Demonstration of competence in a foreign language is not required for either the Master of Arts or the Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science. Every MA or PhD supervisory committee, however, has the authority to decide, in consultation with the student, that a specific degree of competence in one or more foreign languages is a prerequisite for that student to receive the degree in question. The student cannot take the PhD comprehensive examinations until the language requirement specified by the committee has been met. Language courses are not counted toward satisfaction of credit requirements for degree purposes.