The School of International Service (SIS) is

American University The American University (AU or American) is a private federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Its main campus spans 90 acres (36 ha) on Ward Circle, mostly in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Northwest D.C. AU was charte ...

's school of advanced international study, covering areas such as

international politics International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the Scientific method, scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities betwe ...

international communication International communication (also referred to as the ''study of global communication'' or transnational communication) is the communication practice that occurs across international borders. The need for international communication was due to the ...

international development International development or global development is a broad concept denoting the idea that societies and countries have differing levels of economic or human development on an international scale. It is the basis for international classifications ...

international economics International economics is concerned with the effects upon economic activity from international differences in productive resources and consumer preferences and the international institutions that affect them. It seeks to explain the patterns and ...

, peace and conflict resolution,

international law International law (also known as public international law and the law of nations) is the set of rules, norms, and standards generally recognized as binding between states. It establishes normative guidelines and a common conceptual framework for ...

and

human rights Human rights are Morality, moral principles or Social norm, normsJames Nickel, with assistance from Thomas Pogge, M.B.E. Smith, and Leif Wenar, 13 December 2013, Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyHuman Rights Retrieved 14 August 2014 for ce ...

, global environmental politics, and U.S. foreign policy. The School of International Service was established in 1957 and has an alumni network of over 20,000. SIS enrolls more than 3,000 students from over 150 countries. The school makes extensive use of the academic and governmental resources offered by its location in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

The School of International Service consistently ranks highly among international relations programs. SIS is a member of

the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs The Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) is a non-profit educational organization of graduate schools of international affairs, with 40 members and 26 affiliates around the world. Starting as a network of Americ ...

. SIS also has partnerships with schools such as the

Balsillie School of International Affairs The Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) is a centre for advanced research and teaching on global governance and international public policy, located in Waterloo, Ontario. As one of the largest social sciences initiatives in Canada, t ...

History

The founding of schools of international affairs was urged by

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...

during the height of the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

. His initiative called together thirteen University presidents, including AU's

Hurst Robins Anderson Hurst Robins Anderson (September 16, 1904 – April 19, 1989) was president of American University from 1952 until 1968, during which he oversaw one of the institution's most important periods of growth and development. He was previously a faculty ...

, encouraging them to create human-focused international affairs programs dedicated to preparing practitioners for foreign policy beyond the U.S.–Soviet rivalry. In response, SIS was founded with the mission to establish a school based on service to the global community. In 1958, the school admitted its first full-time class, replacing AU's Department of International Relations. The class consisted of 85 students representing 36 countries. In 1967, SIS added its International Communications program, the first such program offered by an American

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

. In 1981 SIS inaugurated the

Ibn Khaldun Ibn Khaldun (; ar, أبو زيد عبد الرحمن بن محمد بن خلدون الحضرمي, ; 27 May 1332 – 17 March 1406, 732-808 AH) was an Arab The Historical Muhammad', Irving M. Zeitlin, (Polity Press, 2007), p. 21; "It is, of ...

Chair A chair is a type of seat, typically designed for one person and consisting of one or more legs, a flat or slightly angled seat and a back-rest. They may be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials, and may be padded or upholstered in vario ...

Islamic Studies Islamic studies refers to the academic study of Islam, and generally to academic multidisciplinary "studies" programs—programs similar to others that focus on the history, texts and theologies of other religious traditions, such as Easter ...

to address concerns that American universities lacked an appropriate venue for exploring the greater Muslim-Western understanding. In the 1990s, SIS established dual degree programs with

Ritsumeikan University is a private university in Kyoto, Japan, that traces its origin to 1869. With the Kinugasa Campus (KIC) in Kyoto, and Kyoto Prefecture, the university also has a satellite called Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (BKC) and Osaka-Ibaraki Campus (OIC). Tod ...

Kyoto, Japan Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the city ...

and

Korea University Korea University (KU, ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea, established in 1905. The university is included as one of the SKY universities, a popular acronym referring to Korea's three most prestigious universities. The ...

Seoul, Korea Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...

. In 1991, SIS added the Center for the Global South, followed in 1995 by the addition of the

Mohammed Said Farsi Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the mono ...

