Master of Arts in Democracy and Governance
The debate over how best to achieve democracy, accountability, and governance defines modern political thinking. Over the past three decades, many nations have transited to democratic rule and the promotion of responsive government has become a central policy objective of many countries and almost all official international organizations.
To meet the demand for professionals capable of understanding the complexities of these political reforms and to provide the necessary foundation for further academic study in these areas, the Department of Government has established a two-year M.A. program in Democracy and Governance. The program fulfills two objectives:
Focused and Relevant Training
The program provides unmatched training for those seeking academic or policy careers in the field of democracy promotion and governance reform. For each career path, the program will ensure that students possess the conceptual, practical, and analytic knowledge to perform effectively.
Linking Theory with Practice
The M.A. in Democracy and Governance takes advantage of Georgetown University's strengths as one of the country’s leading
institutions for the study of international affairs, and utilizes the opportunities available in Washington, D.C.
The two-year, 42-credit hour curriculum helps students understand the challenges of building a sustainable democracy as well as the practical problems that confront practitioners in this field. To master those subjects, the program will prepare you to:
- analyze current efforts to promote democracy and good governance;
- comprehend the obstacles to political reform; and,
- develop strategies to foster and consolidate effective political change.
Our program provides students with hands-on experience, including overseas opportunities in Morocco and South Africa, that helps them to develop a profound appreciation of the many obstacles impeding democratic consolidation and responsible government, and the strategies to overcome them. For anyone interested in a professional or scholarly career in these areas, the M.A. in Democracy and Governance is the most comprehensive degree available in the United States.
