Master of Professional Studies in Persian (PFP Capstone)

MPS Course offerings represent a variety of topics including Social Issues in Contemporary Iran, Modern History, Art, Culture, and Literature, and Persian Media. Innovative sheltered special topics modular courses will be taught by Persian-speaking faculty with expertise in different areas such as Architecture, International Relations, Theater and Performance and beyond, allowing students to learn vocabulary and concepts specific to different topic areas while improving their overall fluency. 

Sample Course Offerings 

• PERS 632 Film and Popular Culture in the Persian-speaking World (3 credits)
• PERS 641 Iranian Media and International Relations (3 credits)
• PERS 499 - Persian Research Project
• PERS 689 - Special Topics in Persian Language Studies
• PERS 601 Modern Persian Literature (3 credits)
• PERS  642 Political Issues in Contemporary Iran (3 credits)
• PERS 611 Practicum in Persian/English Translation (3 credits)
• PERS 499 - Experiential Learning
• PERS 672 - Culture and Commerce in the Persian-speaking World

The Capstone Research Project gives each student a chance to design their own research project with guidance from Persian faculty. Students are able to connect with the local Persian community in order to do their fieldwork, gaining important experience in communication as well as academic research.

Students will participate in an internship using the Persian language that relates to their career focus. This is an opportunity for students to use their language skills in a practical setting and get professional experience before entering the workforce. The location of the MPS in Persian allows students to take advantage of the close proximity to Washington, DC as well as all the resources that UMD has to offer. The DC metro area has one of the largest communities of Iranian-Americans in the United States, giving students the opportunity to participate in a rich calendar of cultural activities and professional internships. 

Previous PFP Capstone internships have included: 

• Assisting research at local think tanks, including the Wilson Center and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Working with non-profit organizations, including the International Rescue Committee and the Seed Foundation

1. Students must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited university by the Fall they plan to begin the program with at least a 3.0 grade point average.
2. Students must either
   1. Be a pre-Capstone (third or fourth year) student in the UMD Persian Flagship Program OR
   2. Have the equivalent of three years of formal study in Persian, and test at the advanced low (ILR 2) level in Persian. For additional information, the Interagency Language Roundtable definitions of advanced may be found here and the ACTFL proficiency definitions for advanced low may be found here.  

All students applying to the program must complete proficiency testing in February 2026, which will include an OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) and a reading and listening test. Once applications have been received, the program coordinator will reach out to all eligible applicants to schedule these exams. 

• Applicants who do not meet the required proficiency but test at an Intermediate High (ILR 1+) may still qualify by attending UMD’s Persian Summer Language Institute in Summer 2026 with the goal of reaching an ILR 2 / Advanced proficiency ahead of the fall 2026 semester. 

UMD Persian Flagship students are required to attend the Summer Language Institute prior to the MPS academic year. 

Find more information about program tuition and fees on the program’s tuition and fees site. {Coming Soon}

Boren Fellowship

The Persian MPS is an eligible program for the Boren Fellowship, which provides substantial funding towards the cost of this one-year graduate degree. The Boren Awards are sponsored by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO), U.S. Department of Defense. Boren Fellowships are awarded to U.S. graduate students who develop independent projects that combine overseas language and culture study in areas critical to national security. Boren Fellowship alumni are committed to public service, committing to at least one year of service, and working in key positions throughout the Federal Government. Examples of where Boren awardees fulfill government service include the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and the Intelligence Community. Boren Fellows receive additional advantages including special hiring authorities and significant support in seeking federal employment upon successful completion of their Boren-funded program.

Students who hold a BA or BS degree are eligible to apply for a Boren Fellowship to support their participation in the Persian MPS. Learn more about the Boren Awards here: https://www.borenawards.org, and find out specific program details under Applicants -> Award Types. 

The Boren Fellowship application for the 2026-2027 academic year is currently open, and the deadline is January 21st, 2026. 

The application is available through the University of Maryland Graduate School application system. As required by the Graduate School, all application materials are to be submitted electronically:

• Graduate application
  • In the Educational Intent section, select the following:
    • Application Type: Degree
    • Level of Study: Master's
    • Intended Program of Study: Persian (MPPE), M.P.S.
• Within the Online Application, you will be able to upload:
  • Unofficial Transcripts for all college-level coursework outside the University of Maryland, College Park
  • Statement of purpose;
  • Resume/CV
  • MPS Supplemental Application
• You will also be able to pay the non-refundable application fee of $75 USD

Application Deadline: January 30th, 2026 (tentative)