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Information for New Students

Congratulations on your acceptance to the School of International Service! We are excited that you will be joining us in the upcoming semester. On this page, you will find information to help you prepare before you arrive. Please feel free to contact SIS Graduate Advising if you have any questions.

New student registration for FALL聽2024 will begin Thursday, April 11聽and new students may begin scheduling advising appointments as of Wednesday, April 3. 聽We will also hold Registration Workshops for new students during聽the month of April.听听

New students will receive detailed registration information (also linked below) via email from our office聽by the end of March. In the meantime, we encourage you to attend admitted student events hosted by our office!

NOTE:聽In order to access resources聽on this page, you may聽be prompted to log in to a Microsoft page using your 国产小呦女credentials (email address and password). Please use username@american.edu.

Fall聽2024 Registration Steps聽

  1. Review .
  2. Review the Advising Worksheet outlining your program requirements.听听
  3. Review first semester course suggestions听(see below) specific to your program and the registration instructions sent to you via email.
  4. Review the for upcoming course offerings.
  5. Plan your schedule and register via in your my国产小呦女Portal.

    New students will register for classes after continuing graduate students, so new students may find some courses have already filled. Therefore, we encourage students to register as soon as possible. Students are not required to meet with an advisor prior to registering.
  6. (Optional) Attend聽a Fall聽2024聽New Student Registration workshop or other admitted student events. Registration workshops will be held in April聽and will review general registration information and allow聽for open Q&A. Workshop information is available聽via the SIS Grad Advising welcome email and the New Student Registration Instructions (see #1 above).听听

Fall 2024 Orientation

SIS will聽host聽a required Orientation for new graduate students on Saturday, August 24.

More information, including how to RSVP, will be shared in early summer. Stay tuned!

Explore Opportunities

As you wait for first semester to begin, check out the exciting opportunities you will have during your time here at SIS. Consider experiential education options such as , choosing a as a potential capstone option in your second year, and completing rigorous throughout your program of study.听

First Semester Course Suggestions - Fall 2024

Full-time graduate students usually take 9 credit hours per semester, typically three, 3-credit courses.

Part-time graduate students (including those working full-time)听usually take 6 credit hours per semester.

First semester students are not recommended to register for more than 9 credit hours.

Please note that international students holding F-1 or J-1 visas must be registered full-time at 9 credit hours.听听

All students with university merit awards (scholarships and assistantships) should refer to their admissions/award letter for specific registration requirements of their individual award. In order to be eligible for U.S. federal loan aid, students must be registered at least half-time (5 credit hours in the fall/spring semesters; 2 credit hours in the summer).听

For examples of full-time and part-time degree sequencing, you may review the聽.听

First-semester students in the Comparative and Regional Studies program are encouraged to take:聽

  1. SIS-672: Frameworks of Comparative and Regional Studies聽

  1. SIS-673: Comparative Political Economy聽

  1. One of the following:聽

聽a. An approved regional concentration course (students can find the list 聽of 聽approved regional courses here: .)听

聽b. An approved thematic concentration course (students can find the list 聽of approved thematic courses here: .)听

c. SIS-600: International Affairs Statistics and Methods聽

In order to access the lists of approved courses you will be prompted to log into a Microsoft page using your 国产小呦女email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.)听听

Mike Rosenberger (rosenber@american.edu) is the advisor聽for CRS.听

Students in Development Management (DM) typically satisfy their core requirements in their first semesters and focus on their concentration and the Action Research Practicum in their final semester(s). Full-time DM students who begin in the fall semester are encouraged to take:聽

  1. SIS-637 International Development聽

  1. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory*聽

  1. One of the following:聽

a.听SIS-636 Power and Practice in Development (if not taken in fall will be 聽taken in spring)听

b.听SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods聽

c.听A concentration course聽

d.听An approved course in administration or management from Social Enterprise, business or public administration聽

*There are two required economics courses for DM students:听听

  1. ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory, and听听

  1. SIS-731: Economic Development听听

Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-731: Economic Development. ECON-603 is waived for DM students who pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam. If you do not pass the exam, you must take ECON-603, which will count towards your concentration. All DM students are required to take SIS-731 Economic Development.听听

Tariq Nadim (tariq@american.edu)is the academic advisor聽for DM.

