International Affairs in the Capital of Global Policy
Study international affairs where diplomacy, foreign policy, and global leadership come to life every day.
At American University's School of International Service, you'll gain hands-on experience, access to influential organizations, and connections that extend far beyond the classroom.
Whether your goal is to shape policy, advance global development, strengthen national security, or promote human rights, SIS prepares you to make an impact on a global scale.
Ranked Among the Best
Top 10
Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in International Relations, Foreign Policy Magazine
#1
Model UN Team in North America (2024-2025),
Top 3
Peace Corps Volunteer Producing Institution for medium-sized universities, Peace Corps Rankings (2025)
SIS Alumni Spotlight
Jennifer Erie, SIS '98
Award-Winning Strategist
Global Inclusion Systems Leader
Published Author & Storyteller
The World in My Bones
Jennifer Erie, an American University alumna, shows where a life in public service can lead in The World In My Bones: The Diplomat Queens Made.
Raised in Queens as a first-generation Haitian American, Erie built a career in global diplomacy, serving with USAID across Africa and Southeast Asia to advance HIV and AIDS advocacy and public health resilience.
Her memoir gives you an honest look at the promise and pressure of public service, including leadership, identity, caregiving, burnout, grief, joy, and reinvention.
If you are exploring policy, international affairs, or global service, Erie’s story makes the work feel real, human, and possible.
It is a reminder that meaningful public service is not just about where you go, but what you carry, who you become, and how you keep building purpose through uncertainty.
