning in the fall of 2023, the Elliott School is no longer offering admission to the MA in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies.

Master of Arts in Middle East Studies

Renowned scholarship and critical policy research anchor this master’s program which produces leaders in business, security, diplomacy and public service, public health, conflict resolution, and related fields in the region. The interdisciplinary structure of this program will give you multiple perspectives on critical issues and accommodate a special academic focus or personal interest in your studies.

Learn more about M.A. Middle East Studies

Master of Arts in Security Policy Studies

How to respond to our most pressing 21st-century international security issues is at the heart of this policy-focused master’s program. You will explore challenges and ways to address threats from terrorism and criminal networks, weapons proliferation, cyber threats, climate change, health pandemics, and more as you develop specialized knowledge to help you advance in your career. This program can be completed online or on-campus.

Learn more about M.A. Security Policy Studies

International Policy & Practice

Master of International Policy and Practice

Designed for mid-career professionals, this 27-hour, accelerated master’s program focuses on cultivating your skills for data analysis, strategic design, and leadership. The program can be completed online or on-campus, and there are short-term study abroad opportunities to enhance the practical real-world application design of this program’s curriculum.

Learn more about MIPP

International Studies

Master of International Studies

This master’s program recruits participants exclusively from alumni of Elliott School international partner institutions. It offers a unique and prestigious opportunity for studying the key theories and practical applications of today’s most salient economic, social, political, and cultural issues in the global arena. The program brings together scholars of established excellence in a spirit of international collaboration at the center of U.S. policy and governance decision making in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about International Studies (MIS)

Combined Bachelor's/ Master's Degrees

Combined Bachelor's/Master's Program

This accelerated program allows Elliott School undergraduates to work towards a bachelor's and master's degree at the same time. It offers the opportunity to save time and money while jump-starting a career in international affairs.

Learn more about the combined degree programs

Joint & Dual Degrees

Joint and Dual Degree Programs

The Elliott School of International Affairs offers two Joint-Degree programs: a Master of Arts and a Juris Doctor in cooperation with the Law School and a Master of Arts and a Master of Business Administration in cooperation with the School of Business.

Learn more about the joint-degree programs

Students interested in doctoral studies in international relations are encouraged to apply to a PhD program through the GW Department of Political Science .

Get Detailed Information and Program Comparisons for Your Interests

Interested in learning more about program offerings at the Elliott School? Create a Customviewbook to find the program that is right for you.

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• Global Experience

Undergraduate Student Global Resources

Study Abroad Guidance

• View general information for prospective study abroad students .
• Direct Matriculation Programs Leading to SFS Language Proficiency .
• View information for current study abroad students on course loads and returning to Georgetown .
• All GU based language study abroad programs

Short-Term Global Experiences

Week in spring.

• Centennial Labs are SFS classes built around an issue, idea, problem, or challenge in a real community. They are both cross-curricular and experiential at the core. Students work with one or more professors across disciplines to learn the theory critical to understanding the situation. They develop practical approaches or solutions within the “lab”; and share it with the community beyond the classroom.
• The Alternative Breaks Program (ABP) brings together Georgetown community members in order to foster intersectional solidarity and inspire lasting commitments to service and social justice. ABP trips engage with diverse and vibrant communities through direct service, immersion, and reflection in a substance-free environment. By creating a space for sustained dialogue and action, ABP strives to build long-term relationships with community partners and bring the experience home.
• Led by the African Studies program since 2011, this week-long alternative spring break program for graduate and undergraduate students includes visits with government, firms, and development organizations. Since 2017,  the program has been held in Nairobi, Kenya. Students study one of Africa’s most dynamic political economies, which boasts major innovations in health, decentralization, mobile technology, and business, but still faces entrenched development challenges.
• Explore the world, meet new friends, and hone your language skills at summer term programs offered by the Office of Global Education. Take courses at global universities and educational institutions alongside fellow Georgetown students.
• Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business is proud to partner with the Escuela Superior de Administracion y Direccion de Empresas (ESADE), one of the world’s top business schools, located in San Cugat, in the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain. During this four-week program, students complete two courses: Business and Government Relations and Marketing Across Borders, taught by expert lecturers; students also visit cultural sites and local businesses to complement their coursework.
• For the past 40 years, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business has partnered with Oxford University to enable undergraduate students to further their global awareness and international experience with summer study in the United Kingdom. Conducted over five weeks, the Comparative Strategic Management Program compares business functions in Great Britain, Western Europe, and the United States. Participation in this program also enables students to benefit from Oxford’s traditional tutorial pedagogy. In addition, students experience Oxford’s High Table tradition and make frequent visits to leading British firms to experience global business and intercultural exchange in Great Britain. 
• In the Development Challenges in Tanzania internship program, you will study the complexities of current challenges and approaches to community-driven development, while testing and applying new knowledge in a part-time internship with a local community-based organization. The internship will be paired with a seminar consisting of readings, reflection assignments, and weekly discussion meetings, with a GU faculty member and other students to deepen your understanding of how your internship site addresses the challenges of sustainable development.

