2. SERVICE ISN’T A MOMENT—
IT’S A MINDSET.
A view inside the SIS Atrium.
Copyright2013PrakashPatel
3. RIGHT NOW, WHAT DOES THE WORLD NEED MOST?
Security experts who know that understanding conflict is a step
on the path to peace. Environmentalists fluent where biodiversity
meets policy. Communicators who acknowledge the need to be
diplomats and diplomats who grasp the necessity to be effective
communicators. Economists interested in the consequences of
trade. Leaders who believe that violence is neither necessary
nor inevitable. Scholars who connect knowledge with practice.
Practitioners across disciplines who understand that service isn’t
a moment–it’s a mindset.
AT THE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE,
WE BELIEVE THAT THE WORLD NEEDS LEADERS
READY TO SERVE.
Service is the foundation on which our school is built, and
represents the best of what we aspire to be. Through the
transformational research and teaching of our renowned faculty,
SIS prepares our students for global careers in government,
nonprofits, and business.
We are a top 10 school of international affairs, strategically based
in Washington, D.C. Since our founding in 1957, we have answered
President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s call to prepare students of
international affairs to “wage peace.” Over the intervening years,
SIS has grown in stature and influence and is now a destination for
students seeking to think critically, build understanding, and wage
peace in our world.
Our students enjoy both the benefit of a tight-knit campus
community and the advantage of being in the nation’s capital.
Our school, with nearly 20 degree programs, is a forum for
collaboration and engagement with fellow students, with faculty,
with alumni, and with the global leaders who frequently visit our
campus. Our city offers unparalleled opportunities for faculty and
students not only to study and research international affairs, but
also to actively engage in the ongoing work of this dynamic field.
We hope you will join us.
RIGHT NOW, ARE YOU READY
TO LEAD THROUGH SERVICE?
LEADER
SCHOLAR
ACTIVIST
S E L ECT E D S I S G RA D UAT E E M P LOY E R S ACCENTURE | AL JAZEERA | BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
3
SIS students worked with clients from Search for Common Ground
in Liberia during a spring 2012 practicum.
4. SISBY THE
NUMBERS
S C H O O L O F I N T E R N A T I O N A L S E R V I C E | A U
4
BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON | BRITISH EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES | BROOKINGS INSTITUTION | CACI | CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATES | CARE | CARNEGIE
*RANKINGS BY FOREIGN POLICY MAGAZINE **INCOMING GRADUATE STUDENTS +2015 DATA
900+GRADUATE
STUDENTS
24%U.S.-BORN
STUDENTS
OF COLOR
OUT OF
CURRENTLY ENROLLED
THOMAS R. PICKERING
GRADUATE FELLOWS
ATTEND SIS
6 40
FIRST
GENERATION
COLLEGE
STUDENTS**
19%
120+FULL-TIME
FACULTY
MEMBERS
95%
SPEAK AT
LEAST ONE
FOREIGN
LANGUAGE**
130+COUNTRIES REPRESENTED
23%INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
20,000WORLDWIDE ALUMNI
75%OF CLASSES ARE OFFERED AFTER
5:30 PM, ON WEEKENDS, OR ONLINE
8
RANKED
GRADUATE
SCHOOL OF
INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS*
TH
WE’RE DOERS. WE ATTRACT ACTIVISTS
UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE STATUS QUO. THEY
WANT TO CHANGETHINGS. THEY COME HERE TO
GET THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO DO SO.
ROBERT TOMASKO, DIRECTOR, SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PROGRAM
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
IN U.S. FOR
BOREN
FELLOWSHIPS+
#1
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
NATIONALLY
FOR NUMBER OF
PRESIDENTIAL
MANAGEMENT FELLOW
PROGRAM FINALISTS+
#1
3.5MEDIAN GPA
OF ADMITTED
STUDENTS
HAVE
INTERNATIONAL
EXPERIENCE**
94%
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY NAMED A
FULBRIGHT U.S. STUDENT
PROGRAM TOP PRODUCING
INSTITUTION +
20AVERAGE GRADUATE
CLASS SIZE
STUDENTS
5. 5
ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE | THE CARTER CENTER | CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES | CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
NOTE: DATA FROM 2015 MA GRADUATION SURVEY (85 PERCENT RESPONSE RATE)
33%
25% 15%
$60,000 OR MORE
SALARY
RANGES
$40,000 – $50,000 $40,000 OR LESS
28%
$50,000 – $60,000
YOU WILL PUT
YOUR SIS DEGREE
TO WORK QUICKLY
89% of 2015 MA graduates were
employed, fulfilling other plans,
or pursuing an advanced degree
within six months of graduation.
