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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 SPRING 2025 admitted students will be able to meet with advisors beginning Monday, October 28. New student registrartion will begin Monday, November 4. Please see below for registration instructions and infomration. 听

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

Spring 2025 Registration Steps听

  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 myAU 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听a Spring 2025听New Student Registration workshop or other admitted student events. Registration workshops will be held in October and November and will review general registration information and allow听for open Q&A. Workshop information is available听via the SIS Grad Advising welcome email and the New Student Registration Instructions (see #1 above).听听

Spring 2025 Orientation

SIS will听host听a required Orientation for new graduate students on Thursday, January 9.

More information, including how to RSVP, will be shared soon. 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 - Spring 2025

Full-time graduate students usually take 9 credit hours per semester;听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 or J 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

Students in Development Management (DM) typically satisfy their core requirements in their first semesters and focus on their electives听and the capstone in their final semester(s). DM students who begin in the spring semester are encouraged to take:听听

  1. SIS-726 Professional Development Management (this course is mandatory for DM students entering in a spring semester)听听

  2. Two of the following:听

a. SIS-636 Power and Practice in Development听

b. SIS-600 International Affairs Stats and Methods听

c. An economics course (see below)

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

  1. ECON-603听Intro to Economic Theory*听AND听听

  1. SIS-731听Economic Development听听

ECON-603 is waived for students who pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam.鈥 Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam.

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisor听for DM.

First semester students in the Ethics, Peace and Human Rights program are encouraged to register three of the following (if full-time) or two of the following (if part-time):听听

  1. PHIL-631 Topics in Modern Moral Problems听

  2. An approved course for the 鈥楥hoose One鈥 requirement:听听

a.听PHIL 616 Feminist Philosophy听

b. PHIL 617 Philosophy of Race听

c. PHIL 619 Buddhist Philosophy听

d. PHIL 685 Environmental Philosophy听

e. PHIL 685 Postcolonialism & Philosophy听

f. RELG Christianity and the Political Order听

g. RELG Religion and Spirituality of the African Diaspora听

3.听For students that are clear on their plans for the focus of their concentration, a concentration course. In selecting a concentration course, students are encouraged to review theand discuss their selection with their academic advisor.听

4.听An approved methods course. Students should consult the鈥approved methods course list鈥痺hen selecting a methods course.听

Heidi Holland听is the academic advisor for EPHR.

First semester students in the Global Environmental Politics program are encouraged to register three of the following (if full-time) or two of the following (if part-time):听

  1. An approved Core course* or, after a discussion with your academic advisor, a concentration course. Note that SIS-660 Environment and Politics is only offered in Fall semester听听

  1. An approved research methods course*听

  2. An approved natural science course*听

  3. An economics course: SIS-652 Intro to Environmental Economics requires prior experience with micro- and macroeconomics. Students must either pass the or complete ECON-603 Intro to Economics Theory as an Elective prior to taking SIS-652 Intro to Environmental Economics.鈥

*Students should consult the 鈥痜or approved methods, natural science and听Core courses.听

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisor for GEP.

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

1. The foundations course associated with their chosen concentration: either SIS-708: Foundations of Global Security or SIS-709: Foundations of Global Governance

  1. SIS-600: International Affairs Stats and Methods or an economics course听听

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 either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete either SIS-696: Essentials of Economics and Data Analytics 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鈥.听听

3. An approved course in your chosen concentration鈥

Students can find the list of approved concentration courses here:鈥.

Mike Rosenberger听is the academic advisor for听GGPS.听

First semester students in the IAPA program are encouraged to take:听

  1. SIS-761: Research Design, Analysis, and Communication听

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

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

Students can find the list of approved competency courses here:鈥 Students interested in beginning their concentration should schedule a brief meeting with their advisor to discuss their interests before selecting a course for their concentration.鈥

Jessica MacArthur听is the academic advisor for IAPA.

First semester students in the Intercultural and International Communication program are encouraged to take three of the following (if full-time), or two of the following (if part-time):听听

  1. A Gateway course either SIS-711 Global Perspectives on Public Diplomacy or SIS 628 Race in International Relations听听

  1. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods or an economics course. When selecting an economics course, students may choose either ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory, or SIS-616 International Economics. (Please note that students must pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam to waive ECON-603 as a pre-requisite and register for SIS-616. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the鈥.)听听

  1. A concentration course(s) within the intended field of study. Students should consult the鈥痺hen selecting classes or discuss their interests with the IC academic advisor.听听

Heidi Holland 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听concentration and capstone requirements after completing the core. Core courses help lay the theoretical and methodological framework for the program. First semester students usually enroll in:听

  1. SIS-636 Power and Practice in Development听听

  1. SIS-600 International Affairs Stats/Methods听听

  1. One of the following:听

a. A course for the Concentration (see ) 听

b. An economics course (see below)听听

There are two required economics courses:

  1. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory* AND听

  2. SIS-731 Economic Development听

*ECON-603 is waived for students who pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam.鈥 Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the鈥SIS Economics Placement Exam.鈥

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisor听for ID.

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

1. SIS-734 IPCR Seminar II听

2. Two of the following (if full-time) or one of the following (if part-time):鈥

a. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods听听

b. An economics course. 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 ECON-603 as a pre-requisite and register for SIS-616. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the鈥.)听

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

  • International Negotiation: SIS-611 International Negotiation鈥

  • Peacebuilding: SIS-735 Peacebuilding Theory & Organization听

  • Culture, Identity & Peace: SIS-628 Race in International Relations听

d. For students that are certain of their core concentration focus, a course from the approved list associated with that concentration theme. Students should consult the鈥

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 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,听Jessica MacArthur, for registration suggestions.听

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

鈥1. The core course,鈥SIS-686-001鈥疨roseminar: International Affairs.鈥

In addition, they may register for one or two of the following:听

  1. A Professional Research Methodology course (Chosen from the approved methods courses section on the second page of the MIS advising worksheet)听听听
  2. A concentration course鈥(Concentration courses may be chosen from any of the SIS graduate offerings depending upon the student鈥檚 individual interests and training needs. A list of suggested concentration courses can be found on the second page of the MIS advising worksheet. If interested in self-designing a concentration or taking a non-SIS course, contact your academic advisor.)听听

  3. An Economics course (options below):听

a. SISG-774 is currently only offered in an online modality. Only offered this way Spring term.听

b. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory听

c. SIS-616 Int鈥檒 Econ (This course requires passing a placement test).听

Mary Curby 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:听听

鈥 1. A methods course, if required (see admissions letter for more information). Chosen from the approved methods courses section on the second page of the MIS:IST advising worksheet听

OR

An economics course, if required (see admissions letter for more information). Chosen from the approved economics courses on the MIS:IST advising worksheet听

  1. Two - three concentration courses鈥(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 second page of the MIS:IST advising worksheet. If interested in self-designing a concentration, contact your academic advisor.听听

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

鈥Marley Crutcher听is the academic advisor for MIS:IST.

The NRSD program does not admit students for a spring start.听

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

  1. 鈥齋IS-682 Foreign Policy: Institutions and Processes

Students will take SIS-689 Theories of Decision Making in the fall 2025 semester.听

2. One of the following:听

听a.听SIS-653 Continuity & Change in USFP听听听

听b.听An approved 鈥淐hoose Two鈥 course. See for Choose Two options.听

听3.听One of the following:听听

a.听SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods听

b.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is the academic advisor for USFP.听