Overview

Students majoring in Foreign Service - Regional and Comparative Studies program from Georgetown University report that the major allows you to:

• Specialize on a region(s) of the world
• Develop a specific topic of interest to study
• Design your own course of study with relevant classes across multiple disciplines
• Learn and use a language(s) in your chosen region(s)
• Study abroad as an integral part of your studies and receive major credit for courses
• Complement your regional interests with a topical certificate program
• Join a small community of like-minded students and participate in workshops and alumni events

Goals of the Major

Regional and Comparative Studies students develop the insight, knowledge and skills needed to deal effectively with far-reaching challenges of the contemporary world. Given the largely self-defined nature of the major, students become responsible for their own education through grounding in core theory and methods courses and region-specific courses selected to explore a topic in greater depth. The theoretical component and rigorous curriculum provide students with tools that serve virtually any profession, whether in the region(s) studied, or elsewhere. The literacy in language(s) and the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural realities permits them to do specialized work. Graduates are prepared to enter careers in law, education, government, non-governmental organizations and business to meet the needs of a broadening global vision.

The Regional and Comparative Studies major is designed to provide students with deep knowledge of one or two regions of the world so that they understand issues that occur on the world stage. In Regional Studies students pursue a study of one region: Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Western Europe or the region comprising Russia, Eurasia and Eastern Europe. For Comparative Studies students pursue any two of these regions with the addition of the United States and the region comprising Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Students receive training in methods and theories, typically from two different disciplines, to gain analytical tools for a detailed study of the region(s). Drawing from the disciplines of anthropology, economics, government, history, international affairs, linguistics, sociology and theology, students build a comprehensive grounding in a self-identified theme within a region(s). Students also acquire necessary language skills appropriate to the region(s) by taking a minimum of four semesters of language or by passing proficiency.

In the Regional and Comparative Studies major students design their own curriculum with the support of the curricular dean and a faculty mentor. RCST students identify and explain a major theme in a region or regions and justify the value of its study. Students construct an intellectual argument and propose a course list to enable a comprehensive multi-disciplinary study of the selected theme. Through the mentoring of the curricular dean, the Faculty Field Chair and faculty, students receive guidance to undertake a meaningful study within a region(s).