30%
34%
5%
1%
NONPROFIT SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR
INTER-
GOVERNMENTAL
FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT
30%
PRIVATE SECTOR
EMPLOYMENT
SECTORS
6. S C H O O L O F I N T E R N A T I O N A L S E R V I C E | A U
6
CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL | CHEVRON AFRICA | CLINTON FOUNDATION | CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION, INC. | CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
“We are the School of International Service—and quite proud
of this distinction. Our students are thoughtful, aspirational,
and hands-on, and we prepare them to lead through service,
regardless of their choice of careers—from the private sector
to government to nonprofits and international organizations.”
Dean James Goldgeier
YOUR DEGREE WILL PREPARE YOU
TO LEAD THROUGH SERVICE
The School of International Service (SIS) at American
University is housed in a 70,000 square-foot LEED
Gold-certified building. Its design, construction, and
operation reflect our commitment to advancing
ecological stewardship, working for social justice,
and fostering transparency, human dignity,
and a sense of community.
SIS graduate degrees equip you with the knowledge and skills
necessary to make a difference in our complex and interconnected
world, whether in government, non-profits, or business. SIS
offers nearly 20 degree programs, including:
:: two-year, on-campus master’s degrees
:: an executive degree for mid-career professionals
:: a one-year master’s degree for partner institution students
:: a suite of online master’s degrees
:: an interdisciplinary doctoral program for emerging scholars
in international relations
MASTER’S DEGREES
MS in Development Management
MA in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs
MA in Global Environmental Policy
MA in International Affairs: Global Governance, Politics,
and Security
MA in International Affairs: Comparative and Regional Studies
MA in International Affairs: International Economic Relations
MA in International Affairs: Natural Resources and Sustainable
Development (with University for Peace, Costa Rica)
MA in International Affairs: United States Foreign Policy
and National Security
MA in Intercultural and International Communication
MA in International Development
MA in International Economics
MA in International Media
MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution
MA in International Relations (online)
MA in Social Enterprise
EXECUTIVE DEGREE
Master of International Service (on campus or online)
(Executive Track and International Studies Track)
DOCTORAL DEGREE
PhD in International Relations
DUAL DEGREES
JD/MA (International Affairs)
MA/MAT (International Peace and Conflict Resolution)
MA/MBA
MA/MTS (International Peace and Conflict Resolution/
International Development)
FINANCIAL AID
About 30% of incoming master’s students receive merit-based
aid from SIS each year. All PhD students are fully funded for
four years. All applications must be completed by the appropriate
deadline for funding consideration. Many students receive joint
funding through our partners. SIS is committed to supporting
students with high academic achievement and potential to the
best of our abilities. To that end, we encourage all students to
connect with the Office of Graduate Enrollment Management
to understand their educational commitment and explore ways
of financing their education.
Copyright2013PrakashPatel
Michelle Holleran, BA/SIS ‘10, during a 2009
summer abroad program in South Africa.
7. “…the waging of peace demands the best we have, the best
young men and women that we can find to put in this great
effort which must go on around the world all the time.”
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, at the ground breaking
of the School of International Service, June 9, 1957
MS IN DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT
The Development Management program is for those who have at
least two years’ prior field experience and a strong applied and
practical focus. Typically, you’ll plan to work on development
projects and programs, capacity building, organization or institution
building, NGO management, or monitoring and evaluation
in developing countries or among disadvantaged communities
abroad. You can use the elective concentration courses to focus
on a sector of your choice such as gender, environment, or social
enterprise, or to deepen your management skills, perhaps in
project design and management or monitoring and evaluation.
www.american.edu/sis/id/dm
MA IN ETHICS, PEACE, AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS
Offered jointly through the School of International Service and
the Department of Philosophy and Religion in AU’s College of
Arts and Sciences, the Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs program
offers an ethical approach to contemporary global problems.
The purpose of this interdisciplinary program is to prepare you
broadly in the practical application of ethical theory and policy
analysis to approach difficult ethical choices in global affairs.
www.american.edu/sis/epga
MA IN GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
The Global Environmental Policy program helps you understand
causes of environmental harm and identify ways to build a more
sustainable world. Through coursework, individual and team
research, and internships in Washington, D.C., and around the
world, you will develop the knowledge, perspective, and skills
to address environmental challenges. Particular areas of program
focus include climate change; sustainable energy; water; food and
agriculture; environment and development; peacebuilding; and
urban design and sustainability. www.american.edu/sis/gep
MA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: GLOBAL
GOVERNANCE, POLITICS, AND SECURITY
The Global Governance, Politics, and Security program takes a
multidisciplinary approach to understanding relations among
states and societies. Our graduates find careers in multilateral
organizations, government agencies, private sector, and NGOs,
where they work with local and international counterparts to
plan and execute policies tackling pressing security and governance
challenges. In the program, you will apply global historical, political,
and economic dynamics to contemporary policy problems and
learn analytical techniques and professional competencies to
make sense of data and turn rigorous analysis into policy
innovation and practical action. www.american.edu/sis/ggps
MA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: COMPARATIVE
AND REGIONAL STUDIES
The Comparative and Regional Studies program, which encom-
passes Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Eurasia,
the Middle East, and Islamic studies, is innovative in its use of
comparative inquiry, enabling you to gain knowledge of specific
countries while engaging in cross-regional analysis. Our program
provides a distinctive form of scholarly and practical education
that gives you the ability to apply advanced theoretical tools to a
world region of which you have a deep, substantive knowledge.
