Degrees | Ph.D. Language Requirements
All Ph.D. students must demonstrate competence either in two foreign languages or in one foreign language and quantitative methods of analysis. Students are urged to complete the language/quantitative analysis requirement early in their program of study.
Primary Language - Generally students can meet the competence requirement for the first foreign language by passing the same language proficiency exam required in SAIS M.A. programs, but the level of proficiency required is subject to approval by the student's field director.
Secondary Language - For the second foreign language, students generally can meet the requirement by taking and passing the reading section of the M.A. proficiency exam, but this level of proficiency is also subject to approval by the student's field director. In addition to the languages taught at SAIS, other regional languages also may be acceptable, but must be approved by the student's field director.
Quantitative Methods of Analysis as the Second Language - With the permission of the field director, students may replace competence in a second foreign language with two one-semester courses in basic and applied econometrics. If students wish to satisfy this requirement with courses taken outside SAIS, they must be certified by the instructor of Quantitative Methodology at SAIS or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
For additional information about the language requirements, please click here visit the Language Studies website.