Long-Term Global Experiences

• Semester and Year-Long Study Abroad
• The Office of Global Education offers more than 100 different semester and year-long study abroad opportunities spanning countries all around the world. Browse the catalog to determine which locations and language options may be of interest.
• Successful completion of one of these semester or year-long (or otherwise specifically noted) direct matriculation study abroad programs will automatically fulfill the BSFS Foreign Language proficiency degree requirement. These classes are conducted in a language native to the country and are the same classes offered to degree seeking candidates at that university. Successful completion means a student has completed the full-time course load designated for the program and passed each course enrolled. Programs are offered to satisfy French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish proficiency.
• Direct-enrollment programs allow you to study at a university abroad, taking courses alongside non-Georgetown students and offering the experience of learning from a different country’s higher education system.
• The BSFS Summer Awards (app link is active between February and mid-April) provides undergraduate students who have secured unpaid/minimum wage or very low-paid professional development experiences with summer funding assistance (unpaid internships, thesis or capstone research, non-GU language training, study abroad, service-learning or volunteering, other academic or professional development opportunities). Award amounts are up to $3000, and funding is limited. All applications will be reviewed by an Undergraduate Dean’s Office selection committee. The committee will be evaluating each student’s application and materials, paying close attention to a student’s ability to demonstrate how this experience adds value to their professional or academic goals. Students are only eligible to be awarded once during their BSFS academic career and cannot be graduating seniors. SFS-Q students: please apply for funding here.
• The Mortara Undergraduate Research Fellowship is a four-year research apprenticeship program. Five to six first-year School of Foreign Service (SFS) undergraduate students are selected in the spring semester and paired with a faculty mentor to gain hands-on experience as a research assistant working on advanced research methods and projects. By supporting faculty research initiatives, fellows gain the necessary skills to carry-out their own independent research in their junior and senior years.
• The mission of the Paul F. Pelosi Scholars Initiative (PSI) is to provide exceptional SFS sophomores and juniors with the professional skill set, network of practitioners/scholars and hands-on experience to prepare them to serve the public in their post-graduate careers. Students who are selected as Paul F. Pelosi Scholars are guided by a deep commitment to serving others, not simply “steering” public institutions on others’ behalf, and to promoting both effective governance and the wise stewardship of resources for the common good.
• Undergraduate students (BSFS) in the School of Foreign Service (SFS) are eligible to apply for funding support for Georgetown related academic research projects, conferences, and programming related to GU events in support of the SFS mission.

