SIS Centers, Institutes, and Other Scholarly Initiatives
SIS offers opportunities for study through specific projects and research centers dedicated to various themes in international affairs.
ASEAN Studies Initiative
Bridging the Gap
Center for North American Studies
Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment
Institute on Disability and Public Policy
International Affairs Research Institute
Pakistan Women’s Entrepreneurship Program
Transnational Challenges and Emerging Nations Dialogue (TRANSCEND)
U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council
SIS International Dual Degrees Programs
SIS offers dual Master’s degree programs with several renowned universities abroad. These programs enable graduate students to earn Master’s degrees from American University and another participating university. Students participating in the dual degree programs gain the knowledge, skills, and practical experience to excel in careers in both countries.
Ritsumeikan University, Japan The Graduate School of International Relations at Ritsumeikan University has partnered with SIS to offer an innovative dual Master’s degree program for students who want to take an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach to their research and education. The program, established over twenty years ago, is the first of its kind between a Japanese university and an American university. Students gain cross-cultural competency while earning two Master’s degrees in international relations.
Korea University, Korea The Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) at Korea University (KU) offers one of the premier international relations programs in Asia. Its curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary studies as part of the school’s commitment to multicultural awareness and promoting international interaction. GSIS and SIS have partnered to offer a dual Master’s degree program through which students can take advantage of the numerous opportunities offered at both schools, study with top experts in the field, and gain a new perspective on international relations from the Korean Peninsula.
University for Peace, Costa Rica SIS and the University for Peace, Costa Rica, jointly offer a program in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, where students study at and receive degrees from both American University and the United Nations-affiliated University for Peace. It is the first graduate degree program in which students can learn about environmental and development policies from the perspectives of scholars, practitioners and residents of the Global South and Global North. The two-year program equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary for managing eco-development issues in a global context and provides them with opportunities to establish ties that bridge the North-South divide.
Special Programs
Global Scholars Program
The Global Scholars Program is a rigorous undergraduate course of study designed for outstanding entering first-year students who are passionate about creating meaningful change in the world. The program allows students to complete the International Studies (BA) degree in three years by enrolling in classes during the summer terms. The program is structured to enable students to pursue traditional study abroad and internship opportunities during their time at AU, and to participate fully in the student life of the campus. Through a carefully planned sequence of courses, Global Scholars students:
- enroll in SIS core course requirements as a cohort;
- have the opportunity to study abroad during the summer between their first and second years of study;
- are eligible to apply financial aid to the summer terms for coursework and/or study abroad;
- receive support from program faculty, staff, and SIS alumni with career/internship placement; and
- undertake community service and additional activities outside of the classroom as a cohort.
Master’s International (MI)
Master’s International (MI) The Master’s International (MI) program integrates graduate study at SIS and Peace Corps service in a single program. Participants pursue a Master’s degree at SIS while serving within the Peace Corps. MI students begin their first year of graduate coursework at SIS. After receiving a Peace Corps placement, students travel to their respective sites and begin training. MI students earn 6 credit hours towards their Master’s degree requirements during their 27-month service in the Peace Corps. After completing Peace Corps service, MI students return to SIS to finish their graduate coursework. For more information, visit www.american.edu/sis/PeaceCorps/index.cfm.
Student Organizations
SIS prides itself on a long tradition of student activism, and a variety of opportunities are in place for current students who wish to be involved in activities outside of the classroom. Student groups have helped to endow scholarships, served as a catalyst for changes in the curriculum, and assisted disadvantaged groups in the United States and overseas. Volunteering with various organizations offers students a chance to make a lasting impact in the life of the school, the university, and the community, and to enhance their experience at the school. AU/SIS student organizations include:
AU Graduate Leadership Council
AU Negotiation Project
AU Student Government
Council for International Economic Relations
Creative Peace Initiatives (CPI)
Global Environmental Politics Student Association
Global Politics Student Association
International Communication Student Forum
International Development Program Student Association
Model United Nations
SIS Graduate Student Council
SIS Undergraduate Student Council
Society for Ethics, Peace & Global Affairs (SEPGA)
Society for Peace and Conflict Resolution (SPCR)
Student Organization for African Studies
USFP Student Association
SIS hosts the Alpha Chapter of the Honor Society for International Studies, Sigma Iota Rho.