www.american.edu/sis/crs
MA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
ECONOMIC RELATIONS
This interdisciplinary program provides you with the range of
skills needed to understand international economic and financial
problems in today’s complex global environment. What distin-
guishes the program is its focus on international trade, finance,
investment, development, and governance using analytical tools
from economics and political science. The program’s academic
content is complemented by the many internship, research, and
policy-oriented work opportunities available in Washington, D.C.
www.american.edu/sis/ier
MA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: NATURAL
RESOURCES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Housed within the Global Environmental Politics program, Natural
Resources and Sustainable Development is a dual MA degree track
in which you will receive degrees from both American University
and the United Nations-affiliated University for Peace in Costa
Rica, where you’ll spend your second and third semesters.
American University has strengths in international relations and
environmental politics, with deep connections to Washington,
D.C., policy institutions and NGOs, while the University for
Peace provides unparalleled opportunities for practical experience
in sustainable development. Courses are taught in English, with
mandatory free Spanish provided for one year.
www.american.edu/sis/nrsd
| CORNER ALLIANCE | COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS | CREDIT SUISSE | DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY | DELOITTE | DIRECT ENERGY SOLAR
7
Ambassador Thomas Pickering and SIS Dean James Goldgeier
during an April 2016 Dean’s Discussion.
Photo:AU/JeffWatts.
8. S C H O O L O F I N T E R N A T I O N A L S E R V I C E | A U
8
MA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: UNITED STATES
FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY
The United States Foreign Policy and National Security program
presents courses on defense policy; intelligence; the formulation and
implementation of foreign policy; and the social, political, economic,
strategic, and historical underpinnings of U.S. foreign policy. It is a
rigorous course of study that combines considerable programmatic
flexibility with the benefits of specialization in a concentration
selected by you. www.american.edu/sis/usfp
MA IN INTERCULTURAL AND INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNICATION
The mission of the Intercultural and International Communication
program is to train emerging global leaders with the knowledge and
skills necessary to engage the role of culture in shaping communica-
tion at the international, inter-organizational, and interpersonal levels.
The first program of its kind in the United States, the program’s
faculty and alumni continue to lead the field in concentrations
including public and cultural diplomacy, international education,
intercultural relations, global social media, technology and policy,
and global health communication. www.american.edu/sis/ic
MA IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
For more than 35 years, the International Development program
has trained students to participate effectively in driving socio-
economic, political, and environmental change throughout
the world. The program’s primary focus is the improvement of
opportunities for the world’s poor and disenfranchised. It has
one of the largest concentrations of faculty both teaching and
researching international development, and has approximately
1,200 alumni in development-related positions around the
world. www.american.edu/sis/id
MA IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
This program is offered by the School of International Service
in cooperation with AU’s Department of Economics, and is
designed for you if you have previously majored, or at least mi-
nored, in economics and wish to combine substantive economic
analysis with an understanding of how that analysis is applied in
the international spectrum. The program offers a rigorous mix of
theoretical, empirical, and policy-oriented courses in economics,
political economy, and policymaking focused on international
trade and finance. www.american.edu/sis/ie
MA IN INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
The International Media program offers students a unique
opportunity to learn international communication theory while
developing professional production skills. This interdisciplinary
degree allows you to take courses from SIS and AU’s School of
Communication that emphasize strategic communication, data
analysis, public and cultural diplomacy, and global media. You
will also take hands-on courses designed to hone your writing
skills over a broad range of media and production classes that
introduce you to filmmaking, newswriting, digital imaging, web
design, photography, and public communication writing.
www.american.edu/sis/im
MA IN INTERNATIONAL PEACE
AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The International Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR)
program prepares graduates to become peacebuilders in a wide
variety of professional settings and political contexts. You will
gain deep insight into the causes and impacts of war. You will
learn the strategies and practices for resolving armed conflict,
and for preventing its resurgence. You will learn to stand with
populations impacted by war so that they can be collaborative
agents of peaceful transformation. The program espouses holistic
perspectives on these topics so that we contribute to sustainable
peace, predicated on addressing root causes as well as overt
manifestations of violent conflict. IPCR is the premier choice
for those seeking careers related to conflict and peace.
www.american.edu/sis/ipcr
EMBASSY OF INDIA | EMBASSY OF PERU | ENOUGH PROJECT
“What makes SIS special is its commitment to the three “Rs”: Relevance, Rigor, and Respect.