Georgetown University

• Undergraduate students at Georgetown design their own grassroots projects anywhere in the world to promote peace and address the root causes of conflict among parties. Applicants are encouraged to use their creativity to design projects that employ innovative techniques for engaging participants in ways that focus on conflict transformation, reconciliation, building understanding and breaking down barriers which cause conflict. The goal of the projects should focus on transforming conflict and sustaining peace.
• Through the David F. Andretta, MD, Explorer Fund, a rising senior is awarded $5,000 to conduct research on a social justice research issue anywhere in the world during the summer. The fellowship is awarded annually to a Georgetown University junior who seeks to spend the summer before senior year exploring an aspect of the world through an academic research project. The applicant must find a faculty sponsor who is willing both to critique and recommend the project prior to the application’s filing and to review and approve the project upon its completion.
• Students can apply for two different grants sponsored by the Doyle Program. Individual students can apply for a Doyle Engagement Grant to support conference attendance or research projects. Campus organizations can receive funding for events through a Doyle Innovation Grant . 
• Doyle Engagement Grants: Students seeking support for conference attendance or research projects at the intersection of religion, global affairs, and engaging difference can apply for a Doyle Engagement Grant. 
• Doyle Innovation Grants: Campus organizations seeking to host an event featuring religion and engaging difference can apply for a Doyle Innovation Grant. Any recognized campus organization on the Main Campus or in the Law or Medical Centers can apply. 
• Undergraduate student research fellows spend three weeks of summer conducting interviews on best practices at the intersection of education and social justice. Local hosts are Jesuit-led institutions doing innovative educational work in support of under-resourced communities. During the preceding spring, fellows are supported in their submission of an IRB application, train in interview techniques, and prepare for field-based research in their specific sites. During three weeks of summer fieldwork, fellows conduct between 12-20 interviews. In the fall semester, after completing data collection, fellows create an online report of their findings. They present their research in a public forum and their final reports are digitally published.
• Each year Georgetown University awards several hundred need-based scholarships to eligible undergraduates. Individual awards range in value from $1,000 to more than $60,000 per year, depending on the student’s financial need. In addition to small loan and work-study awards, these scholarships meet 100% of eligible undergraduates’ demonstrated financial need.
• The Center for Research and Fellowships (CRF) offers several independent international opportunities, through which students complete research projects domestically or abroad, mostly during summer.
• gui2de engages students in rigorous research, analysis and evaluation during term time as research assistants, as well as outside of term time in the field. Students involved in fieldwork undertake a variety of different tasks from troubleshooting issues between the office and the field, designing surveys, training enumerators, providing logistical support to field teams, and working with local partners to implement our projects. 
• The Lisa J. Raines Fellowship funds undergraduate students to conduct independent summer research projects in any discipline. Fellows meet weekly with program colleagues and advisors for a one-hour seminar to – for example – meet with faculty experts, discuss research generally, and give updates on their own work. Each year, the Raines Fellowship organizes around a theme.
• The SIPS Fund is a commitment by Georgetown University to invest in innovative ventures that have a social impact and serve the public good. It is housed in the Center for Social Justice. Inspired by the Jesuit tradition of service for and with others, SIPS allocates approximately $60,000 in award money every year to support students and alumni developing their own social ventures.
• The Raymond Dinsmore Fellowship by the Circumnavigators Foundation is for a student to undertake a round-the-world research project during the summer. For more information on this fellowship, look for announcements in The Globe. Info sessions generally take place in early fall (September) and proposals are generally due in mid-October. 
• The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program partners with universities and nonprofits around the globe to provide cohorts of U.S. students an opportunity to study the language and culture in a country/location where the target language is commonly spoken. 
• GCSP’s Global Fellowship Initiative brings together multi-disciplinary, multicultural and multi-generational experts and practitioners that seek to develop sustainable solutions for a more peaceful future. Young Leaders participate in a 3-month residency at the GCSP, assist with GSCP projects, and explore diverse opportunities in the heart of international Geneva.

Ph.D. Arabic & Islamic Studies

The Ph.D. Program in Arabic and Islamic Studies offer advanced training in the disciplines of Arabic Linguistics, Arabic Literature (Modern and Classical), and Islamic Studies (Intellectual History, Theology, Law) with an emphasis on the close reading and interpretation of primary sources, whether linguistic or textual, modern or classical.