Chair in Islamic Peace, and in 2000 with a joint program on National Resources and Sustainable Development with the

United Nations University for Peace The University for Peace (UPEACE) is an international university and intergovernmental organization. The university was established as a treaty organisation by the United Nations General Assembly in 1980. Each year, the University for Peace se ...

. New degree options implemented in 2010 include the Global Scholars Program, a concentrated three-year B.A. program, an M.A. program in Social Enterprise, and, in partnership with the U.S. Peace Corps, a Master's International degree combining a Peace Corps assignment with SIS academic work.

New building

In 2004, plans were initiated for a new, , academic building designed by architect

William McDonough William Andrews McDonough is an American architect, designer, and author. McDonough is founding principal of William McDonough + Partners, co-founder of McDonough MBDC, and co-author of ''Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things'' a ...

, which was completed in spring 2010. It is a

LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction ...

Gold-certified building, featuring of photovoltaic solar panels, low-flow faucets to reduce water consumption, and three

solar water heating Solar water heating (SWH) is heating water by sunlight, using a solar thermal collector. A variety of configurations are available at varying cost to provide solutions in different climates and latitudes. SWHs are widely used for residential a ...

systems.

SIS publications

Clocks and Clouds
is American University's undergraduate journal of international affairs.
The Journal of International Service
is American University's graduate journal of international affairs.
Intercultural Management Quarterly
is published by th
Intercultural Management Institute
which provides customized training for effective communication, negotiation, and leadership across cultures.

Academics

Bachelor's degrees

The School of International Service offers a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

in International Studies. The School also allows undergraduate students to earn a minor in International Studies as well as undergraduate certificates in either European Studies and International Studies.

Master's degrees

The School of International Service offers the following

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

s: *

Master of Science A Master of Science ( la, Magisterii Scientiae; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. In contrast to ...

in Development Management *

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights * Master of Arts in Global Environmental Policy * Master of Arts in International Affairs (with a concentration in Comparative and Regional Studies; Global Governance, Politics, and Security; International Economic Relations; Natural Resources and Sustainable Development; or United States Foreign Policy and National Security) *Master of Arts in International Affairs Policy and Analysis * Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Communication * Master of Arts in

International Development International development or global development is a broad concept denoting the idea that societies and countries have differing levels of economic or human development on an international scale. It is the basis for international classifications ...

* Master of Arts in International Economics Relations * Master of Arts in International Economics Relations: Quantitative Methods * Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution * Master of Arts in

International Relations International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such as ...

(only available online) * Master of Arts in Social Enterprise SIS also offers several combined degrees: * Combined

/Master of Arts (BA/MA) (for current American University undergraduate students only) *

Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...

/Master of Arts in International Affairs (with a concentration in International Affairs) (with American's

Washington College of Law The American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL or WCL) is the law school of American University, a Private university, private research university in Washington, D.C. It is located on the western side of Tenley Circle in the Tenleyto ...

) * Master of Arts in International Affairs/

Master of Business Administration A Master of Business Administration (MBA; also Master's in Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounti ...

* Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution/

Master of Arts in Teaching The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or Master of Science in Teaching (MST) degree is generally a pre-service degree that usually requires a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree. While the program often requires education c ...

* Master of Arts International Peace and Conflict Resolution/

Master of Theological Studies A Master of Theological Studies (MTS) is a graduate degree, offered in theological seminary or graduate faculty of theology, which gives students lay training in theological studies. Under Association of Theological Schools in the United States a ...

* Dual Master of Arts in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (with the

University for Peace The University for Peace (UPEACE) is an international university and intergovernmental organization. The university was established as a treaty organisation by the United Nations General Assembly in 1980. Each year, the University for Peace se ...

) The School also has programs with

, and

Sookmyung University Sookmyung Women’s University () is a private university in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 1906, Sookmyung is Korea’s first royal private educational institution for women. The university's name is derived from the Hanja charact ...

. Information on dual-degree, semester, or summer/intersession study abroad programs are available on the Office of International Programs website.