Everything we do is designed to enable students to confront the realities and complexities of the
world into which they will graduate. We do this with intellectual rigor and a deep commitment
to respect differing points of view, cultures, and policy options. It is our expectation that our
students will put the skills that they acquire here to the service of their country and the world.“
Anthony Quainton ~ Distinguished Diplomat in Residence
9. MA IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (ONLINE)
International Relations Online offers you a foundation in the
field of international relations and the chance to gain specialized
expertise through concentrations in global security, international
development, international negotiation and conflict resolution,
and U.S. foreign policy and national security. Classes are delivered
to you on an engaging learning platform—wherever you are
located around the globe—and combine highly-produced, self-
paced content designed by faculty with live virtual class sessions.
No other highly ranked school offers a comparable online master’s
degree in international relations with AU’s level of interaction
among faculty and students. ironline.american.edu
MA IN SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
The Social Enterprise program has the flexibility for you to build
a master’s degree around your passions. It’s a way to engage with
other activist students who want to use business techniques to
drive social change, either by creating a new venture or leading
change in an existing NGO, agency, or company. You’ll have a
hands-on, practitioner-oriented experience, applying what you
learn about innovation in the classroom to real-world problems.
www.american.edu/sis/se
MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
Executive Track
The executive track is designed for professionals with at least
seven years of professional experience. As a true executive program,
the program places emphasis on decision-making, strategic
communication, leading multicultural workforces, and change
and crisis management. Additionally, you will be offered a wide
variety of possible concentrations in fields such as foreign and
security policy, peace and conflict resolution, international nego-
tiation, and international development. Most course offerings are
available after business hours to accommodate the needs of part-
time students. Both on-campus and online options are available.
International Studies Track
The international studies track is designed for you if you are
currently enrolled or have recently completed a master’s-level
program in international affairs or a related field at an approved
partner institution. You’ll benefit from cross-continental aca-
demic experiences that augment your educational and personal
development. Graduates from the program are conferred a dual
degree from SIS and the partner institution.
www.american.edu/sis/mis
DOCTORAL DEGREE
PhD in International Relations
The PhD program trains you to produce new knowledge of the
highest scholarly caliber. The program prepares you for a career
as a teacher and scholar at universities and research institutes in
both the private and public sectors. The core curriculum covers
the foundational fields of international studies: international re-
lations, comparative and regional studies, and social theory. You
will pick one of eight concentrations and also take a three-course
multiple-methodology sequence that introduces you to the major
qualitative and quantitative research techniques used in the social
sciences today. SIS provides you with generous financial support,
which includes tuition remission and a stipend, both of which can
be renewed for up to four years. You will have the opportunity to
work closely with a faculty member on their teaching and research.
www.american.edu/sis/phd
EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT | FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION | FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
9
President Barack Obama gave
remarks on the Iran Nuclear
Deal in the SIS Atrium on
August 5, 2015.
Photo:AU/JeffWatts.
10. YOUR CURRICULUM WILL CHALLENGE YOU
AND ENCOURAGE CRITICAL THINKING
Our multidisciplinary master’s curriculum is focused on preparing you for a career in global service
and enhancing your current career path. Each master’s degree is grounded in a set of core courses
alongside economics and research methods. You will also select a specialized concentration to focus
your program on your unique interest in a particular aspect of international relations. The final
component of the program is a capstone project, which can include an applied practicum, a
substantial research paper, or a master’s thesis.
Our doctoral program curriculum provides training in international relations that is both multi-
disciplinary and policy-relevant. This scholarly program enables our graduates to go on to careers
in university teaching and research, government, and non-government organizations in the United
States as well as around the globe.
Note: Requirements vary slightly depending on the degree program. For details, visit american.edu/sis.