The department strives to educate students in current theoretical, critical and cultural scholarly approaches as tools to explore and analyze primary sources and linguistic data and to evaluate and challenge secondary scholarship. In forming the new generation of research scholars in our fields, we strive to give them the linguistic and critical tools necessary for original and creative scholarship. Our Ph.D. students typically go on to academic careers, often beginning with post-doctoral fellowships, with tenure-track university appointments or in other research institutions.

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 administered by the department. 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. Students must pass the Arabic proficiency exam by the end of August of their first 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 the degree credits. Students who desire ACTFL proficiency certification should make arrangements with the department.

Students already enrolled in the master’s program at Georgetown must apply again if they are interested in joining the Ph.D. program; these students are not guaranteed admission, and will be considered by the admissions committee along with other applicants from outside the department.

For more details on the Ph.D. program, please see the  Graduate Handbook.

To apply, please visit the Graduate School  admissions website.

College of Arts & Sciences

Meet Our Faculty and Staff

Elton Skendaj

Assistant Teaching Professor Director, Democracy and Governance Program

Bryson Daniels

Assistant Director, Democracy & Governance Program

Affiliated Faculty

Daniel Brumberg

Associate Professor

Jeffrey Fischer

Adjunct Lecturer Senior Fellow

Daniel Grant

Adjunct Lecturer

Brian Joseph

Barbara Nunberg

Alysson Oakley

Patrick Quirk

Meir Walters

Adjunct Lecturer – Department of Government

Title: Congratulations to the 2024 Lepgold Book Prize Winner – Rochelle Terman

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Lepgold Prize winner has been selected! The winner is Dr. Rochelle Terman, assistant professor in the University of Chicago’s Department of Political Science, for her book The Geopolitics of Shaming: When Human Rights Pressure Works—and When It Backfires (Princeton University Press, 2023). This year, Georgetown professors Dr. Kathleen McNamara and Dr. Andrew Bennett chaired the Lepgold committee, calling Terman’s book “the best book on international relations published in 2023.” Dr. Terman will deliver a lecture and accept her award at the Mortara Center on Thursday, November 7th, 2024 (time TBA).

About the Book

When a government violates the rights of its citizens, the international community can respond by exerting moral pressure and urging reform. Yet many of the most egregious violations appear to go unpunished. In many cases, shaming not only fails to induce compliance but also incites a backlash, provoking resistance and worsening human rights practices. The Geopolitics of Shaming presents a new theory on the strategic logic of international human rights enforcement, revealing why and how states punish violations in other countries, when shaming leads to an improvement in human rights conditions, and when it backfires.

Drawing on a wide range of evidence—from large-scale cross-national data to original survey experiments and detailed case studies—Rochelle Terman shows how human rights shaming is a deeply political process, one that operates in and through strategic relationships. Arguing that preexisting geopolitical relationships condition both the causes and consequences of shaming in world politics, she shows how adversaries are quick to condemn human rights abuses but often provoke a counterproductive response, while friends and allies are the most effective shamers but can be reluctant to impose meaningful sanctions.

Upending conventional wisdom on the role of norms in world affairs, The Geopolitics of Shaming demonstrates that politicization is integral to—not a corruption of—the success of the global human rights project.

About the Author

Rochelle Terman is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago. She specializes in international norms and human rights. Her first book, The Geopolitics of Shaming: When Human Rights Pressure Works—and When It Backfires, was published in 2023 with Princeton University Press. Terman has also produced work on gender, Islamophobia, and computational social science. She is currently a faculty affiliate with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the Center for the Study of Gender & Sexuality, the Committee on International Relations, and the Program on Computational Social Science.

Terman earned her B.A. from the University of Chicago, and Ph.D. in Political Science with a designated emphasis in Gender & Women’s Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. She joins the University of Chicago from Stanford University, where she was a post-doc at the Center for International Security and Cooperation.

