School of International Service

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School of International Service
Established	1957
Type	Private
Dean	Louis W. Goodman
Faculty	51 (full-time)[1]
Students	1,485 (undergraduate)/ 896 (graduate)
Location	Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Campus	Urban
Nickname	SIS
Website	http://www.american.edu/sis/

The School of International Service (SIS) is American University's school of advanced international study in the areas of international security, communications, development, economics, peace & conflict resolution, and American foreign policy.

SIS is the largest and most applied-to school of international relations in the United States, enrolling 2,500 students from over 150 countries. Home to some of the most respected researchers and educators in the field of international relations, the school makes extensive use of the valuable academic and governmental resources offered by the university's location in Washington, D.C. Students are offered a myriad of opportunities by the thousands of public and international organizations located in Washington, D.C., and around the world.

The strength of SIS made AU the 2005 recipient of the prestigious Institute of International Education's Andrew Haskell Award for exceptional quality and reach of international relations programs. SIS is consistently ranked in conjunction with American University's School of Public Affairs as the top ten such programs in the country by US News & World Report's college and university rankings.

SIS is a member of The Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, an organization of the 29 most highly regarded graduate degree granting institutions across the globe dedicated to the advanced study of international relations.

Contents 1 History 2 Graduate programs 2.1 Masters degree programs 2.2 Dual degree programs 2.3 PhD program 2.4 Executive masters degree 2.5 Graduate certificates 3 Departments, centers & programs 4 Professors and alumni 5 External links 6 Notes

[edit] History

The founding of SIS was urged by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower during the height of the Cold War. President Eisenhower's initiative called together thirteen University presidents, including AU's Hurst Anderson, encouraging them to create academic programs dedicated to preparing policy practioners for the U.S.–Soviet rivalry.

SIS was created with the following mission in mind: to establish a school predicated on service to the global community. In 1957, ground was broken by Eisenhower and in 1958 SIS admitted its first full-time class, thus replacing AU's Department of International Relations. The first matriculating class of SIS consisted of 85 students representing 36 countries.

In 1967, SIS added its International Communications program—the first such program offered by an American university. Constantly adapting to the demands of the changing international system, in 1981 SIS inaugurated the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies 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 in Kyoto, Japan and Korea University in Seoul, Korea in recognition of the importance of education that embraces varied cultures. In 1991, SIS added the Center for the Global South to raise awareness and devise solutions for the problems affecting the most impoverished regions of the world. This was followed in 1995 by the addition of the Mohammed Sa'eed Farsee Chair in Islamic Peace, and in 2000 with a joint program on National Resources and Sustainable Development with the United Nations University for Peace.

In 2004, plans were initiated for the building of a new academic building on the quad of AU's campus, and construction is slated to commence in 2007.[1] [2]

SIS PUBLICATIONS The Diplomatic Pouch [3]. This publication of SIS's Program Development Office highlights upcoming events, undergraduate and graduate news, and SIS alumni activities. Swords & Ploughshares Journal [4]. The Eagle [5]. AU's official student-run newspaper. Democratizatsiya: Journal of Post-Soviet Democratization. Intercultural Management Quarterly [6] The IMQ is published by the International Communications Student Forum, a graduate student organization within the School of International Service at The American University.

[edit] Graduate programs

Comprised of over 86 full-time faculty members spread over eight fields of study, SIS encourages applications from students with a wide variety of backgrounds. There is no typical SIS student except each is committed to an international career and public service, has international experience, knows a second language, and possesses a spirit of inquiry and involvement. Admission to SIS is highly competitive. The combined average GRE score for admitted students is 610 for Verbal, 650 for Quantitative, and 5.1 for Analytical, while the average undergraduate GPA is 3.5.

[edit] Masters degree programs

The School of International Service offers the following Master's Degrees.

MA, International Affairs (with a concentration in one of the following): Comparative and Regional Studies International Economic Relations International Politics U.S. Foreign Policy MA, International Communication MA, International Development MS, Development Management MA, International Peace and Conflict Resolution MA, Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs MA Global Environmental Politics

In 2007, Foreign Policy magazine rated the Master's programs at the SIS 8th in the country in their annual rankings.

[edit] Dual degree programs

Combined BA/MA (for current SIS undergraduate students only) JD/MA International Affairs (with a concentration in International Politics) MA, International Affairs/MBA MA, International Peace and Conflict Resolution/MA, Teaching MA, International Peace and Conflict Resolution/MTS, Master of Theological Studies Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Dual MA Degree: University for Peace/American University Ritsumeikan University/American University Korea University/American University Sookmyung University/American University

[edit] PhD program

The PhD program at American University’s School of International Service (SIS) trains students to produce new knowledge of the highest scholarly caliber. The program prepares students for careers as teachers and scholars at universities and research institutes in both the private and public sectors.

The curriculum offers preparation in the foundational fields of transnational study: Comparative and Regional Studies, International Relations and Social Theory. Once students acquire a firm foundation, they have considerable opportunities for pursuing further study with depth and focus. SIS offers programs in Comparative and Regional Studies, International Communication, International Development, International Economic Policy, International Peace and Conflict Resolution, International Politics, Global Environmental Policy and United States Foreign Policy.

[edit] Executive masters degree

Through 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.

After completion of the program, graduate will have both the skills and the certification to meet the demands of executive level service in the dynamic private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

As a Master of International Service candidate, one will join other mid-career professionals in a unique two course sequence, the Proseminar in International Affairs I & II.

Proseminar I provides an overview of new developments in international affairs; it connects theory and practice at the executive level in international affairs. Proseminar II focuses on professional strategies for coping with change and professional skills enhancement.

The Proseminars host key public and private sector executives to exchange ideas with students on their areas of responsibility.

One can construct a uniquely-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

[edit] Graduate certificates

SIS Graduate Certificate Programs: Graduate Certificate in Cross-Cultural Communication Graduate Certificate in International Economic Relations Graduate Certificate on the Americas Graduate Certificate in Peacebuilding

[edit] Departments, centers & programs

• Department of Comparative & Regional Studies
• Department of Global Environmental Politics
• Department of International Communication
• Department of International Development
• Department of International Economic Relations
• Department of International Peace & Conflict Resolution
• Department of International Politics
• Department of U.S. Foreign Policy
• Americas Program
• Center for Asian Studies
• Center for Global Peace
• Center for the Global South
• Council on Comparative Studies
• Transnational Crime & Corruption Center
• Intercultural Management Institute
• Public International Law and Policy Program
• Human Rights in the 21st Century
• Peacebuilding & Development Institute
• North American Studies Institute

[edit] Professors and alumni

Main article: List of American University people

[edit] External links

• School of International Service
• American University

[edit] Notes

Colleges and Universities in the District of Columbia
American • Catholic • Corcoran • Gallaudet • GWU • Georgetown • Howard • National Defense • SAIS • Southeastern • Strayer • Trinity • UDC