10
E
FEDERAL RESERVE | FHI 360 | GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE | HEALTH POVERTY ACTION | HEIFER INTERNATIONAL | HUMAN RIGHTS LAW NETWORK |
CORE CURRICULUM
9–15 credits
NON-CREDIT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
FOREIGN LANGUAGE, INTERNSHIP/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ONGOING CO-CURRICULUM: NETWORKING, CAREER ADVISING, PANEL DISCUSSIONS
CONCENTRATION/ELECTIVES
12–18 credits
ECONOMICS
3–6 credits
CAPSTONE
3–6 credits
RESEARCH METHODS
6 credits
YOUR SIS DEGREE PATH,
FROM CORE TO CAPSTONE
*sample progression
“Leadership has always been about first listening, then articulating a vision, and finally inspiring
others to join in. In today’s world, that first point is more challenging than ever—the temptation in
a complex world is to filter out voices that are speaking in ways foreign to our own assumptions and
commitments. But that’s where authentic leadership begins.“
Patrick Thaddeus Jackson, Professor ~ Associate Dean for Curriculum and Learning
S C H O O L O F I N T E R N A T I O N A L S E R V I C E | A U
11. Applied Public Diplomacy
Arab-Israeli Conflict
Community Development
Complex Emergencies
Conflict Assessment Prevention
Corporate Social Responsibility
Cybercrime, Espionage Warfare
Diplomatic Practice
Economic Politics of the EU
Ethnic Conflict in Eurasia
Gender, Human Rights Conflict
Global Financial Governance
Health in the Developing World
Intelligence Foreign Policy
International Finance Emerging Markets
International Law the Legal Order
International Negotiation
Insurgency Counterinsurgency
Migration, Refugees Trafficking
NGO Management
Oil, Islam Politics in the Gulf
Political Ecology of Food Agriculture
Political Risk Analysis
Politics of Peacebuilding in Africa
Race Ethnicity in the Americas
Reconciliation Justice
Transatlantic Security
U.S. Strategy Toward Iran
Water Governance
Women Development
DIPLOMAT
ENVIRONMENTALIST
ECONOMIST
IBM | INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES | INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION | INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK | INTERACTION
SAMPLE SIS COURSES
Global Scholar Study Abroad
Class 2012 observes stingray
near the Galapagos Islands.
Photo:SavannaRovira.
12. INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE | INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION | INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION |
YOU CAN BUILD EXPERTISE
BY DESIGNING A SPECIALIZED
CONCENTRATION
The multidisciplinary nature of SIS allows you to choose a concentration to reflect your unique
passions within international relations, and offers the opportunity to personalize coursework to
match your career ambitions and professional goals. SIS offers more than 50 concentrations.
With more than 120 full-time faculty and more than 120 graduate classes each semester, you will
have an unparalleled opportunity to develop a focused area of expertise, as well as a wide range of
broadly applicable tools and skills.
Doctoral students select a major field of concentration from among those offered at SIS during
your first year of study with the support of your advisor and the PhD program director.
Learn more about concentrations at SIS and browse current course descriptions at american.edu/sis.
SECURITY
COMMUNICATION
BIODIVERSITY
612
13. INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION | NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE | NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
African Studies
Applied Conflict Resolution
Asian Studies
Climate and Energy
Community Development
Development Policy
Economics
European Studies
Gender Studies
Global Health
Global Social Media, Technology, and Policy
Budgeting for Development
Business-NGO Partnership Building
Designing Intercultural Training Programs
Fundraising
Gender Analysis and Development
Governance and Democracy
Human Rights
Identity and Culture
Intercultural Relations
International Business
International Development
International Economic Relations
International Education
International Organizations
International Political Economy
Islamic Studies
Middle Eastern Studies
Negotiation
Peacebuilding
Program and Project Evaluation
Public Diplomacy
Russian and Eurasian Studies
Security Studies
Social Entrepreneurship
Transnational Crime and Corruption
U.S. Foreign Policy
U.S. National Security
Media Relations in Conflict Zones
Policy Briefing
Project and Program Evaluation
Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment in Disasters
Real World Strategic Planning
SAMPLE CONCENTRATIONS
SAMPLE SKILLS INSTITUTES
S C H O O L O F I N T E R N A T I O N A L S E R V I C E | A U
YOU’LL BE ABLE TO
APPLY YOUR LEARNING
IN WASHINGTON, DC,
AND AROUND THE WORLD
At SIS, you will pursue your education and career development
simultaneously through a skills-focused curriculum, professional
internships, study abroad opportunities, and applied practica projects
in Washington, D.C., and around the world. Drawing on local
resources and those of our partners overseas, more than 90 percent
of SIS graduate students complete at least one internship during
their time in the program.
In recent years, students have interned at organizations such as
World Wildlife Fund, Save the Children, the U.S. Department of
State, the Embassy of France, the Stimson Center, Open Society
Foundations, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the
Wilson Center, Amnesty International, the Stern Group, and
many more.
SKILLS INSTITUTES
Skills institutes are intensive workshops designed to introduce you to
professional skills relevant to careers in international affairs. Taught
by experienced practitioners from many fields, the courses allow
participants to translate theory into practice and gain relevant skills
and experiences sought by today’s employers.
Around 20 weekend skills institutes are offered each semester to help
you gain practical tools necessary for effective global leadership. These
workshops take place over 2–3 days during one or two weekends,
typically a Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday.
