Contact Us
School of International Service on a map
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United StatesGetting the message across

Craig Schmall
I teach the 'Briefing Policymakers' Skills Institute course.
About half of our messaging reaches policymakers through a briefing. In my Skills Institute course, I aim to provide students with a plan and practice to construct a memorable briefing for policymakers. Successful briefs should consider who the audience is, what the audience already knows or assumes, their biases, and more. This course is a great place for students to reveal and understand their strengths and weaknesses with verbal presentations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register for a Skills Institute?
On campus
All students should register for on-campus Skills Institutes as you would any other course, through Eagle Service. Space is limited and early registration is strongly recommended. Additionally, students should make all registration changes for Skills Institutes no later than 24 hours before the Skills Institute meets. Students who add a Skills Institute within 48 hours of the Skills Institute meeting must contact the faculty member to confirm your enrollment and obtain any course materials already distributed.
Online
In the event that select online Skills Institutes become available to on-campus students, registration deadlines will be earlier and students will follow a different registration process via the IR Online program. Online students register for online Skills Institutes as you would for any other course, using Eagle Service.
Are there eligibility requirements?
Skills Institutes for certain programs may require prerequisite courses. Check the course description or the program website for information about prerequisites.
How are Skills Institutes graded?
Most Skills Institutes are graded pass/fail. Some programs require letter grades for the Skills Institutes they offer. Skills Institutes may not be audited. Students are expected to attend the entirety of any registered Skills Institute and should plan accordingly. Students who miss more than two hours of a Skills Institute may fail the course.
How much does a Skills Institute cost?
Students will be charged the current tuition rate for one graduate-level credit hour. An additional materials fee may also apply.
What are the upcoming Fall 2021 Skills Institute course offerings?
Conflict-Sensitive Programming
Professor Carl Bruch
Saturday 10/9 and Sunday 10/10 from 9am-5pm
Acquiring and Managing Consulting Projects
Professor Stephen Ladek
Saturday 10/9 and Sunday 10/10 from 9am-5pm
Mediating History
Professor Philip Gamaghelyan
Saturday 10/23 and Sunday 10/24 from 9am-5pm
Cultural Diplomacy & Protocol
Professor Sherry Mueller
Saturday 10/23 and Saturday 10/30 from 9am-5pm
Interview and Focus Groups
Professor Edward Timke
Saturday 11/6 and Sunday 11/7 from 9am to 5pm
Design for Development
Professor Kristi Ragan
Saturday 11/6 and Sunday 11/7 from 9am to 5pm
Policy Briefing
Professor Craig Schmall
Saturday 11/13 and Sunday 11/14 from 9am to 5pm
Finance & Account Fundamentals
Professor Louis Biggie
Saturday 11/13 and Sunday 11/14 from 9am to 5pm
Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning
Professor Courtney Roberts
Saturday 12/4 and Sunday 12/5 from 9am to 5pm
Still have questions? Send us an email at sis-skills@american.edu.