Comparative and International Disability Policy prepares professionals for the design, implementation, and evaluation of disability policy in international and comparative perspective. The CIDP program offers the flexibility of being completed in one year over three terms - Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters - or on a part-time basis over two to three years.

Admission to the Program

Students applying for admission to this program preferably must have had a strong undergraduate major or minor in social and behavioral sciences or communication. For further information, contact the International Communication Office at 202-885-1621.

Applicants must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least a B+ (3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale) and should have had at least 24 credit hours of social science course work relevant to international studies.

The application deadline for fall admission is January 15; for spring admission October 1 (September 15 for international students). Admitted students may defer matriculation for no longer than two semesters provided that a written request for deferment is submitted to and approved by the SIS Graduate Admissions Office.

All applicants whose native language is English or those whose degrees are from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English are required to submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Non-native English speakers are required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they hold a degree from a US-accredited institution (before enrollment at SIS). The minimum TOEFL score for full admissions consideration is 100 on the Internet-based test (IBT), 250 on the computer-based test, or 600 on the paper-based test. The minimum IELTS score is 7.0. Fall ap¬plicants should plan to take the appropriate test no later than De¬cember to ensure full admissions consideration of the application by the January deadline.

All applicants must submit two letters of reference evaluating undergraduate academic performance and suitability for graduate study in international affairs, at least one of which should be from an academic source. A resume should be included in the application. Applicants must submit transcripts from all institutions attended. Cultural factors are considered in evaluating transcripts and examination results.

Requests for the transfer of a maximum of 6 graduate credit hours from other accredited institutions to be applied to a master’s degree are considered after successful completion of 9 graduate credit hours at American University. A minimum grade of B in each course is required for transfer. Transfer courses must have been completed within seven years of admission and must fulfill stated requirements of the degree program.

Degree Requirements

• 39 credit hours of approved graduate credit work with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0, including a minimum of 24 hours in the core (including 3 hours of international relations theory; 3 hours of economics; and 6 hours of research methodology), 9 credit hours in a concentration/track selected from CIDP offerings, and 6 credit hours of supervised practicum and capstone project or supervised SRP/or thesis.
• One (1) academic year of nine (9) months and one (1) summer of three (3) months of study
• Completion of program’s research requirement

Course Requirements

Core Courses (15 credit hours)

• SIS-619 International Relations Theory and Disability Rights (3)
• SIS-623 Introduction to Policy Analysis (3)
• SIS-619 Microeconomics for Public Policy Analysis (3)
• SIS-628 Disability and Social Policy (3)
• SIS-628 Disability Policy and Organization (3)

Concentration (9 credit hours)

• Courses approved by the Program Director selected from one concentration. Approved concentrations may be found on the CIDP Program website. Students may design their own concentration with the approval of the Program Director. Possible concentrations include: Disabilities Studies; International Affairs/Development; Government Politics and Power; Communication, Culture, Technology and Disability; and Management and Leadership.

Elective (3 credit hours)

• May be used for skills institutes, internship for credit, as part of the Master's Thesis requirement, or any other elective course.

Research and Professional Methods (6 credit hours)

• SIS-695 Research Seminar: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (3)
• SIS-619 Informing and Evaluating Policy (3)

Capstone (3 credit hours)

• SIS-797 Master’s Thesis Supervision (3 research credits and 3 elective credits)
• or
• Substantial research paper or practicum requirement