Careers Representing America
Foreign Degree Accreditation
User:
James S.
Date: 4/10/2012 5:56 pm
Date: 4/10/2012 5:56 pm
Views: 8607
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Rating: 2 Rate [ | ]
To Whom It May Concern,
I have an inquiry regarding recognition of Foreign Master's Degree programs by the Department of State and Foreign Service recruiting mechanisms.
Does the Department require MA degrees obtained in Foreign countries to be accredited by either the Department of Education or a U.S. based accrediting agency?
Here the examples I have been looking into:
I have some interest in obtaining an MA in Egypt, Israel, or Lebanon. I studied abroad at the American University of Beirut for my senior year of undergrad and had the credits transferred successfully back to the university I was attending here at home (CU Boulder).
As far as I can tell, both the American University of Beirut and the American University of Cairo are accredited both in Egypt AND here in the United States (as they both maintain offices in New York city and are incorporated in the U.S.). So in this case, after obtaining an MA from either of these universities one would not have to have an external accrediting agency evaluate the program here in the U.S.
http://www.aaicu.org/member.jsp?code=12N3PQNHE
However, I am curious what the case is for universities in Israel (and other countries where the case is similar). I have been looking at the following programs in Tel Aviv:
Tel Aviv University - International Master's in Security and Diplomacy: http://socsci.tau.ac.il/sec-dip/
As far as I can tell from the Accreditation page on Tel Aviv University's website:
http://international.tau.ac.il/about-tau/accreditation-a-affiliations.html
They are accredited by the Israeli Ministry of Education and Council of Higher Education, but there is no mention of being accredited by any U.S. institution or agency.
Here is another program at the Interdisciplinary Center of Herzliya in Israel that offer's an MA in Government:
http://portal.idc.ac.il/en/schools/Government/AcademicPrograms/GraduateProgram/Pages/graduate_gallery.aspx
I have the same question for this program, if it is accredited within the U.S. for government jobs purposes.
I had briefly noticed in applying for a position with USAID on USAJOBS that they ask for proof of accreditation if one attended a foreign university, however, I have never seen that policy in regard to the Foreign Service of the State Department. I my memory serves me correctly, I believe the first place to enter one's educational credentials is as a part of the application to take the FSWE. I don't recall any mention there of providing proof of accreditation.
Anyway, hopefully this doesn't sound to confusing - but can anyone help me figure this out?
Thanks,
James
I have an inquiry regarding recognition of Foreign Master's Degree programs by the Department of State and Foreign Service recruiting mechanisms.
Does the Department require MA degrees obtained in Foreign countries to be accredited by either the Department of Education or a U.S. based accrediting agency?
Here the examples I have been looking into:
I have some interest in obtaining an MA in Egypt, Israel, or Lebanon. I studied abroad at the American University of Beirut for my senior year of undergrad and had the credits transferred successfully back to the university I was attending here at home (CU Boulder).
As far as I can tell, both the American University of Beirut and the American University of Cairo are accredited both in Egypt AND here in the United States (as they both maintain offices in New York city and are incorporated in the U.S.). So in this case, after obtaining an MA from either of these universities one would not have to have an external accrediting agency evaluate the program here in the U.S.
http://www.aaicu.org/member.jsp?code=12N3PQNHE
However, I am curious what the case is for universities in Israel (and other countries where the case is similar). I have been looking at the following programs in Tel Aviv:
Tel Aviv University - International Master's in Security and Diplomacy: http://socsci.tau.ac.il/sec-dip/
As far as I can tell from the Accreditation page on Tel Aviv University's website:
http://international.tau.ac.il/about-tau/accreditation-a-affiliations.html
They are accredited by the Israeli Ministry of Education and Council of Higher Education, but there is no mention of being accredited by any U.S. institution or agency.
Here is another program at the Interdisciplinary Center of Herzliya in Israel that offer's an MA in Government:
http://portal.idc.ac.il/en/schools/Government/AcademicPrograms/GraduateProgram/Pages/graduate_gallery.aspx
I have the same question for this program, if it is accredited within the U.S. for government jobs purposes.
I had briefly noticed in applying for a position with USAID on USAJOBS that they ask for proof of accreditation if one attended a foreign university, however, I have never seen that policy in regard to the Foreign Service of the State Department. I my memory serves me correctly, I believe the first place to enter one's educational credentials is as a part of the application to take the FSWE. I don't recall any mention there of providing proof of accreditation.
Anyway, hopefully this doesn't sound to confusing - but can anyone help me figure this out?
Thanks,
James
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Re: Foreign Degree Accreditation
User:
PAB_SME
Date: 4/10/2012 6:38 pm
Date: 4/10/2012 6:38 pm
Views: 252
Rating: 0 Rate [ | ]
Rating: 0 Rate [ | ]
Hello, James.
Firstly, there are no specific educational or work experience requirements for Foreign Service Officer positions. There usually are for Department of State Civil Service positions and Foreign Service Specialist positions.
You will need to consult with the U.S. Department of Education (link below) regarding specific foreign institutes/US accreditation. However, we hope the following info will be useful to you:
Applicants may qualify for many Federal jobs based on academic study in accredited colleges or universities. This means education completed in a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting association in the United States.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal job requirements for these positions if the applicant can show that foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence when applying for Federal jobs.
For information on accreditation, please visit: http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
For Federal employment, education received in foreign colleges or universities will be considered acceptable based on any of the following five evidences.
(1) The specific courses have been accepted for advanced credit by an accredited U.S. college or university.
(2) A State university (U.S.A.) reports the institution as one whose transcripts is given full value or full value in subject areas applicable to curricula at the State university.
(3) The candidate submits an evaluation of the coursework from an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education or the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA).
(4) The candidate presents evidence which clearly justifies a high evaluation of his or her competence, such as one of the following:
(a) Registration as a professional engineer by any State, Guam, Puerto Rico, The District of Columbia, or the Canal Zone.
(b) A substantial record of experience, achievement, and publications in the appropriate field.
(5) The candidate submits an evaluation of the coursework from:
(a) an accredited U.S. college or university; or
(b) a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign educational credentials.*
Please click here for a list of some organizations that evaluate coursework:
http://www.naces.org/members.htm
Firstly, there are no specific educational or work experience requirements for Foreign Service Officer positions. There usually are for Department of State Civil Service positions and Foreign Service Specialist positions.
You will need to consult with the U.S. Department of Education (link below) regarding specific foreign institutes/US accreditation. However, we hope the following info will be useful to you:
Applicants may qualify for many Federal jobs based on academic study in accredited colleges or universities. This means education completed in a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting association in the United States.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal job requirements for these positions if the applicant can show that foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence when applying for Federal jobs.
For information on accreditation, please visit: http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
For Federal employment, education received in foreign colleges or universities will be considered acceptable based on any of the following five evidences.
(1) The specific courses have been accepted for advanced credit by an accredited U.S. college or university.
(2) A State university (U.S.A.) reports the institution as one whose transcripts is given full value or full value in subject areas applicable to curricula at the State university.
(3) The candidate submits an evaluation of the coursework from an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education or the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA).
(4) The candidate presents evidence which clearly justifies a high evaluation of his or her competence, such as one of the following:
(a) Registration as a professional engineer by any State, Guam, Puerto Rico, The District of Columbia, or the Canal Zone.
(b) A substantial record of experience, achievement, and publications in the appropriate field.
(5) The candidate submits an evaluation of the coursework from:
(a) an accredited U.S. college or university; or
(b) a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign educational credentials.*
Please click here for a list of some organizations that evaluate coursework:
http://www.naces.org/members.htm
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