First-semester students in the Comparative and Regional Studies program are encouraged to take: 

1. SIS-672: Frameworks of Comparative and Regional Studies 

2. SIS-673: Comparative Political Economy 

3. One of the following: 

 a. An approved regional concentration course (students can find the list  of  approved regional courses here: CRS Approved Regional Courses.) 

 b. An approved thematic concentration course (students can find the list  of approved thematic courses here: CRS Approved Thematic Courses.) 

c. SIS-600: International Affairs Statistics and Methods 

In order to access the lists of approved courses you will be prompted to log into a Microsoft page using your AU email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.)  

Mike Rosenberger (rosenber@american.edu) is the advisor for CRS. 

Students in Development Management (DM) typically satisfy their core requirements in their first semesters and focus on their concentration and the Action Research Practicum in their final semester(s). Full-time DM students who begin in the fall semester are encouraged to take: 

1. SIS-637 International Development 

2. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory* 

3. One of the following: 

a. SIS-636 Power and Practice in Development (if not taken in fall will be  taken in spring) 

b. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods 

c. A concentration course 

d. An approved course in administration or management from Social Enterprise, business or public administration 

*There are two required economics courses for DM students:  

1. ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory, and  

2. SIS-731: Economic Development  

Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-731: Economic Devlopment. ECON-603 is waived for DM students who pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam. If you do not pass the exam, you must take ECON-603, which will count towards your concentration. All DM students are required to take SIS-731 Economic Development.  

Tariq Nadim (tariq@american.edu)is the academic advisor for DM.

Full-time first semester students in the Ethics, Peace and Human Rights program are encouraged to take: 

1. Two to three of the following: 

a. SIS-733 International Peace & Conflict Resolution Seminar I (fall only  course) 

b. SIS-622 Human Rights  

c. PHIL-693 Global Ethics (fall only course) 

2. One of the following: 

a. A course approved for the ‘Choose One’ requirement. For Fall 2024, the available ‘Choose One’ options are listed on the approved course list (link below). Additional options will be available in future semesters.  

b. An approved methodology course. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website or view the approved course list for Fall 2024 options (link below). 

c. An approved core concentration course, if you have clearly decided your concentration focus. When selecting a concentration course, please consult the list of suggested courses offered in Fall 2024 (link below).   

For a full list of approved courses for EPHR click here. 

Heidi Holland (hholland@american.edu) is the academic advisor for EPHR.

First semester students in the Global Environmental Politics program are encouraged to take: 

1. SIS-660: Environment and Politics 

2. Two of the following: 

• An approved “choose one” course

• An approved research methods course. 

• An approved natural science course. 

• An economics course. (When selecting an economics course, please note that all GEP students must complete SIS-652: Introduction to Environmental Economics. SIS-652: Intro to Env Econ requires prior experience with micro- and macroeconomics. Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-652: Intro to Env Econ. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam.  

 Students should consult the GEP course list for approved methods, natural science, and “choose one” courses. (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log into a Microsoft page using your AU email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.) 

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisor for the GEP program.

First semester students in the Global Governance, Politics, and Security program are encouraged to take:  

1.  SIS-707: History of Global Politics  (only offerred in fall; the SIS-709 Foundations of Global Governance and SIS-708 Foundations of Global Security classes will be offerred in the spring semester)

2. Either SIS-600: International Affairs Statistics and Methods OR an economics course (see below)

When selecting an economics course, please note that all GGPS students must complete SIS-616: International Economics. SIS-616: Int’l Economics requires prior experience with micro- and macroeconomics. Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON- 603: Intro to Economics Theory prior to taking SIS-616: Int’l Economics. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam.  

3. An approved course in your chosen concentration  

 Students can find the list of approved concentration courses here: GGPS  Approved Concentration Courses. (In order to access the list, you will be  prompted to log into a Microsoft page using your AU email address and  password. Please use username@american.edu not  username@student.american.edu.)  

Mike Rosenberger (rosenber@american.edu) is the academic advisor for the GGPS program. 