Full-time first semester students in the Ethics, Peace and Human Rights program are encouraged to take:聽

  1. Two to three聽of the following:聽

a.听SIS-733 International Peace & Conflict Resolution Seminar I (fall only 聽course)听

b.听SIS-622 Human Rights听听

c.听PHIL-693 Global Ethics (fall only course)听

2.听One of the following:聽

a.听A course approved for the 鈥楥hoose One鈥 requirement. For Fall 2024, the available 鈥楥hoose One鈥 options are listed on the approved course list听(link聽below). Additional options will be available in future semesters.听听

b.听An approved methodology course. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website聽or view the approved course list for Fall 2024 options (link聽below).听

c.听An approved core concentration course, if you have clearly decided your concentration focus. When selecting a concentration course, please consult the list of suggested courses offered in Fall 2024 (link below).听听聽

For a full list of approved courses for EPHR click聽.听

Heidi Holland听(hholland@american.edu) is the academic advisor for EPHR.

First semester students in the Global Environmental Politics program are encouraged to take:聽

  1. SIS-660: Environment and Politics聽

  1. Two of the following:聽

  • An approved 鈥渃hoose one鈥 course

  • An approved research methods course.听

  • An approved natural science course.听

  • An economics course. (When selecting an economics course, please note that all GEP students must complete SIS-652: Introduction to Environmental Economics. SIS-652: Intro to Env Econ requires prior experience with micro- and macroeconomics. Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-652: Intro to Env Econ. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the .鈥

鈥疭tudents should consult the for approved methods, natural science, and 鈥渃hoose one鈥 courses. (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log into a Microsoft page using your 国产小呦女email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.)听

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisor for the GEP program.

First semester students in the Global Governance, Politics, and Security program are encouraged to take:鈥

1. 聽SIS-707: History of Global Politics鈥 (only offered in fall; the SIS-709聽Foundations of Global Governance and SIS-708聽Foundations of Global聽Security classes will be offered in the spring semester)

  1. An economics course (see below)听

When selecting an economics course, please note that all GGPS students must complete SIS-616: International Economics. SIS-616: Int鈥檒 Economics requires prior experience with micro- and macroeconomics. Students must聽either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete SIS-696 Essentials of Economics and Data Analysis* or ECON- 603: Intro to Economics Theory prior to taking SIS-616: Int鈥檒 Economics. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the聽.鈥 *Students interested in SIS-696 Essentials of Economics and Data Analysis should contact their advisor to register.听

3. An approved course in your chosen concentration鈥

聽Students can find the list of approved concentration courses here: . (In order to access the list, you will be 聽prompted to log into a Microsoft page using your 国产小呦女email address and 聽password. Please use username@american.edu not 聽username@student.american.edu.)鈥

Mike Rosenberger听(rosenber@american.edu) is the academic advisor for the GGPS program.听

First semester students in the International Affairs Policy and Analysis (IAPA) program are encouraged to take:聽

  1. SIS-760: Complex Problems in International Affairs聽

  1. SIS-600: International Affairs Statistics and Methods聽

  1. A course in their intended competency track or a concentration course聽

  • Students can find the list of approved competency courses here: . (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log in to a Microsoft page using your 国产小呦女email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.) Students interested in beginning their concentrations are encouraged to schedule a brief meeting with their advisor over the summer to discuss their interests.听

Jessica MacArthur听(jmacarth@american.edu) is the academic advisor for IAPA.