Special Opportunities
Numerous school-wide opportunities are available for undergraduate and graduate students. These include study and internship opportunities around the world and in the international capital city of Washington, DC, including within the federal government. These opportunities help SIS students link theory and practice actively and build skills that are critical in an increasingly global world.
Practica The SIS Practicum is designed to give Master’s students real world experience in project management and consulting while preparing them for careers after they graduate. Students work in teams with institutional partners that include U.S. and international government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to conduct policy and program analyses, among other projects. Students draw on their substantial research, analytical, and methodological training to prepare final oral and written analyses and recommendations. The practica are led by faculty mentors who are experts in the particular field of practice. Students also participate in hands-on workshops designed to enhance their project management, client relations, oral presentation, and report writing skills.
Career Advising The school’s career advising team offers resume workshops, helps students fine-tune their career goals, advises students about possible career paths and employers, and connects students with alumni through their weekly SIS Alumni in the Atrium series. The team provides an interactive web-based tool to help students prepare for interviews. The SIS Alumni-Student Mentoring Program matches students with alumni mentors for a year, considering each student’s career goals and educational interests. Mentors in DC and around the world serve as sounding boards and provide guidance and professional contacts to help steer mentees toward their career goals.
Student Publications SIS students have many other opportunities to develop and apply their research skills. Students write for publications, including the undergraduate research journal Clocks and Clouds and the SIS graduate Journal of International Service.
Events SIS hosts hundreds of meetings, lectures, and other events that attract experts from around the world and engage students in formal and informal discussions. The school also sponsors numerous co-curricular opportunities including the annual SIS student-faculty softball game, the International Dinner, and the graduate semi-formal event, the International Affair. Career-oriented workshops greatly enhance opportunities for successful learning and networking.
Model United Nations SIS sponsors a nationally ranked Model UN program. Students practice their negotiating and diplomatic skills in dynamic simulations hosted by some of North America’s premier universities. The Model UN program also organizes two annual conferences for high school students that are held at SIS.
Educational Resources in Washington, DC
The school’s location in Washington, DC, enables an in-depth study of international affairs in a highly relevant context. The school’s location affords opportunities for hands-on learning with academic credit through internships in international, government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations with international interests.
Qualified graduates and undergraduates have the opportunity to enroll in courses at any of the 15 member institutions in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. By taking advantage of consortium offerings, students may greatly enrich their programs of study, particularly in specialized interest areas and language study.
Washington, DC, offers unique research facilities including the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and various other libraries maintained by government agencies, public and private international organizations, and other area universities.
Study Abroad
SIS Abroad offers the opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to study abroad and gain full American University course credit. All students are encouraged to learn and work in another culture. Aside from dual-degree options, SIS Abroad programs include the following:
SIS Semester Abroad Students spend one semester enrolled in courses alongside their international counterparts and are fully integrated in student life at the host campus. Students who attend these programs find that the coursework and research they undertake abroad complements their SIS studies and enriches their knowledge of a regional or functional concentration.
SIS Summer and Intersession Programs SIS organizes a number of short-term, faculty-led, experiential programs abroad each summer and intersession. Program locations change each summer and intersession to reflect the needs and interests of the student population. The detailed curricula of the programs make them ideal for students who wish to concentrate on a specific region or topic area. Each offers ample opportunity to interact with local and regional leaders, conduct field research, and participate in challenging internships.
AU Abroad SIS undergraduate students may also participate in AU Abroad, which offers over 100 programs around the world. For more information on AU Abroad programs, visit: www.auabroad.american.edu.
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