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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.

NOTE:In order to access resourceson this page, you maybe prompted to log in to a Microsoft page using your 51 credentials (email address and password). Please use username@american.edu.

Spring 2025 Registration Steps

  1. Review .
  2. Review the Advising Worksheet outlining your program requirements.
  3. Review first semester course suggestions(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 my51 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) Attenda Spring 2025New Student Registration workshop or other admitted student events. Registration workshops will be held in October and November and will review general registration information and allowfor open Q&A. Workshop information is availablevia the SIS Grad Advising welcome email and the New Student Registration Instructions (see #1 above).

Spring 2025 Orientation

SIS willhosta required Orientation for new graduate students on Saturday, January 11 (tentative date).

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.

First Semester Course Suggestions - Spring 2025

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)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.

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).

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

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

  2. Two of the following:

a. SIS-636 Power and Practice in Development

b. SIS-600 International Affairs Stats and Methods

c. An economics course (see below)

*There are two required economics courses for DM students:

  1. ECON-603Intro to Economic Theory*AND

  1. SIS-731Economic Development

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

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisorfor 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):

  1. PHIL-631 Topics in Modern Moral Problems

  2. An approved course for the ‘Choose One’ requirement:

a.PHIL 616 Feminist Philosophy

b. PHIL 617 Philosophy of Race

c. PHIL 619 Buddhist Philosophy

d. PHIL 685 Environmental Philosophy

e. PHIL 685 Postcolonialism & Philosophy

f. RELG Christianity and the Political Order

g. RELG Religion and Spirituality of the African Diaspora

3.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.

4.An approved methods course. Students should consult the approved methods course list when selecting a methods course.

Heidi Hollandis 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):

  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

  1. An approved research methods course*

  2. An approved natural science course*

  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. 

*Students should consult the  for approved methods, natural science andCore courses.

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisor for GEP.

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

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

When selecting an economics course, please note that all GGPS students must complete SIS-616: International Economics. SIS-616: Int’l 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’l Economics. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the .

3. An approved course in your chosen concentration 

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

Mike Rosenbergeris the academic advisor forGGPS.

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

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

  1. SIS-600: International Affairs Statistics and Methods

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

Students can find the list of approved competency courses here:  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. 

Jessica MacArthuris 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):

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

  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 .)

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

Heidi Holland is the academic advisor for IC.

Students in International Development (ID) typically satisfy their core requirements in their first semesters and focus on theirconcentration 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:

  1. SIS-636 Power and Practice in Development

  1. SIS-600 International Affairs Stats/Methods

  1. One of the following:

a. A course for the Concentration (see )

b. An economics course (see below)

There are two required economics courses:

  1. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory* AND

  2. SIS-731 Economic Development

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

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisorfor ID.

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

1. SIS-734 IPCR Seminar II

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

a. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods

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 .)

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

  • International Negotiation: SIS-611 International Negotiation 

  • Peacebuilding: SIS-735 Peacebuilding Theory & Organization

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

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 

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.

Heidi Holland is the academic advisor for IPCR.

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

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

 1. The core course, SIS-686-001 Proseminar: International Affairs.  

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

  1. A Professional Research Methodology course (Chosen from the approved methods courses section on the second page of the MIS advising worksheet)
  2. A concentration course (Concentration courses may be chosen from any of the SIS graduate offerings depending upon the student’s 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.)

  3. An Economics course (options below):

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

b. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory

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

Mary Curby is the academic advisor for MIS.

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:

  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

OR

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

  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’s individual interests and training needs. A 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.

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.

 Marley Crutcheris the academic advisor for MIS:IST.

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

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

  1.  SIS-682 Foreign Policy: Institutions and Processes

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

2. One of the following:

a.SIS-653 Continuity & Change in USFP

b.An approved “Choose Two” course. See for Choose Two options.

3.One of the following:

a.SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods

b.An approved economics course (see below)

 When 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 .

Melanie Brisseis the academic advisor for USFP.