Grad Advising News and Announcements
NEW Now Scheduling Advising Appointments
The SIS Graduate Advising office is now scheduling 30 minute student appointments through the end of the fall semester.
Unlike Express Advising, appointments allow for more in-depth advising conversations, including longer-term
course/degree planning. We particularly encourage first semester students to consider meeting with their advisor if they
have not already. Appointments are available in-person or via phone or Skype, and can be scheduled by calling 202-8851690.
NEW Spring 2015 Skills Institutes
For an master list of all weekend skills institutes being offered next spring and registration instructions, including how to
make registration changes for skills institutes after add/drop, please visit: http://www.american.edu/sis/skillsinstitutes/.
NEW Critical Language Scholarship Application Deadline: November 12
The U.S. Department of State's Critical Language Scholarships provide funding for intensive overseas study of "critical
need" languages, including Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian,
Punjabi, Russian, Turkish, and Urdu. Critical Language Scholarships are offered for beginning, intermediate and/or
advanced level summer language programs. U.S. citizenship required. Students in all disciplines are encouraged to
apply. E-mail meritawards@american.edu to be added to the CLS Blackboard site. (The Office of Merit Awards does not
offer individual advising for this scholarship.) For more information: www.clscholarship.org/. The national deadline for
summer 2015 is November 12, 2014.
OVERDUE Apply to Graduate for Fall 2014
Students planing to complete all program requirements this semester must apply to graduate via their myAU portal
(under Academics – Apply to Graduate) as soon as possible. Graduation applications are now overdue.
Registration Open for November TOR exam (Nov 17-21)
Students planning to take the free Tool of Research exam to fulfill the SIS MA language requirement should be aware
that the last exam period for the fall 2014 semester will be held November 17-21, 2014, For more information on the TOR
exam and to register, click here. The last day to register for the November exam is Friday, November 7.
Spring 2015 Registration and FAQs
Spring 2015 registration for graduate students began Friday, October 24, 7am EST. All current graduate students are
pre-authorized to register - students are not required to meet with their advisor prior to registration. Students are
recommended to review the Spring 2015 Registration FAQs before registering. FAQ topics include:
· Approved Second-Level Methods Courses (updated as of 10/20)
· Stops
· Pre-Requisites
· Waitlists
· SRP, Thesis, Independent Study Registration
· MA Professional Experience Requirement
· Internship (Academic Credit or No-Credit) Registration
Upcoming Events
TODAY Career Benefits of Study Abroad: Effectively Utilizing Your International Experiences for Professional
Development
Monday, November 3, 4:30-5:30pm, SIS 115
Employers are increasingly placing more value on international experiences and recruiting people with key global
competencies. The SIS Career Advisors and International Programs Office are hosting a session that will help you reflect
on your experience abroad, identify key competencies and skills gained. The session will provide you with the tools to
best utilize your experience in order to further your professional development and reach your career goals.
NEW Alumni in the Atrium: Thomas Watson (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
Tuesday, November 4 4:00-5:00pm, SIS Atrium
Please join SIS Career advisors in conversation with Thomas Watson, SIS/MA '08, Emergency Management Specialist,
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Students, alumni, faculty and staff are invited to join an informal discussion about
his work and career path since SIS. No RSVP is necessary. Come ask questions, receive advice, and build your network.
Join for just a few minutes or the entire hour.
NEW SIS Exploring Identities Series: LGBTQ Students Abroad
Wednesday, November 12, 3-4:30pm, SIS 300
Join moderator Dr. Miles Kahler in a student panel of undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni as they
discuss their experiences identifying as LGBTQ and studying abroad on November 12, 2014 from 3-4:30pm at SIS Room
300. Hear from participants who have studied or worked in: South Africa, Brazil, the Middle East, Asia, and Mexico. Learn
more at www.american.edu/sis/diversity. For more information on this event, email sisinclusion@american.edu.
FOR SIS EVENTS: http://www.american.edu/sis/events
TO ACCESS TO SIS GRADUATE ADVISING WEEKLY BULLETINS ON THE WEB:
http://www.american.edu/sis/gradadvising/News-and-Announcements.cfm
To schedule an appointment, please call the Graduate Advising Office at (202) 885-1690.
For advising resources, and Express Advising schedules (as applicable), please visit the Graduate Advising website
at: www.american.edu/sis/gradadvising.
For up to date advising information, please visit our News and Announcements page at:
http://www.american.edu/sis/gradadvising/News-and-Announcements.cfm.