5
Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau visited SIS
on March 11, 2016, and
spoke with students.
Photo:AU/JeffWatts.
14. ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES | PEACE CORPS | PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW POLICY GROUP | THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS | RAYTHEON |
SAMPLE PRACTICUM COURSES INCLUDE:
Chile and Democracy Promotion
Client: The National Endowment for Democracy
Climate Ethics and Environmental Justice
Client: Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund
Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding
Client: International NGOs, government agencies,
the Alliance for Peacebuilding
Corruption and Governance
Client: The World Bank
Intelligence Analysis
Client: Defense Intelligence Agency
U.S. Policy Towards Egypt
Client: The Office of Egyptian Affairs at the State Department
SIS PRACTICUM IN-DEPTH
Cuba: Broadening Normalization
Professor: Fulton Armstrong
Clients: Major organizations interested in promoting trade and
other aspects of U.S.-Cuba relations
The “Cuba: Broadening Normalization” practicum team examined
the implications of normalizing diplomatic relations between the
United States and Cuba—assessing the process and developments;
analyzing the opportunities and obstacles ahead; and developing
strategies and recommendations for anticipating and resolving
challenges to the evolution of the healthy, mutually beneficial
relationship that both countries seek. The team focused their
research and final recommendations on four key sectors: trade
and investment, foreign policy, communication and culture, and
legislation and regulation. Practicum students had the opportunity
to travel to Cuba during Spring Break.
THE PRACTICUM PROGRAM
As an SIS student, you will have the chance to participate in a
practicum course or write a substantial research project or thesis
as your capstone project. The practicum is a one-semester, 3-credit
team-based course in which you will work with agencies and
organizations in the field for a real-world experience.
The client presents a challenge and your student team works
together to produce deliverables that meet the client’s needs, with
the professor acting as a coach and facilitator. Some practica can
include national or international travel.
C
S C H O O L O F I N T E R N A T I O N A L S E R V I C E | A U
“Service implies not only thinking and acting beyond narrow
self-interests for the good of society at large, but also debating
and defining what that “good” is—and who gets to decide what
that “good” is—at different historical moments.”
Malini Ranganathan ~ Assistant Professor
614
Photo:MattSacco.
Hiking during the short-term seminar
“Environmental, Cultural, and Political
Developments in Cuba” in 2013.
15. DUAL-DEGREE
Costa Rica: UN University for Peace
Japan: Ritsumeikan University
Korea: Korea University
SEMESTER PROGRAMS
Canada: University of Toronto
France: Sciences Po
Korea: Korea University
Germany: Freie Universität Berlin
Norway: Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Russia: St. Petersburg University
Turkey: Koç University
Egypt: The American University in Cairo
New Zealand: Victoria University of Wellington
Costa Rica: UN University for Peace
Colombia: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Peru: Peruvian Diplomatic Academy
China: Peking University
Japan: Ritsumeikan University
Switzerland: Graduate Institute Geneva
SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND | UNITED NATIONS | U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | U.S. ARMY | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE |
SIS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS
To help you further develop a global perspective, SIS offers numerous opportunities for you to study
and conduct research abroad, including short-term summer experiences and dual degree programs.
Funding is available through SIS to support these research and study abroad initiatives.
COMMUNITY
HUMANDIGNITY
SOCIAL JUSTICE
MORE THAN
200STUDENTS WENT
ABROAD FOR RESEARCH,
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT OR AN
ACADEMIC STUDY
PROGRAM IN
2015—2016
SUMMER PROGRAMS*
Baku, Azerbaijan
Cambridge, UK
Tbilisi, Georgia
Geneva, Switzerland
Bonn, Germany
Israel
Malaysia
South Africa
Internships
PRACTICA ABROAD*
Brazil
Cuba
Israel
american.edu/sis/sisabroad
*Summer programs and practica abroad listed
are samples and may change over time.
15
Jamie Ravetz, MIS/MA ’07, in Nepal.
16. YOU’LL HAVE A TEAM DEDICATED TO
SUPPORTING YOUR CAREER GOALS
SIS graduates work in traditional professions such as international development, communications, and
foreign policy, along with newer fields that include political risk consulting, energy and food security,
corporate social responsibility, and cyber technology, throughout the world. The Office of Career
Development, along with SIS faculty members, provides you with individualized assistance in exploring
and preparing for successful careers in the field. Additionally, the school offers regular networking
events throughout the year with alumni, ranging from informal discussions to panel presentations.
Our philosophy of career advising is for you to come in to our office “early, often, and always.” From
discussing your career goals to offering advice on salary negotiations, and from first résumé review to
mid-career strategy setting: we want to help you develop the career path that meets your goals, even as
those goals change over time. Our advice is personalized, not one-size-fits-all, and will be available as
long as you need it.
