M.A. – Accelerated MA for Foreign Area Officers (FAOs)

The Jackson School of International Studies offers an accelerated REECAS M.A. for U.S. Military Foreign Area Officers (FAOs). If you are a FAO and you are interested in pursuing an M.A. in Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, please contact Ellison Center Managing Director Philip Lyon at plyon@uw.edu for further information.

Please note: this accelerated degree is only available for Foreign Area Officers.

Please indicate in your application Statement of Purpose that you are applying for the M.A. FAO program.

Two Accelerated MA Options

Recognizing the high quality of education and training that Foreign Service Officers bring to the University of Washington, the Ellison Center has established an accelerated program by which FAOs may complete the coursework for the Jackson School’s M.A. degree within a condensed time frame of twelve or fifteen months.

Given the intensity of graduate school, the Ellison Center recommends FAOs pursue the fifteen month timeline, but disciplined students or those with a limited period in which to earn their degree may consider the twelve month timeline.

Total Degree Length: 15 months

Fall Quarter	504 (5 Credits) Major Course (5 Credits)
Winter Quarter	Major Course (5 Credits) Major or Minor Course (5 Credits)
Spring Quarter	511 (5 Credits) Major or Minor Course (5 Credits)
Summer Quarter	Thesis Research/Writing (X Credits) Elective (5 Credits)
Fall Quarter	Major or Minor Course (5 Credits) Thesis Research/Writing (X credits)
End of Fall Quarter	Graduation (Thesis Submission, Oral Exam)

Total Degree Length: 12 months

Fall Quarter	504 (5 Credits) Major Course (5 Credits)
Winter Quarter	Major Course (5 Credits) Major or Minor Course (5 Credits) Major or Minor Course (5 Credits)
Spring Quarter	511 (5 Credits) Major or Minor Course (5 Credits) Thesis Research/Writing (X Credits)
Summer Quarter	Thesis Research/Writing (X Credits) Elective (5 Credits)
End of Summer Quarter	Graduation (Thesis Submission, Oral Exam)

Other Degree Requirements

Language

• Entering FAOs are expected to have completed four years (or equivalent) of language training prior to beginning the REECAS program.

• Entering FAOs with only three years of language training (or equivalent) are also eligible for admission with permission of the REECAS Program Chair.

• Although formally exempt from the language study requirement at UW, FAOs do have the option of further language training while pursuing their REECAS MA.

Coursework

Required Courses:

• JSIS A 504 Survey of Eurasia, (5 credits)
  • Taken in Fall Quarter of Year 1. An introduction to scholarly approaches to studying the REECAS region, methods of scholarly inquiry, library resources, and analytic writing.

• JSIS A 511 Logic of Inquiry in International Studies, (5 credits)
  • Taken in Spring Quarter of Year 1. Pooled with students from other Jackson School programs.

Other Courses: Minimum 25 credits divided between a discipline of concentration and at least two minor disciplines.

• Major Discipline (minimum of 15 credits)
  • Typically history, economics, geography, political science, or literature and culture

• Minor Discipline (minimum of 10 credits)
  • Typically a second selection from the above-listed disciplines of concentration.

While students normally focus their studies on one major geographical region, the program provides flexibility to take courses on other regions as well.

Graduation Requirements

Language

Although they are exempted from required language study at the University of Washington, FAOs are expected to demonstrate the equivalent of fourth year language proficiency before graduation.

Thesis and Oral Exam

At the end of their course of study, students will submit an original thesis and take an interdisciplinary oral exam. The oral exam will be devoted to questions about the thesis, as well as a general examination of major and minor disciplines.