First semester students in the Intercultural and International Communication program are encouraged to take:听听

  1. SIS-640 International Communication聽

  1. SIS-642 Intercultural Relations聽

  1. One of the following:聽

a. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods听听

b. An economics course* 聽

聽*Students may choose either ECON-603: Introduction to Economic Theory 聽or SIS-616: International Economics. IC students must pass the SIS 聽Economics Placement Exam to waive ECON-603 as a pre-requisite to 聽register for SIS-616. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more 聽information regarding the .听

聽c. A gateway or concentration course within the selected field of study. 聽When choosing a gateway or concentration course, please consult the list of for Fall 2024 and your academic 聽advisor.听听

Heidi Holland (hholland@american.edu) is the academic advisor for IC.听

Students in International Development (ID) typically satisfy their core requirements in their first semesters and focus on their concentration and capstone requirements after completing the core. Full-time first semester students are encouraged to take:聽

  1. SIS-637 International Development聽

  1. ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory*听听

  1. One of the following:聽

  • SIS-636 Power and Practice in Development (if not taken in fall, will be taken in spring)听

  • SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods聽

  • A course for their concentration, in consultation with their advisor and the .

*There are two required economics courses for ID students:听听

  1. ECON-603: Introduction to Economic Theory, and听听

  1. SIS-731: Economic Development.听听

Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-731: Economic Devlopment. ECON-603 is waived for ID students who pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam. If you do not pass the exam, you must take ECON-603, which will count towards your electives. All ID students are required to take SIS-731 Economic Development.听

Tariq Nadim (tariq@american.edu)听is the聽advisor聽for ID.

First-semester students in the International Economic Relations program are recommended to take:聽

鈥 1. An economics course聽

When selecting an economics course, please note that all IER students must complete SIS-616 International Economics. SIS-616 requires prior experience with micro- and macroeconomics. Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-616. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the鈥.听

鈥2. One research and professional methods course听听

Students with a background in statistics are encouraged to take ECON-623 Applied Econometrics I. Students with limited statistics experience should consider SIS-600 International Affairs Stats and Methods.听

  1. A concentration course.听听聽

In selecting a concentration course, please consult the list of for Fall 2024 and your academic advisor.听

Please review the schedule of classes for course prerequisites. If a course has a prerequisite, please contact your academic advisor to discuss the requirement.听

Students pursuing the Quantitative Methods track should consult with their academic advisor when planning their course schedule.听

Marley Crutcher听(crutcher@american.edu)听is the academic advisor for the IER Program.

First semester students in the International Peace and Conflict Resolution program are encouraged to take:听听

1. SIS-733 International Peace and Conflict Resolution Seminar I聽

2. Two of the following:聽

a. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods聽

b. An economics course*聽

聽*Students may choose SIS-619 Economics of Violence and Peace, ECON- 603 Introduction to Economic Theory, or SIS-616 International Economics (Please note that students must pass the SIS economics placement exam to waive the pre-requisite for SIS-616: International Economics. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the ).听

c. A Gateway course associated with an IPCR concentration of interest聽

  • Reconciliation and Justice: SIS-613 Reconciliation and Justice听听

  • International Negotiation: SIS-611 International Negotiation聽

  • The Gateway courses for Peacebuilding (SIS-735 Peacebuilding Theory & Organization) and Culture, Identify and Peace (SIS-628 Race in International Relations) will be offered in Spring 2025听听

d. An approved core concentration course, if you are certain of your core concentration focus. When selecting a concentration course, please consult the list of offered in Fall 2024.听听

Students pursuing a dual-degree between IPCR and the Master of Arts in Teaching or the Master of Theological Studies should consult with their academic advisor when planning their course schedule.听

Heidi Holland (hholland@american.edu) is the academic advisor for IPCR.听

1L JDMA students will not begin taking courses in SIS until their 2L year. 2L and 3L JDMA students should contact their academic advisor,聽Jessica MacArthur, for registration suggestions.

