M.A./J.D. program with the Georgetown University Law Center

J.D./M.A. in Security Studies degree candidates must satisfactorily complete course requirements for both the J.D. and M.A. degrees.  In addition to the J.D. and M.A. degrees, a Joint Program Certificate will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the program.  Students in the joint degree program undertake a four-year course of study comprising a minimum of 109 academic credits (79 Law Center credits and 30 Security Studies credits).  Six credits from the Law Center will satisfy Security Studies degree requirements and six credits of SSP course work will satisfy J.D. requirements.

Curriculum Outline

  • 24 credits of Security Studies course work taken in the first year of the joint program, including completion of all core courses for the program.  Students will also be responsible for completing most of the M.A. requirements in this first year, specifically:
    • Theory and Practice of Security (SEST-500);
    • Grand Strategies and Military Operations (SEST-501);
    • Analytical Methods for Security (SEST-502);
    • The core course in the chosen area of concentration;

  • 31 credits of the required first-year law curriculum (taken in the second year of the joint program);

  • 32 credits in further law courses including Professional Responsibility and the legal writing requirement (distributed among the third and fourth years);

  • 16 credits in international law courses including three credits in International Law I and 13 credits in further international law courses, at least three of which need to be in international/national security law;

  • Thesis Seminar (SEST-700) taken in the third, and/or fourth years;

  • Passage of a four-hour comprehensive exam to be taken in the summer after the student's first year in the J.D./M.A. in Security Studies program or in the final semester of the M.A. in Security Studies program;

  • Residency requirement;

  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for the Law Center and a 3.0 for the M.A. in Security Studies.