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School of International Service on a map
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United StatesImagine yourself here.
American University’s School of International Service (SIS) is a top-10 school of international affairs located in Washington, DC. Since our founding in 1957, we have answered President Dwight D. Eisenhower's call to prepare students of international affairs to "wage peace." We do so because we believe the world needs leaders who are ready to serve.
SIS, led by Dean Shannon L. Hader, is guided by 115 full-time faculty. Our world-renowned faculty — leading political scientists, economists, sociologists, anthropologists, demographers, geographers, historians, and experts in international development, global health, communications, energy, and the environment — produce transformational research and prepare more than 3,000 graduate and undergraduate students for global careers in government, nonprofits, and business.
Thoughtful and aspirational, with wide-ranging backgrounds and experience, our students take advantage of Washington's wealth of resources and professional opportunities and our active international network of more than 25,000 alumni. As a student here, you will graduate prepared to combine knowledge and practice and to serve the global community as an emerging leader, waging peace and building understanding in our world.
Picture life at SIS.
SIS frequently hosts global leaders & is a vibrant forum for events.
The Davenport Coffee Lounge is a place to study, socialize, or caffeinate.
SIS is housed in a 70,000 square-foot, LEED Gold-certified building, designed by renowned “green” architect William McDonough. McDonough developed a building that supports key elements of human and environmental health, including water savings, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. The building features natural light, nontoxic materials, and climate controls that ensure the quality of indoor air.
Our 15+ masters programs range from global environmental policy to social enterprise and from peacebuilding and conflict resolution to global governance and security.
The building brings in natural light through its broad expanse of skylights.
Our faculty prepare you for global service.
Interested in gaining international experience? SIS Abroad can help!
Why should you join the SIS community?
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What do our students say about SIS? "I made the best decision of my life to come here."
And what do our faculty say? "We understand the difference between teaching you about things and teaching you how to do things."
Are you ready to lead through service?
Jobs have gone global. So should you. SIS offers study abroad options exclusively for our students and offers career development support from the beginning of your journey.
Look behind the scenes.
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Our school’s commitment to sustainability is reinforced through architecture. Watch as SIS professor and former dean James Goldgeier and world-renowned architect William McDonough, who designed the SIS building, explore how the LEED Gold-certified building’s innovative green design supports the school’s goal of environmental sustainability and reflects our commitment to advancing ecological stewardship, preserving transparency and human dignity, and working for social justice.