Language Requirement

Students must have at least one year of university level language training in an Asian language with a grade of B or above in order to enter the program. Students must demonstrate proficiency in an Asian language at the completion of the program through one of the following options:

• Obtain a grade of B+ or higher in an advanced language course equivalent to third year at Georgetown or a comparable language program during their time in the M.A. in Asian Studies Program; or
• Obtain a grade of proficiency in U.S. Government or equivalent language testing while a graduate student at Georgetown; or
• Pass a proficiency test at Georgetown University; or
• Successful completion of other testing approved by the Director of Asian Studies and the Chair of the Department of East Asian Languages and Culture.

Upon arrival at Georgetown, all students planning to further their language studies will be required to participate in a language placement exam. Advanced language learners who wish to test out of continued language study while at Georgetown must pass a proficiency exam to satisfy the language requirement. Native speakers of an Asian language, as determined by the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and the Director of Asian Studies, are considered exempt from the language proficiency requirement.

Georgetown currently offers proficiency exams in the following languages:

• Chinese
• Hindi
• Japanese
• Korean
• Punjabi
• Urdu

Additional languages may be tested through third-party services. Please email Robert.Lyons@georgetown.edu with inquiries.