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202-885-1600

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School of International Service on a map

4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States

Serving a Changing World Since 1957

The School of International Service (SIS) prepares you to meet the challenges of a changing world. Founded in 1957 on President Eisenhower’s charge to “wage peace,” SIS is a top-10 school of international affairs, and we are the only school in Washington, DC, that offers degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Our more than 2,000 students study in the city where decisions get made, and graduate ready to make their own.

Browse all School of International Service degrees & programs

Undergraduate

BA in International Studies

PhD

PhD in International Relations

Master's

Dual Degrees

Domestic

BA/MA
JD/MA (International Affairs)
MBA/MA
MTS/MA (International Peace and Conflict Resolution or International Development) through the Wesley Theological Seminary.

International

For over a decade, ranked in the Top 3

as a Peace Corps Volunteer-producing institution among medium size universities

2026 Peace Corps Rankings

The only university to have the number 1

ranked Model UN team in North America four years in a row

Best Delegate

American University is an R1

research university

Learn by Doing

Experiential learning is not just a component of education here—it's integral to the SIS experience. You'll have the opportunity to study abroad, work with real clients, join intensive skills workshops, live in special learning communities, and present your research at conferences.
Experiential Learning at SIS

Bringing International Expertise to Journalism

Ayman Mohyeldin, SIS/BA '00, MA '01

News Anchor, MSNBC

The role of journalism is to offer transparency into how our society's governed.

If you come into journalism, I think you have added value if you bring expertise in, let’s say, Latin America or international relations or business....You can come into American University, study international relations, live abroad, learn a foreign language, and because you did that, you have something very unique to offer as a reporter. Learn more about Mohyeldin's experience as a journalist.

Career Support at Every Stage

Housed within the School of International Service, the Office of Career Development supports the school's undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni through all stages of career development. Our career development team provides all SIS students and alumni with access to professional opportunities and skills.

SIS Office of Career Development

Discover Your Future with AU

Working, Grad School, or Both

Where Graduates Land

% Working for-profit
% Working nonprofit
% Working for government
% Attending grad school
% Working and attending grad school

Learn More >

Join a Supportive Community

SIS is a small school with a big reach. With close faculty and alumni mentorship, peer advising, and a network of student organizations built around shared interests and scholarship, you'll find your people early and have support behind you the whole way.

Learn More About SIS Mentoring