Students beginning the Master of International Service degree program (MIS) in the fall semester are strongly recommended to take:听听

鈥1. SISG-775 Cross-Cultural Leadership & Management* (only offered in fall):鈥疭IS Online Programs course with on-campus** immersion Friday, September 20 鈥 Sunday, September 22聽

  1. SIS-686 Proseminar in International Affairs: International Relations Theory聽

  1. If the student is full time and/or is unable to take the above courses, it is recommended then the student consider one or two of the following:聽

鈥 聽a.听An Economics course (Chosen from the approved economics courses on the MIS advising worksheet)听

聽b. A Research Methods course (Approved course list is available on the SIS 聽Graduate Advising website)听

聽c. A Concentration course (Concentration courses may be chosen from any 聽of the SIS graduate offerings depending upon the student鈥檚 individual 聽interests and training needs. A list of suggested concentrations can be 聽found on the back page of the MIS advising worksheet.)听

鈥*This course involves a special registration process, reg link will be sent mid-summer. Information regarding the course will follow. Email mis@american.edu with questions about the in person/immersion part of the course.听

Mary Curby (mcurby@american.edu) is the academic advisor for MIS.听

Students in the Master of International Service degree program following the International Studies Track for students from international partner institutions should register for three courses in their first semester:聽

鈥 1. A Research Methods course, if required (see admissions letter for more information) or an Economics course, if required (see admissions letter for more information)听

  1. Two - three concentration courses (depending on required courses listed above). Concentration courses may be chosen from any of the SIS graduate offerings depending upon the student鈥檚 individual interests and training needs.鈥疉 list of suggested concentrations can be found on the back page of the MIS:IST advising worksheet.听听

鈥疍epending upon the number of credits of Advanced Standing awarded upon admission and whether a student is required to take an economics and/or methods course, students take between 9 and 15 credit hours in the concentration, followed by a 3-credit capstone in their second semester.听

Skills institutes may only be taken toward the concentration if the student will take greater than 9 credits in their concentration.听听

鈥Melanie Brisse听(mbrisse@american.edu) is the academic advisor for MIS:IST.

Students in the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development program take three required courses in the fall semester:听听

  1. SIS-660 Environment and Politics聽

  1. One of the following economics courses:听听

a. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory (For students without a background 聽in micro- or macroeconomics)

b. SIS-652 Introduction to Environmental Economics (Students must pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam in order to register for SIS-652 Environmental Economics. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the .)听

  • A 鈥淐hoose One鈥 course. Students should consult the for approved 鈥渃hoose one鈥 courses. (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log in to a Microsoft page using your 国产小呦女email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.)听

Marley Crutcher听(crutcher@american.edu) is the academic advisor for NRSD.听听

First semester students in the Peacebuilding certificate program are encouraged to register for SIS-733 International Peace and Conflict Resolution Seminar I, and to discuss further course selections with the certificate academic advisor, Heidi Holland.听

First-semester students in the United States Foreign Policy and National Security program are encouraged to take:聽

  1. 鈥疧ne of either SIS-689 Foreign Policy: Theories of Decision Making鈥痮r鈥疭IS-682 Foreign Policy: Institutions and Processes (These courses will also be offered in spring 2025.)听
  2. Two of the following (if full-time):聽

聽a.听SIS-653 Continuity and Change in USFP听听

聽b.听SIS-682 or SIS-689, whichever not selected above聽

聽c.听An approved 鈥淐hoose Two鈥 course. See 鈥Fall 2024 USFP Approved course 聽list聽for Choose Two options.听

聽d.听SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods鈥

聽e.听An approved economics course (see below)听

鈥疻hen selecting an economics course, please note that all USFP students must complete SIS-616 International Economics, SIS-652 Intro to Environmental Economics, or SIS-731 Economic Development. Most students will also need to take ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-616, SIS-652, or SIS-731. For students with strong backgrounds in economics, ECON-603 can be waived by passing the SIS Economics Placement Exam. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the鈥.听

Melanie Brisse听(mbrisse@american.edu)is the academic advisor for USFP.听

First semester students in the Cross-Cultural Communication certificate program are encouraged to register for SIS-640 International Communication and SIS-642 Intercultural Relations, and to discuss further course selections with the certificate academic advisor, Heidi Holland.听