To make applying as simple and straightforward as possible, here is everything you need to complete your application to the Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution program at Georgetown University.
The Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution is an interdisciplinary program that welcomes applications from prospective students with a variety of academic backgrounds and experiences.
We admit students with a wide range of undergraduate academic fields, including political science, peace and conflict studies, global studies, public policy, history, psychology, philosophy, legal studies, journalism, literature, economics, business administration, criminal justice, architecture, theology and more.
| Round | Application Deadline | Expected Decision Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Final | January 15 | Mid-March |
Applications are submitted through Georgetown’s Joint Office of Graduate Studies online application portal.
You must upload a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) to your online application. It should describe your academic experience, work experience, extracurricular or volunteer activities, any published work and any academic honors or awards. There is no page limit, though we recommend a one- to two-page resume.
Your statement of purpose should be approximately 500 words. We are looking for applicants with a passion for studying conflict resolution with us at Georgetown who can successfully demonstrate that they can handle the rigor and pace of our program. You should outline how your academic, professional and other experience has prepared you for a graduate-level peace and conflict studies program. Additionally, you should share how a conflict resolution degree would help you advance your personal and professional goals.
Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended are required. Review the Joint Office of Graduate Studies transcript FAQs for more information.
An acceptable transcript is a copy of an official transcript produced by the institution, including:
We do not accept screenshots, photos or downloads of the “student’s view” from your institution’s website.
Applicants who have attended institutions outside of the United States are strongly encouraged to upload their transcripts in the form of World Education Services Credential Evaluations or to utilize other credential evaluation services that are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. If the evaluation does not include a copy of the evaluated transcripts, you must upload both the transcripts from the institution and the credential evaluation as one document to the application.
If you receive an offer of admission, you are required to submit official transcripts, which are transcripts submitted directly to Georgetown by the institution you attended, for verification before enrolling. Do not send electronic or paper copies of your official transcripts before receiving an offer of admission. Georgetown reserves the right to request any missing transcripts or an official copy of a transcript at any point during the application and/or admission process. Georgetown also reserves the right to withdraw any offer of admission already made if there is any discrepancy between a transcript uploaded in the application and the final official transcript received.
You must submit three official recommendations from people who can assess your potential for graduate study, including professors or professional supervisors.
The Joint Office of Graduate Studies utilizes a secure online recommendation system that will:
You must submit one 10 – 20-page academic research paper that best demonstrates your academic writing skills. This should be a single-authored paper rather than a paper written with co-authors. This paper should also demonstrate your ability to use proper scholarly citations.
If your most recent writing is from a professional, rather than academic setting, it is acceptable to submit a combined sample that includes a professional and an academic piece of writing, as long as you do not go over the 20-page limit in total. Note that it is also acceptable to update an older academic piece or to write a new academic piece for this purpose. Academic writing includes a well-structured argument, a standard research paper format and research that is evidence-based, drawing on peer-reviewed publications and data.
Use the writing sample to demonstrate that you can write a well-structured and argued research paper. It is also helpful, if possible, to demonstrate previous work in a subject of relevance to the conflict resolution field.
All applicants are required to demonstrate a level of proficiency in the English language in order to be eligible for admission. Proficiency can be demonstrated by the receipt of a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction. All other applicants must demonstrate proficiency by submitting an official TOEFL or IELTS score. Our program requires a TOEFL score of at least 80 or an IELTS score of at least 7.0.
You must submit a $90 non-refundable application fee to the Joint Office of Graduate Studies, payable online via credit card or e-check. Please do not send a personal check or money order.
We offer application fee waivers for participants/graduates of these programs:
If you fit one of these eligible categories, please contact us at conflictresolution@georgetown.edu to request a fee waiver. The program will require documentation to issue a waiver.
Recommended but not required
We do not require you to submit GRE scores. If the GRE score can tell us something about your record and your potential to succeed in the program that your other materials do not, then we want to consider your scores when evaluating your application. However, if you do not wish to take the test or submit your scores, we consider applications complete without them.
Official scores must be sent by the testing agency and received by the application deadline to be considered. Our GRE institutional code is 5244.
Optional statement
As Georgetown is a diverse, global community, we encourage you to upload a brief statement of up to 500 words to help the Admissions Committee understand the contribution your personal background and individual experiences would make to our community. As appropriate, you may wish to address any educational, economic and social experiences that have helped to shape your educational and professional goals, or how your background (e.g., first-generation student, travels outside the U.S.) or activities (e.g., community service and leadership) will contribute to the diversity of perspectives and ideas at Georgetown University.
If you experience any issues uploading the application materials to the online application portal, please contact Georgetown’s Office of Graduate Admissions by emailing gradmail@georgetown.edu or calling +1(202) 687-5568.
Make an impact on a global scale or in your local community by embarking on an enriching journey through our Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution.