Ph.D. program

The

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

program in International Relations at SIS prepares students for careers as teachers and scholars at universities and research institutes in the private and public sectors. Ph.D. field concentrations include Development Studies; Global Environment; Global Governance & International Organizations; Peace & Conflict Resolution; Political Violence; Security; Technology, Culture & Social Change; and United States Foreign Policy and National Security.

Executive master's degree

In this program, experienced international affairs professionals are able to broaden their knowledge, enhance their intellectual development, expand their professional effectiveness, and strengthen their international leadership skills and knowledge. One can construct an individually tailored program of study from among the school's eight disciplines: * Comparative and Regional Studies * Global Environmental Politics * International Communication * International Development * International Economic Relations * International Politics and Foreign Policy * International Peace and Conflict Resolution * U.S. Foreign Policy

Graduate certificates

SIS Graduate Certificate Programs: * Comparative and Regional Studies * Cross-Cultural Communication * European Studies * Global Environmental Policy * Global Information Technology * International Arts Management * International Communication * International Economic Policy * International Economic Relations * International Peace and Conflict Resolution * International Politics * Peacebuilding * The Americas * United States Foreign Policy

Online Programs

American University's School of International Service offers two online international relations degrees: a Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) and an Executive Master of International Service (MIS). The MAIR program features live online classes and five concentrations, including Global Security, International Development, and International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. The Executive MIS degree is designed for professionals with seven or more years of experience in the fields of international affairs or international service.

Research and learning centers

ASEAN Studies Center

Bridging the Gap

Center for Latin American and Latino Studies

Center for Global Peace

Center for Research on Collaboratories and Technology Enhanced Learning Communities (COTELCO)

Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment

Institute on Disability and Public Policy

Intercultural Management Institute

International Affairs Research Institute

Public International Law and Policy Program

Transnational Challenges and Emerging Nations Dialogue

US-Pakistan Women's Council

Notable faculty

Notable current and former SIS faculty include: *

Mohammed Abu-Nimer Mohammed Abu-Nimer is an American expert on conflict resolution and dialogue for peace. He is a full professor at the American University School of International Service in International Peace and Conflict Resolution in Washington, DC, the largest ...

– expert on conflict-resolution and the politics of the Middle East * Amitav Acharya–

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

Chair in Transnational Challenges and Governance *

Akbar S. Ahmed Akbar Salahuddin Ahmed, is a Pakistani-American academic, author, poet, playwright, filmmaker and former diplomat. He currently is a professor of International Relations and holds the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at the American Universi ...

– former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Kingdom *

George Ayittey George B. N. Ayittey (13 October 1945 – 28 January 2022) was a Ghanaian economist, author, and president of the Free Africa Foundation in Washington DC. He was a professor at American University, and an associate scholar at the Foreign Polic ...

– President of the Free Africa Foundation; political economics professor * Robert A. Blecker – economist specializing in macroeconomics and international trade theory * Edmund Ghareeb – Lebanese-American scholar specializing in Middle East politics * James Goldgeier – foreign policy scholar specializing in American foreign policy, including US-Russia relations * Louis W. Goodman - international relations scholar, specializing in Latin America * Frank William La Rue – UN Special Rapporteur and human rights scholar-activist *

Charles Malik Charles Habib Malik (sometimes spelled ''Charles Habib Malik''; 11 February 1906 – 28 December 1987; ar, شارل مالك) was a Lebanese academic, diplomat, philosopher, and politician. He served as the Lebanese representative to the United ...

– former president of the

United Nations Economic and Social Council The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC; french: links=no, Conseil économique et social des Nations unies, ) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic and social fields ...

* Renee Marlin-Bennett – expert on global political economy *

Hamid Mowlana Hamid Mowlana ( fa, حمید مولانا , Hamid Molana, born in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Imperial State of Iran) is an Iranian-American author and academic. He is Professor Emeritus of International Relations in the School of International S ...

– Iranian-American advisor and academic *

Orlando Letelier Marcos Orlando Letelier del Solar (13 April 1932 – 21 September 1976) was a Chilean economist, politician and diplomat during the presidency of Salvador Allende. A refugee from the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, Letelier ...

