Overview
American University, School of International Service (SIS)
American University's School of International Service (SIS)--in Washington, D.C.--is a community comprised of scholars, practitioners, and students from around the world. Providing a unique environment for learning and professional development, the School of International Service features a faculty that focuses on interactive learning and involves students in ongoing research projects. The School of International Service offers opportunities to publish work, give professional presentations, or just share ideas and interests with other members of the school.
Students at the School of International Service have the opportunity to take advantage of the wealth of professional, intellectual, and cultural resources in Washington, D.C. Advisers from American University's Career Center work specifically with SIS students to find internships that strengthen academic experiences and help with job placement. Seminars, luncheons, and lectures discussing current issues of international affairs abound in Washington, D.C., allowing American University students to bridge theory with practice and forge networks of peers and practitioners in their field.
American University's multidisciplinary curriculum emphasizes the operative word in the school's name: service. This overriding belief remains American University's goal to educate graduates of a special type--individuals whose personal and societal principles offer the promise of success in the rigorous conditions of an increasingly interconnected and complex world.
School of International Service Faculty
The diversity of full-time School of International Service and American University faculty members exemplifies the multidisciplinary and cross-cultural aspects of international relations. The faculty is diverse in both academic disciplines and professional experience, in the United States and abroad.
Also, American University--located in Washington, D.C--regularly appoints adjunct and visiting professors and benefits from their expertise. As a center of public dialogue, American University's School of International Service brings in leading experts from around the world to address emerging issues in international affairs.
School of International Service Joint and Dual Degree Programs
The School of International Service is a leader in the field of graduate study abroad. It offers several types of study abroad experiences that cater to the diverse needs and interests of the students.
Dual degree programs allow students to earn two master's degrees by spending a year studying at a partner institution. Semester abroad programs provide opportunities for students to specialize in a particular regional or functional area related to its School of International Service degree program.
For students seeking a more in-depth, concentrated experience in a specific country or topic area, the School of International Service also holds faculty-led, short-term summer programs.
In addition, the school supports students whose interests and needs fall outside the parameters of organized programs by providing direction and resources for independent study projects abroad.
Regardless of the program type, School of International Service students are found taking classes, interning, and conducting research in places such as South Africa, Costa Rica, Belgium, China, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and more.
American University Campus, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. has become an important global business and financial center, with a myriad of associations and trade organizations. Some 192 foreign embassies, chanceries, and the headquarters of many international organizations are located in the city.
The National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, World Bank, National Archives, Brookings Institution, Heritage Foundation, Inter-American Development Bank, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Library of Congress are all just a short drive or subway ride from the School of International Service.
There is also a host of research and internship sites related to each School of International Services program, including the Office of the European Union Commission, the Organization of American States, TransAfrica Forum, and Asia Society. Many more major public and private organizations have Washington offices.