THE OFFICE OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES THE
FOLLOWING SERVICES TO SIS STUDENTS AND ALUMNI:
“Leadership in a world riven by religious, ethnic, and cultural conflicts
means emphasizing the moral high ground, knowledge, and compassion
to provide guidance and build bridges of understanding—the very basis
of the SIS vision of service.”
Ambassador Akbar Ahmed ~ Professor Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies
6
:: initial résumé evaluation
:: job search strategies
:: online resources
:: informational and mock interview preparation
:: salary negotiation training
:: graduate career boot camp
:: one-on-one advising
:: résumé and cover letter critique
:: alumni and employer panels
:: employer site visits
:: job and internship fairs
:: international internships
:: merit award advising
:: student-alumni engagement opportunities
:: ongoing career advising beyond SIS
:: weekly career development emails
Our Office of Alumni Relations hosts an array of student/alumni
engagement events and programs throughout the year. Our staff are
always available to speak with you about the SIS Student-Alumni
Mentoring Program and the best ways to connect with alumni,
build relationships, and maintain them for the long haul.
Our award-winning Office of Merit Awards provides personalized
advising to you in pursuit of national scholarships and fellowships
to support your academic and career goals, including the prestigious
Boren Fellowship, Fulbright Fellowship, and the Presidential
Management Fellowship.
COM
GLO
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE |
16
17. S C H O O L O F I N T E R N A T I O N A L S E R V I C E | A U
17
OMMITMENT
LOBAL CITIZENS
DIVERSITY
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY | U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY | U.S. MARINE CORPS
“SIS has a unique ability to attract faculty and students from a wide
variety of backgrounds who share a common goal of making the world
a better place. It is a tremendous intellectual community, where members
learn from each other both inside and outside the classroom.“
Nora Bensahel ~ Distinguished Scholar in Residence
Global Scholar Class of 2014
summer study abroad cohort on
the road in Costa Rica.
Photo:SavannaRovira.
Daphne Hackenberg,
BA/SIS ‘13, gets her hands
dirty at a nursery
in Costa Rica.
Photo:SavannaRovira.
18. EMILY HAM SIS/MA ’15
For most students, graduation day is their last day on campus, but for Emily Ham, it was her first.
Ham, who served as SIS’s graduate student commencement speaker in May 2015, completed her
master’s degree for the Master of Arts in International Relations Online (IR Online) program from
Belgium, where she was stationed at the time as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. Throughout her studies,
she worked as an analyst in the Crisis and Situational Awareness Section in the Comprehensive Crisis
Management and Operations Center at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
(SHAPE). She is still a lieutenant and is now based in Washington, D.C.
Ham decided to pursue online education because it provided the flexibility she needed in the military.
However, she steered clear of traditional online programs, which tend to be non-interactive. IR Online
at SIS attracted her because the program provided opportunities to engage with her professors and
classmates face to face, even from across the Atlantic.
She was also able to contribute her professional experiences to class discussions—which meant, as
Ham jokes, that she became the go-to NATO expert of her cohort. Thanks to SIS, Ham believes she
has gained a broader appreciation for international partnerships and conflict resolution across the globe.
Ham says, “Even though I wasn’t on-site, I had the opportunity to interact with my classmates in real
time. When you enroll in SIS’s online graduate programs, you are not just a username. There is always
a very personalized aspect to the program.”
LINNISA WAHID SIS/MA ’04
Born to Sierra Leonean immigrant parents, Linnisa Wahid initially pursued international affairs because
she was shocked at the lack of media attention and scant international efforts aimed at ending Sierra
Leone’s civil war (1991–2002).
That’s why Wahid enrolled in the International Peace and Conflict Resolution master’s program with a
concentration in Africa. While at SIS, she interned as a Pickering Fellow in the Bureau of African Affairs
in the Department of State where she analyzed regional and security affairs.
Wahid continues to serve at the Department of State, now as a Foreign Service Officer. She is the coordinator
and instructor for the Foreign Service Institute’s Political/Economic Tradecraft course for all new political
and economic Foreign Service Officers. She previously served as the senior Sudan desk officer in the
Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan and served as a political officer in Sudan,
Cameroon, and Jordan.
Her advice for students who might want to follow her footsteps at the State Department: “Don’t get
discouraged and keep an open mind. In this field, remember that you may have to put some of your
personal ideals aside to serve others. Use the U.S. government as a vehicle for change and to give a voice
to the voiceless.”