– Chilean economist and diplomat *

James H. Mittelman James Howard Mittelman (born November 29, 1944) is an American scholar and author. Born in Marinette, Wisconsin, he spent much of his early life in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a political economist noted for his analyses of globalization and developme ...

– expert on globalization and development * Anthony C. E. Quainton – United States Ambassador to the

Central African Empire From 4 December 1976 to 21 September 1979, the Central African Republic was officially known as the Central African Empire (french: Empire centrafricain), after military dictator (and president at the time) Marshal Jean-Bédel Bokassa declared ...

, Kuwait, Nicaragua, and Peru; United States

Coordinator for Counterterrorism The Coordinator for Counterterrorism heads the Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism, which coordinates U.S. government efforts to fight terrorism. As the head of the counterterrorism bureau, the coordinator for counterterror ...

Arturo C. Porzecanski Arturo C. Porzecanski is a Uruguayan-born economist who has spent his entire adult life in the United States. Early life Born (November 2, 1949) and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay, of European Jewish immigrant parents, Porzecanski came to the U ...

– Distinguished Economist-in-Residence; Professor and Program Director of the MA in International Economic Relations; investor *

Andrew E. Rice Andrew Eliot Rice (29 August 1922 – 1 June 2010) was an American academic from American University. He founded the Society for International Development in 1957, and at Colorado State University he undertook research leading to the formation ...

– founder of the

Society for International Development The Society for International Development (SID) was founded in Washington, D.C., United States, in 1957. SID has a network of individual and institutional members, local chapters and partner organisations, in more than 80 countries. It works with ...

Susan Rice Susan Elizabeth Rice (born November 17, 1964) is an American diplomat, policy advisor, and public official serving as Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Rice served as the 27th ...

– the 24th United States National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2017 during the Barack Obama Administration. She was formerly a U.S. diplomat, Brookings Institution fellow, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She served on the staff of the National Security Council and as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs during President Bill Clinton's second term. *

Abdul Aziz Said Abdul Aziz Said (September 1, 1930 – January 22, 2021) was Professor Emeritus of International Relations in the School of International Service at American University, Washington, D.C., and founding Director of the university's International ...

– foreign affairs scholar specializing in diplomacy Islamic world * David J. Saposs – economist and historian; former chief economist of the

National Labor Relations Board The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent agency of the federal government of the United States with responsibilities for enforcing U.S. labor law in relation to collective bargaining and unfair labor practices. Under the Natio ...

* Cathy Schneider – author and professor of urban politics, comparative social movements, and criminal justice *

Stephen Silvia Stephen J. Silvia is a professor at American University's School of International Service and an affiliate professor in American University's Economics Department. He teaches international economics, international trade relations, and comparative ...

– scholar of international economics, international trade relations, and comparative politics (with emphasis on Germany and United States) * Roger Tangri – British-American scholar of African politics * Irene Tinker – expert on comparative global development; founding Board president of the

International Center for Research on Women The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, with regional offices in New Delhi, India, Nairobi, Kenya, and Kampala, Uganda. ICRW has project offices in Mumba ...

* Celeste A. Wallander – professor; specialist on military and energy in Russia/Eurasia region; member of the

Council on Foreign Relations The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an American think tank A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, mi ...

; * Paul R. Williams – human rights lawyer and President of the Public International Law & Policy Group *

Ibram X. Kendi Ibram Xolani Kendi (born Ibram Henry Rogers, August 13, 1982) is an American author, professor, Anti-racism, anti-racist activist, and historian of race and discriminatory policy in America. In July 2020, he assumed the position of director of th ...

- scholar of race and discriminatory policy in America *

Earl Anthony Wayne Earl Anthony Wayne (born 1950) is an American diplomat. Formerly Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Ambassador to Argentina and Deputy Ambassador to Afghanistan, Wayne served nearly four years as Ambassador to Mexico. ...

- Formerly

Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs The Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs is an office in the United States Department of State responsible for managing the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB) is a ...

and Ambassador to Argentina and Mexico

Notes

External links

School of International Service
{{Authority control American University Schools of international relations in the United States Public policy schools Educational institutions established in 1957 1957 establishments in Washington, D.C.