About the Lepgold Prize

The Georgetown University Lepgold Book Prize honors Joseph S. Lepgold, a Georgetown University Government and School of Foreign Service professor who died in a tragic hotel fire in Paris in December 2001. The prize honors exceptional contributions to the study of international relations, with particular emphasis on the resolution of critical policy challenges, published each calendar year.

The prize awards $1,000 to the author of the best book in international relations, broadly conceived, each year. To receive the award, the winning author agrees to give a lecture on his or her scholarship at the Mortara Center.

MURFs on the Map: Spotlight on the 2024 Mortara Undergraduate Research Fellows

We are excited to introduce the 2024 cohort of Mortara Undergraduate Research Fellows (MURFs) at Georgetown University. These exceptional students are making significant strides in their fields and contributing to…

Call for Nominations: 2024 Lepgold Book Prize

The annual Georgetown University Lepgold Book Prize recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of international relations. The prize is named in honor of Joseph S. Lepgold, a Georgetown…

MURF Symposium: Closing the 2023-2024 Academic Year

As the program assistant for the Mortara Undergraduate Research Fellows (MURF), I recently had the privilege of witnessing the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and passion at our…

Patrick Healy Graduate Fellowship

Named in honor of Georgetown University’s 28th President, Patrick Healy, the first African American to earn a doctorate degree, and the first African American President of Georgetown University (1874–1882), the Patrick Healy Graduate Fellowship is intended to further Georgetown’s commitment to creating a diverse community composed of the most qualified students. The program is designed to help recruit and retain graduate students who are talented individuals of the highest caliber and who might otherwise find it difficult or impossible to successfully pursue a doctoral degree. The Graduate School is committed to training future faculty, researchers and leaders with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and ideas who will enrich critical thinking, generate new areas of inquiry, and advance knowledge across all disciplines. Diversity is a crucial element in preparing students for the service of others. Healy Fellowships will be awarded to students whose individual life experiences, when evaluated holistically, suggests they are uniquely able to contribute to the diversity of perspectives and ideas at Georgetown University and in the academic profession as a whole. Support will be provided to Patrick Healy Fellows for twelve months per year, for up to five years, assuming satisfactory progress toward the Ph.D.

Nomination Information

Faculty may submit nomination statements of no longer than two (2) pages to the Fellowship Committee. The deadline for submission of nominations for Fall 2024 is  12:00 noon (EST) on Friday, February 23, 2024 . Nominated students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, entering their first year of a Ph.D. program. While the first year is a service-free year for all fellows, the students must be eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of admission and throughout their time at Georgetown. The nomination statement must include a description of how the student’s individual life experiences can contribute to the diversity of perspectives and ideas at Georgetown; and a paragraph on how the department plans to mentor and support the student if selected. If submitting multiple nominees, departments should rank them. Healy Fellowships are awarded to students on the basis of their individual life experiences and how the student intends to employ the skills, perspectives, ideas, and other attributes they have developed as a result of their experiences to better the University and the academic profession. Students’ educational, familial, cultural, economic, social, and other life experiences are considered holistically in making awards to those who best demonstrate their ability to overcome significant disadvantages, as well as their commitment to supporting diversity and cultural understanding. Georgetown is committed to inclusiveness and nondiscrimination. The Healy Fellowship is awarded to eligible students without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran, or other protected status.. To be considered, nominations must be submitted via the  Healy Fellowship Nomination Form  by the deadline. The Healy Fellowship is designed to be a prestigious award, given to the best students that meet the fellowship criteria. As such,  programs must commit to funding the nominee with a   standard stipend package if a Healy Fellowship is not awarded. For more information about the Patrick Healy Graduate Fellowship, please contact Elizabeth George ([email protected]) at the Graduate School.

Healy Fellows

Discover the doctoral programs of our incoming, current and former Healy Graduate Fellows and get to know them.

2024-25 Incoming Fellows

Patrick Grey

Program: History

Claire Hazbun

Program: Government

Erykah Pasha

Alexander Rodriguez

Mary Ruxsarash

Program: Chemistry

Gabbi Williams

Program: Pharmacology & Physiology

Current & Former Fellows

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