Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies

Accelerated Program

Candidates entering with a Bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree in an unrelated field of study may apply for an accelerated program and are expected to complete 54 credits/18 graduate courses including ten in the major and five in each of two minors. Candidates should consult their graduate advisers to formulate their specific program of study, which should fulfill the requirements below.

COURSE Requirements:

1. Two Gateway Courses:

According to their major and minor concentrations, students will also take one of the following seminars that consider the latest scholarship in each field, along with foundational disciplinary scholarship. These seminars will be taught in yearly rotation.

Students who have taken these or equivalent courses may replace them with history or religion courses from the relevant core list, pending approval of the DGS.

2. At least 7 additional courses in one of the 3 major concentrations catalogued on the Arabic and Islamic Studies core lists. (See appendix for a list of courses classified by field, and consult website for current courses.)

3. At least 9 additional courses in two other concentrations. This may also be satisfied by 4 or more courses in each of two minor concentrations, or 4 or more other courses in a minor concentration, combined with no more than 4 courses in a related supplementary field.

DISTRIBUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

* At least four of the above courses must be in the classical period and four in the modern. 
* Courses must include at least 4 advanced Arabic seminars; these seminars must include readings and research using primary Arabic sources.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTs

In addition to English, Ph.D. students must also have reading proficiency in at least one other European language that is relevant to their research. 

Students majoring in Islamic Studies must also achieve reading proficiency in at least one other Islamicate language at the intermediate level, demonstrated by taking two years of language instruction in Georgetown University’s intensive language program or taking an exam at the equivalent level. The primary recommended languages are Turkish and Persian. Depending on research interests of the student, and after departmental approval, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac or Urdu may qualify as relevant Islamic languages.

For these purposes, reading proficiency is defined as equivalent to two years of Georgetown University’s intensive undergraduate language program. Students who have not achieved reading proficiency before entering the department must enroll in the appropriate language program from their first semester. Language proficiency and competence will be determined by examination. The European language exam is administered by the appropriate department.

All language requirements must be completed before students take their comprehensive exams.

TIME TO THE DEGREE

Students must be in residence for a minimum of three years (for advanced standing students) or four years (for the accelerated Ph.D. program), and should take courses for a minimum of two years. In accordance with the Graduate School regulations, advanced-standing doctoral students with a previously granted Master’s degree will be permitted five years to complete the degree requirements and to graduate. Students admitted to the accelerated Master’s/Ph.D. program are allowed seven years to complete all degree requirements. Students who do not satisfy all degree requirements within these time limits may be terminated by the department. Under special circumstances, students may petition the department for an extension, but the maximum number of years may not exceed seven years for advanced standing students and ten for accelerated students.