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 Plan of Study (course offerings may vary)

• Fall semester (15 credits) 

  • PERS 411 - Readings in Iranian Islam
  • 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

• Spring semester (15 credits) 

  • 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. 

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. 

All students applying to the program must complete proficiency testing in February, which will include an OPI and a reading and listening test. Once applications have been received, the program coordinator will reach out to schedule these exams. 

Students who do not test at the ILR 2 on the OPI, should plan to attend the UMD Persian Summer Language Institute (SLI) to improve their language skills in an intensive environment. This intensive domestic study program offers content level instruction, giving students a solid foundation in moving forward to complete the rigorous requirements of the Capstone Master’s year and getting a full year of intensive instruction in total.

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.

Boren Fellowship

The Persian MPS is a Boren eligible program, which awards up to $25,000 towards the cost of an academic year. The Boren Awards are a U.S. Government-funded award that seeks applicants who have a strong interest in future Government service; the award carries a one-year service expectation. The Boren Awards maintains a list of departments and agencies where Boren alumni have entered government service, including: Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Intelligence Community, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, U.S. Congress, Center for Disease Control, Department of Agriculture, and many others. Boren alumni receive additional advantages and support when seeking federal employment.

Financial support for Flagship Students is offered through the Boren Fellowship. Flagship Students will apply to the Boren Fellowship in the Fall of their pre-Capstone year, separately from their application to the Persian Flagship Capstone Year. Students will be required to attend PFP workshops about the Boren Award, held in coordination with the UMD National Scholarships Office (NSO). 

Non-Flagship students are also eligible to apply for a Boren Fellowship to support their time in the MPS.  Learn more about the Boren Awards here. 

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)