First semester students in the International Affairs Policy and Analysis (IAPA) program are encouraged to take: 

1. SIS-760: Complex Problems in International Affairs 

2. SIS-600: International Affairs Statistics and Methods 

3. A course in their intended competency track or a concentration course 

• Students can find the list of approved competency courses here: IAPA competency courses. (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log in to a Microsoft page using your AU email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.) Students interested in beginning their concentrations are encouraged to schedule a brief meeting with their advisor over the summer to discuss their interests. 

Jessica MacArthur (jmacarth@american.edu) is the academic advisor for IAPA.

First semester students in the Intercultural and International Communication program are encouraged to take:  

1. SIS-640 International Communication 

2. SIS-642 Intercultural Relations 

3. One of the following: 

a. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods  

b. An economics course*  

 *Students may choose either ECON-603: Introduction to Economic Theory  or SIS-616: International Economics. IC students must pass the SIS  Economics Placement Exam to waive ECON-603 as a pre-requisite to  register for SIS-616. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more  information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam. 

 c. A gateway or concentration course within the selected field of study.  When choosing a gateway or concentration course, please consult the list of suggested concentration courses for Fall 2024 and your academic  advisor.  

Heidi Holland (hholland@american.edu) is the academic advisor for IC. 

Students in International Development (ID) typically satisfy their core requirements in their first semesters and focus on their concentration and capstone requirements after completing the core. Full-time first semester students are encouraged to take: 

1. SIS-637 International Development 

2. ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory*  

3. One of the following: 

• SIS-636 Power and Practice in Development (if not taken in fall, will be taken in spring) 

• SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods 

• A course for their concentration, in consulation with their advisor and the list of suggested concentrations and Fall 2024 courses.

*There are two required economics courses for ID students:  

1. ECON-603: Introduction to Economic Theory, and  

2. SIS-731: Economic Development.  

Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-731: Economic Devlopment. ECON-603 is waived for ID students who pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam. If you do not pass the exam, you must take ECON-603, which will count towards your electives. All ID students are required to take SIS-731 Economic Development. 

Tariq Nadim (tariq@american.edu) is the advisor for ID.

First-semester students in the International Economic Relations program are recommended to take: 

  1. An economics course 

When selecting an economics course, please note that all IER students must complete SIS-616 International Economics. SIS-616 requires prior experience with micro- and macroeconomics. Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-616. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam. 

 2. One research and professional methods course  

Students with a background in statistics are encouraged to take ECON-623 Applied Econometrics I. Students with limited statistics experience should consider SIS-600 International Affairs Stats and Methods. 

3. A concentration course.   

In selecting a concentration course, please consult the list of suggested concentration courses for Fall 2024 and your academic advisor. 

Please review the schedule of classes for course prerequisites. If a course has a prerequisite, please contact your academic advisor to discuss the requirement. 

Students pursuing the Quantitative Methods track should consult with their academic advisor when planning their course schedule. 

Marley Crutcher (crutcher@american.edu) is the academic advisor for the IER Program.

First semester students in the International Peace and Conflict Resolution program are encouraged to take:  

1. SIS-733 International Peace and Conflict Resolution Seminar I 

2. Two of the following: 

a. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods 

b. An economics course* 

 *Students may choose SIS-619 Economics of Violence and Peace, ECON- 603 Introduction to Economic Theory, or SIS-616 International Economics (Please note that students must pass the SIS economics placement exam to waive the pre-requisite for SIS-616: International Economics. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam). 

c. A Gateway course associated with an IPCR concentration of interest 

• Reconcilation and Justice: SIS-613 Reconcilation and Justice  

• International Negotiation: SIS-611 International Negotiation 

• The Gateway courses for Peacebuilding (SIS-735 Peacebuilding Theory & Organization) and Culture, Identify and Peace (SIS-628 Race in International Relations) will be offered in Spring 2025  

d. An approved core concentration course, if you are certain of your core concentration focus. When selecting a concentration course, please consult the list of approved courses offered in Fall 2024.  

Students pursuing a dual-degree between IPCR and the Master of Arts in Teaching or the Master of Theological Studies should consult with their academic advisor when planning their course schedule. 

Heidi Holland (hholland@american.edu) is the academic advisor for IPCR. 

