The School of International Service (SIS) is

American University The American University (AU or American) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Its main campus spans 90-acres (36 ha) on Ward Circle, in the Spri ...

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

international politics International relations (IR, and also referred to as international studies, international politics, or international affairs) is an academic discipline. In a broader sense, the study of IR, in addition to multilateral relations, concerns al ...

, international communication,

international development International development or global development is a broad concept denoting the idea that societies and countries have differing levels of economic development, economic or human development (economics), human development on an international sca ...

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 an ...

, peace and conflict resolution,

international law International law, also known as public international law and the law of nations, is the set of Rule of law, rules, norms, Customary law, legal customs and standards that State (polity), states and other actors feel an obligation to, and generall ...

and

human rights Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...

, 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. 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. 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, ...

History

The founding of schools of international affairs was urged by President

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...

during the height of the

Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...

. His initiative called together thirteen University presidents, including AU's Hurst Robins Anderson, 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 educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

. In 1981 SIS inaugurated the

Ibn Khaldun Ibn Khaldun (27 May 1332 – 17 March 1406, 732–808 Hijri year, AH) was an Arabs, Arab Islamic scholar, historian, philosopher and sociologist. He is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest social scientists of the Middle Ages, and cons ...

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. It may be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials, and may be padded or upholstered in vario ...

Islamic Studies Islamic studies is the academic study of Islam, which is analogous to related fields such as Jewish studies and Quranic studies. Islamic studies seeks to understand the past and the potential future of the Islamic world. In this multidiscipli ...

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 Korea University (KU, ) is a Private university, private research university in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1905 by Yi Yong-ik, Lee Yong-Ik, a prominent official of the Korean Empire, Korea University is among South Korea's oldest List of ...

Seoul, Korea Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

. In 1991, SIS added the Center for the Global South, followed in 1995 by the addition of the Mohammed Said Farsi Chair in Islamic Peace, and in 2000 with a joint program on National Resources and Sustainable Development with the United Nations University for Peace. 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, which was completed in spring 2010. It is a LEED 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 water heating, 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 ...

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 A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

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 a postgraduate 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 prac ...

s: *

Master of Science A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medici ...

in Development Management *

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA or AM) 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. Those admitted to the degree have ...

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 development, economic or human development (economics), human development on an international sca ...

* 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, and also referred to as international studies, international politics, or international affairs) is an academic discipline. In a broader sense, the study of IR, in addition to multilateral relations, concerns al ...

(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 A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States and the Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree. Other j ...

/Master of Arts in International Affairs (with a concentration in International Affairs) (with American's Washington College of Law) * Master of Arts in International Affairs/

Master of Business Administration A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a professional degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration; elective courses may allow further study in a particular ...

* Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution/

Master of Arts in Teaching A Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or Master of Science in Teaching (MST) is a professional master's degree that prepares an individual for primary or secondary teaching in a specific field of studies. The degree is generally a pre-service degre ...

* Master of Arts International Peace and Conflict Resolution/ Master of Theological Studies * Dual Master of Arts in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (with the University for Peace) The school also has programs with Ritsumeikan University,

, and Sookmyung University. 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. 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: * Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR): Features live online classes and five concentrations, including Global Security, International Development, and International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. * Executive Master of International Service (MIS): 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 – expert on conflict-resolution and the politics of the Middle East * Amitav Acharya–

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

Chair in Transnational Challenges and Governance * Akbar S. Ahmed – former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Kingdom * George Ayittey – 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 Special rapporteur (or independent expert) is the title given to independent human rights experts whose expertise is called upon by the United Nations (UN) to report or advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. De ...

and human rights scholar-activist * Charles Malik – former president of the

United Nations Economic and Social Council The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic and social fields of the organization, specifically in regards to the fifteen specialized ...

* Renee Marlin-Bennett – expert on global political economy * Hamid Mowlana – Iranian-American advisor and academic * Orlando Letelier – Chilean economist and diplomat * James H. Mittelman – expert on globalization and development * Anthony C. E. Quainton – United States Ambassador to the Central African Empire, Kuwait, Nicaragua, and Peru; United States Coordinator for Counterterrorism * Arturo C. Porzecanski – Distinguished Economist-in-Residence; Professor and Program Director of the MA in International Economic Relations; investor * Andrew E. Rice – founder of the Society for International Development * Susan Rice – 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 – 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 agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States that enforces United States labor law, U.S. labor law in relation to collect ...

* Cathy Schneider – author and professor of urban politics, comparative social movements, and criminal justice * Stephen Silvia – 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 * 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 focused on Foreign policy of the United States, U.S. foreign policy and international relations. Founded in 1921, it is an independent and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organi ...

; * Paul R. Williams – human rights lawyer and President of the Public International Law & Policy Group * Ibram X. Kendi - 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. It was known as the Assistant Secretary of State for Ec ...

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 Universities and colleges established in 1957 1957 establishments in Washington, D.C.