US-CHINA BUSINESS COUNCIL | UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE | VOICE OF AMERICA | THE WORLD BANK | WORLD VISION
ALUMYOU’LL HAVE A READY-MADE NETWORK OF
MORE THAN 20,000 COLLEAGUES WORLDWIDE
Our alumni represent 130+ countries. They’ve gone on to great careers in government, nonprofits,
and business, and are engaged, caring global citizens. Their stories are all different, but the shared
SIS experience and commitment to leadership through service binds them to the SIS community.
This global community will be glad to welcome you when you receive your graduate degree from SIS,
and will help support you as you build your own career of service. Here are a few of their stories:
19. GEETA RAJ SIS/MA ’03
Geeta is proof that incoming graduate students do not necessarily need to come from international
affairs backgrounds to thrive at SIS. Raj entered SIS with an undergraduate degree in creative writing
and has used her writing skills to amplify her impact in her chosen career. She is the president and
founder of The Global Sleepover, a children’s digital storytelling series that teaches children to become
global citizens.
“I believe education is one of the most sustainable paths to positive social change,” says Raj. Inspired
by her post-graduate work in London for a non-governmental organization, Raj began the International
Peace and Conflict Resolution master’s program in fall 2001. At first, she worried that her arts back-
ground would prevent her from being able to keep up with her peers, many of whom had served in
the Peace Corps and studied political science in college. However, Raj quickly flourished through
the guidance of her professors. She even utilized her creative writing skills by launching Chiaroscuro,
a literary journal about international affairs issues, with her classmates.
Upon graduation, Raj used her AU network to land a position at the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID). For eight years, she served as a senior program analyst for USAID offices in
Afghanistan, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania,
Serbia, and South Sudan, before launching The Global Sleepover.
As SIS continues to impact Raj, she in turn impacts SIS. Raj was nominated for the SIS Alumnus/a
of the Year award in 2013 and has recruited interns from the school. She advises current students:
“Always remember that there are many alumni in Washington, D.C., with whom you can make
connections. We have a tight-knit community here. In the back of my mind, I know I will always
be supported by our alumni network.”
KYLE LIVINGSTON SIS/MA ’15
After serving in Thailand with the Peace Corps, Kyle Livingston reversed his career plans.
Rather than becoming a doctor like his parents, Livingston instead decided to pursue the field
of international affairs.
“The Peace Corps asked me at the last second if I could switch my assignment from Eastern Europe
to Thailand. I decided to go for it and ended up falling in love with Southeast Asia and international
development,” explained Livingston, who volunteered in 2011 during the election of Thailand’s first
prime minister.
Livingston pursued the Comparative and Regional Studies program. While a student, he returned to
Thailand for a summer to work as a public affairs intern at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok—just one
month after the Thai military coup d’état took place.
Currently, Livingston works full-time for the Peace Corps as a social media and digital engagement
strategist. He is also a consultant for Walt Disney Animation Studios on cultural issues pertaining to
Southeast Asia.
Livingston remains an active alumnus: “I have nothing but praise for this school. Most people have a
very deep connection to the college or university where they completed their undergraduate degree. For
me, it’s the exact opposite. I have a very strong connection to my graduate program because it has put
me on the path I’m on today.”
S C H O O L O F I N T E R N A T I O N A L S E R V I C E | A U
MNISTORIES
19
20. ADMISSIONS
REQUIRED MATERIALS
:: online application
:: transcripts
:: résumé
:: statement of purpose
:: letters of recommendation
:: applicable test scores
:: application fee
APPLICATION DEADLINES
PhD (FALL ADMISSION ONLY)
December 15
MASTER’S PROGRAMS
Fall semester
January 15
Spring semester
September 15 (international applicants)
October 1 (domestic applicants)
EXECUTIVE MASTER’S PROGRAMS
EXECUTIVE TRACK
Fall semester
July 1 (international applicants)
July 30 (domestic applicants)
Spring semester
November 1
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES TRACK
Please check with partner institution on
the respective deadline.
MAILING ADDRESS
(FOR APPLICATION MATERIALS ONLY)
United States mail (USPS)
Office of Enrollment
SIS Graduate Admissions
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-8081
COURIER/OVERNIGHT SERVICE
(FEDEX, UPS, DHL, ETC.)
Office of Enrollment
SIS Graduate Admissions
3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW
STE B1
Washington, DC 20016-8081
USA
EMAIL ADDRESS
(FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATION
MATERIALS ONLY)
graduateadmissionsdocuments@american.edu
GENERAL CONTACT INFORMATION
(FOR CAMPUS VISITS AND
OTHER INQUIRIES)
Office of Graduate Enrollment Management
School of International Service, Suite 112
American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
Phone: 202-885-1646
Fax: 202-885-1109
sisgrad@american.edu
american.edu/sis/admissions
SIS PARTNERS INCLUDE:
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
202-885-1646
american.edu/sis
Building photos, front and back cover:
Copyright 2013 Prakash Patel.