1L JDMA students will not begin taking courses in SIS until their 2L year. 2L and 3L JDMA students should contact their academic advisor, Jessica MacArthur, for registration suggestions.

Students beginning the Master of International Service Executive degree program (MIS) in the fall semester are strongly recommended to take:  

 1. SISG-775 Cross-Cultural Leadership & Management* (only offered in fall): SIS Online Programs course with on-campus** immersion Friday, September 20 – Sunday, September 22 

2. SIS-686 Proseminar in International Affairs: International Relations Theory 

3. If the student is full time and/or is unable to take the above courses, it is recommended then the student consider one or two of the following: 

   a. An Economics course (Chosen from the approved economics courses on the MIS advising worksheet) 

 b. A Research Methods course (Approved course list is available on the SIS  Graduate Advising website) 

 c. A Concentration course (Concentration courses may be chosen from any  of the SIS graduate offerings depending upon the student’s individual  interests and training needs. A list of suggested concentrations can be  found on the back page of the MIS advising worksheet.) 

 *This course involves a special registration process, reg link will be sent mid-summer. Information regarding the course will follow. Email mis@american.edu with questions about the in person/immersion part of the course. 

Mary Curby (mcurby@american.edu) is the academic advisor for MIS. 

Students in the Master of International Service degree program following the International Studies Track for students from international partner institutions should register for three courses in their first semester: 

  1. A Research Methods course, if required (see admissions letter for more information) or an Economics course, if required (see admissions letter for more information) 

2. Two - three concentration courses (depending on required courses listed above). Concentration courses may be chosen from any of the SIS graduate offerings depending upon the student’s individual interests and training needs. A list of suggested concentrations can be found on the back page of the MIS:IST advising worksheet.  

 Depending upon the number of credits of Advanced Standing awarded upon admission and whether a student is required to take an economics and/or methods course, students take between 9 and 15 credit hours in the concentration, followed by a 3-credit capstone in their second semester. 

Skills institutes may only be taken toward the concentration if the student will take greater than 9 credits in their concentration.  

 Melanie Brisse (mbrisse@american.edu) is the academic advisor for MIS:IST.

Students in the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development program take three required courses in the fall semester:  

1. SIS-660 Environment and Politics 

2. One of the following economics courses:  

a. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory (For students without a background  in micro- or macroeconomics)

b. SIS-652 Introduction to Environmental Economics (Students must pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam in order to register for SIS-652 Environmental Economics. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam.) 

• A “Choose One” course. Students should consult the GEP-NRSD course list for approved “choose one” courses. (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log in to a Microsoft page using your AU email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.) 

Marley Crutcher (crutcher@american.edu) is the academic advisor for NRSD.  

First semester students in the Peacebuilding certificate program are encouraged to register for SIS-733 International Peace and Conflict Resolution Seminar I, and to discuss further course selections with the certificate academic advisor, Heidi Holland. 

First-semester students in the United States Foreign Policy and National Security program are encouraged to take: 

1.  One of either SIS-689 Foreign Policy: Theories of Decision Making or SIS-682 Foreign Policy: Institutions and Processes (These courses will also be offered in spring 2025.) 
2. Two of the following (if full-time): 

 a. SIS-653 Continuity and Change in USFP  

 b. SIS-682 or SIS-689, whichever not selected above 

 c. An approved “Choose Two” course. See  Fall 2024 USFP Approved course  list for Choose Two options. 

 d. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods  

 e. An approved economics course (see below) 

 When selecting an economics course, please note that all USFP students must complete SIS-616 International Economics, SIS-652 Intro to Environmental Economics, or SIS-731 Economic Development. Most students will also need to take ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-616, SIS-652, or SIS-731. For students with strong backgrounds in economics, ECON-603 can be waived by passing the SIS Economics Placement Exam. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam. 

Melanie Brisse (mbrisse@american.edu)is the academic advisor for USFP. 

First semester students in the Cross-Cultural Communication certificate program are encouraged to register for SIS-640 International Communication and SIS-642 Intercultural Relations, and to discuss further course selections with the certificate academic advisor, Heidi Holland.