The Graduate Certificate in Global Human Development

The Global Human Development Program at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, working in close collaboration with the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) program, is pleased to offer a Certificate in Global Human Development beginning in the spring of 2018.

The Graduate Certificate in Global Human Development (GHD) has been designed in response to widespread interest from students in advanced degree programs across the University for training in global development, as a complement to their primary regional or functional degree. Across a range of disciplines including international law, business, security, and regional studies, there is a demand for professionals with parallel training in global development. This demand arises from the recognition that in our increasingly inter-connected world, addressing the concerns of the world’s poor is of paramount importance not only to poor nations themselves, but also to successful outcomes in global economic stability and growth, diplomacy, and security.

Requirements

Students are required to complete 5 approved 3-credit courses, or 15 total credits. The basic structure of the required courses will be as follows:

  • One Gateway or Foundation course  (3 credits)
    • International Development Gateway course (GHDP 602 “Introduction to Development Practice,” spring semester) (3 credits) or Development Economics course (GHDP 603 “Introduction to the Economics of Development,” spring semester) (3 credits) or, if these GHD courses are not currently offered, an equivalent course subject to the approval of GHD administration.
  • 12 credits of elective courses, from an approved list or by petition (1.5 or 3 credits)
  • A maximum of 6 of the total 15 certificate credits may be achieved by ‘double-counting’ courses that students take to satisfy their home program degree requirements.

In addition, students must achieve:

  • A minimum grade of B+ in the gateway course.
  • An overall GPA of 3.0, and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 for Certificate courses.

The GHD graduate certificate does not require an internship or a foreign language proficiency. However, students wishing to pursue one or both of these opportunities are encouraged to do so.

Eligibility

The certificate is open to all graduate students at Georgetown, excluding GHD and MSFS IDEV students. Applicants must be enrolled in a Georgetown University graduate degree program in order to qualify for the certificate, as the certificate is clearly not offered on a standalone basis.

MSFS IDEV concentrators and GHD students are not eligible for the certificate program. The MSFS IDEV Concentration and the GHD certificate are too similar for a student to pursue both.

To apply to the certificate, please submit your application by the spring add/drop deadline of your first year.

For questions, please contact Kristen Robinson, Associate Director of Academic Programs.