Accelerated Bachelor of Arts International Studies
Earn a BA in International Studies in Three Years
The Global Scholars Program is your path to earning a BA in International Studies in just three years—without sacrificing the depth, community, or real-world experience that define a School of International Service education. Designed for highly motivated first-year students who are ready to hit the ground running, the program combines a structured, accelerated curriculum with an exclusive living learning community, one (or two) summers of international study, and a tight-knit cohort of classmates you'll know from day one.
Global Scholars at a Glance
- Admissions Requirements
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View admissions requirements for first-year students, transfer students, veteran/military applicants, and international students.
- Entrance Semester
- Fall
- Degree Requirements
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Global Scholars complete the degree requirements of the BA in International Studies on a structured, accelerated timeline.
- Application Deadline
- December 1
- How to Apply
- All applicants must complete the AU undergraduate online application plus a special academic program application for Global Scholars.
Get to Know Your Cohort
The cohort-based learning model in the Global Scholars program allows you to progress through your academic journey alongside a consistent group of classmates, fostering meaningful connections and collaborative learning experiences. This model encourages deeper discussions, shared academic goals, and a supportive network that extends beyond the classroom. Through collaborative projects, group discussions, and cohort-specific events, you'll develop lifelong friendships and a strong sense of belonging within the program.
Your Three-Year Roadmap
The Global Scholars curriculum is carefully sequenced to get you to graduation in three years without sacrificing the depth or breadth of a full SIS education. The program is built around 45 credit hours per calendar year, including summers, for a total of 120 credits. If you've already earned college credit before arriving, your academic advisor will help you factor that into your plan. And for especially driven students, there may even be room to pursue a double major or minor alongside your Global Scholars curriculum.
Year One
Your first year is the most structured, with three required courses taken alongside your cohort. In the fall, you'll take Introduction to International Studies; in the spring, Introduction to International Studies Research; and in the summer, Advanced International Studies Research. Outside of these anchor courses, you'll complete between 12 and 17 credits each term, including getting started on your AU Core requirements.
Years Two and Three
Your second and third years are significantly more flexible, allowing you to tailor your coursework to your interests and remaining requirements. Staying closely connected with your academic advisor during this phase is essential. Together, you'll build a plan that gets you across the finish line on time while making the most of everything SIS has to offer. You may also have the flexibility to pursue a double major or minor. Talk to your advisor about what's possible for you.
Get a Broader Perspective
As a Global Scholar, you'll study abroad in the summer of your first year and have the opportunity to study abroad again in your second. Upon successful completion of either program, you'll earn nine to ten AU credits that apply toward your SIS major.
Summer of Year One
In the summer of your first year, you'll have the opportunity to join a six-week program designed exclusively for SIS Global Scholars split between the AU Madrid and AU Brussels Centers. You'll explore a range of contemporary and historical international relations issues and draw upon your on-site experiences to conduct independent research.
Summer of Year Two
In the summer of your second year, you'll have the opportunity to participate in a six-week summer program at AU’s Nairobi campus in Kenya. During this immersive experience, you'll complete a for-credit internship and participate in a two-week field study in Kenya’s renowned Turkana Basin, all while engaging deeply with the country’s diverse cultures and complex history.
Traveling the World with Global Scholars
Mei Miller, SIS/BA ’25
SIS helped give me the skills that were necessary to navigate my time abroad.
My regional focus is on Europe, and having never been abroad prior, this program has helped give me a better understanding of what I am studying at SIS. In the future, I will use what I have learned throughout the rest of my time at AU and beyond.
Learn more about Mei’s experience with the Global Scholars Program.
Find Your People
Your SIS experience doesn't end when class lets out. As a Global Scholar, you'll live alongside your fellow scholars in a dedicated first-year living learning community, building the kind of friendships that come from sharing both a classroom and a home. Monthly community dinners bring your cohort together with the faculty director to share a meal, hear from guest speakers, and take trips to venues across Washington, DC.
You'll also have the support of a program associate—a second- or third-year Global Scholar who has been exactly where you are. They'll attend your cohort classes, help bring the program's experiential and service components to life, live in your residence hall, and serve as a mentor and role model throughout your first year.
Get One-on-One Career Mentorship
Through our mentorship program, you'll be connected with a Global Scholars alum who gets it—someone who can talk you through your classes, your career path, your goals, and everything in between. Many mentors are right here in DC, so that relationship can grow into real connections as you build your career. And once you've graduated, you can come back and do the same for the next class of Global Scholars—through the mentorship program, as a guest speaker, or however you want to stay involved.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Paying for college can be scary. American University offers several types of financial aid to make your educational, career, and personal ambitions achievable. The dedicated members of the Office of Financial Aid will work with you to make an AU education possible.
View AU Financial Aid Resources
Ready to Find Out if SIS Is Right for You?
We’d rather you make the right choice than a fast one. Use the form below to send us your questions—about classes, what our degree prepares you for, and anything else you want to know.