To be considered for admission, all applicants must:

• Possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Submit a completed application form [PDF]; Online application preferred
  
• Submit a resume
• Submit a Statement of Purpose
• Pay a $50 application fee
• Submit official transcripts (with translation if applicable) from each institution previously attended
• Submit two letters of recommendation [PDF] (at least one of which must be from an academic source) evaluating undergraduate academic performance and suitability for graduate study in international affairs, three letters are required for PhD applicants; all of them have to be sealed and signed by the recommender
• • If recommenders are unable to submit recommendations by mail, it is possible for them to submit the recommendations from a professional e-mail address (e.g. @american.edu, @peacecorps.gov) to sisgrad@american.edu. However, applicants should draft an e-mail, to our attention at the Office of Graduate Admissions, stating that they waive their right to view the letters. This should be done in one e-mail that includes the names and contact information of the recommenders who will be submitting recommendations via e-mail.
• Submit official results of the appropriate standardized test
• • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants, except for the JD/MAIA, BA/MA, MIS candidates, and international master's applicants who do not hold a higher education degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction; GRE is required of all PhD applicants, (institution code 5558)

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):

  • • Required of international students whose native language is not English AND who do not hold a degree from a U.S. accredited college/institution
    • Minimum score requirement: 100 on the iBT test, 250 on computer-based test, and 600 on paper-based test
    • The SIS institution code for TOEFL score reporting is 8177. There is no department code.
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
  • • Can be used in lieu of the TOEFL. Minimum score requirement: 7.0.

International students: Please click here to learn about application and admissions requirements.

NRSD applicants: please visit the University for Peace Web site and be sure to indicate your interest in both the School of International Service and UPeace in your statement of purpose.

BA/MA applicants: completion of a minimum of two 300-plus level SIS courses, inclusion of at least one letter of recommendation from a full-time SIS faculty member, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 and a 3.5 grade point average in SIS courses, as well as completion of at least 90 credits prior to applying are highly recommended.

Deadlines:

To be considered for merit-based financial aid, all complete applications must be received by the following dates:

• Sept 15 -- International Students, Spring term
• Oct 1 -- Domestic Students, Spring term
• Jan 1 -- Ph.D. candidates, Fall admission only
• Jan 15 -- All non-Ph.D. students, Fall admission

Following these deadlines, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the close of each cycle. PhD applications must be complete and received by our office on January 1. 

Please send all application materials to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
School of International Service
American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington D.C. 20016-8071
Tel. 202-885-1646
Fax. 202-885-1109

Applicants are highly recommended to have the following:

• At least 24 hours of social science course work relevant to international studies,
• A college GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale,
• Course work in micro- and/or macro-economics prior to their graduate studies,
• Foreign language skills,
• Substantial work experience.