Study in Washington DC. Lead the World.
If you are drawn to public service, international affairs, and work that reaches beyond one community or one country, American University’s School of International Service offers a powerful place to begin.
Located in Washington, DC, SIS connects students to the people, institutions, and ideas shaping global policy and public life. Since 1957, SIS has prepared students to “wage peace” by leading with knowledge, empathy, and action in a complicated world.
For PPIA students, SIS is a place to connect your values with real-world preparation and turn your interest in service into a career with global reach.
Why SIS Stands Out
Top 10
Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in International Relations
Foreign Policy Magazine
#1
Model UN Team in North America (2024-2025)
Best Delegate
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.
Explore Degree and Certificate Pathways at SIS
Master's
Degree Programs
Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights
Power, identity, and policy across a changing region
Global Environmental Policy
Climate, sustainability, and solutions for a changing planet
Global Governance, Politics, and Security
Diplomacy, security, economics, and global decision-making
Global Governance, Politics, and Security: Quantitative Economic Methods
Quantitative tools for global policy decisions
Intercultural and International Communication
Global communication for diplomacy, culture, and change
International Affairs Policy and Analysis
Analytical rigor and practical skills for foreign policy challenges
International Affairs: Natural Resources and Sustainable Development
Environmental policy with global, hands-on experience
International Affairs: United States Foreign Policy and National Security
US strategy, security, and foreign policy in action
International Development
Global development skills for urgent human challenges
International Peace and Conflict Resolution
Peace building skills for conflict, recovery, and lasting change
International Relations and Business (online)
Business, policy, and leadership in a global market
International Relations (online)
Global affairs expertise from anywhere in the word
International Service (International Studies Track)
Cross-continental study for a dual-degree global perspective
Certificates
Complimentary Credentials
Cross-cultural tools for global health challenges
Migration, policy, and human mobility in a changing world
Humanitarian Policy and Practice
Humanitarian action through policy, practice, and research
Environment, Community, and Equity
Environmental protection, community resilience, and shared progress
Professional Certificate Program
Project Management for International Development
Practical methods for managing development projects
Ready To See Where SIS Can Take You?
Admissions & Financial Support
Understand how to apply to American University’s School of International Service, including admissions requirements, key deadlines, and available financial support. Explore scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, and funding options that can help make your SIS graduate education possible.
Get the information you need to plan your application, compare options, and take the next step with confidence.
