Welcome to the School of
International Service
STRATEGIC
ADVISING
Role of Graduate Academic Advisor
o Assist with course selection
o Explain graduation requirements and academic
regulations
o Advise on overall program of study
o Serve as resource guide/University navigator
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Referrals to other campus offices
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Suggest relevant faculty and opportunities
Accessing your Advising Resources
o SIS Graduate Advising website:
www.american.edu/sis/gradadvising
o Weekly Bulletin
o Express Advising (phone, in-person)
o Appointments (phone, in-person, skype)
o Email
o sisgradadvising@american.edu; 202-885-1690
Your Role as a Professional Graduate Student
o Take a proactive approach to your academic and
professional goals while at SIS
o Be your own advocate
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Ask questions
Build relationships with faculty
Use campus resources
o Work collaboratively with your academic advisor
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Seek assistance early
o Accountability and timeliness
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Be attentive to deadlines
Be aware of degree requirements and Academic Regulations
Filter and prioritize information, including listserv messages
Integrating Academic Requirements and
Professional Development
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Internships (including abroad)
Career Center Advisors
Faculty experts
Alumni networking
Skills Institutes
Methodology courses
Capstone
Language Study
Study abroad
Fellowships and Awards (Office of Merit Awards)
Professional Development opportunities in DC
Student organizations
Professional Organizations in your field
Key Academic Regulations
o Continuous Enrollment/Temporary Leave
o Students must maintain enrollment each semester (excluding
Summer) until graduation
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Students who do not maintain enrollment will be
automatically separated from the University and will need to
reapply to their degree program
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If you anticipate being away from school for a semester, please
notify your advisor in advance of the start of the semester to
arrange for a temporary leave
Key Academic Regulations
o Good Academic Standing/Satisfactory Academic
Progress
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In addition to maintaining continuous enrollment, graduate
students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA
Graduate students must also receive credit in at least twothirds of all attempted courses. Withdrawals from courses
with a grade of ‘W’ count as attempted courses
Graduate students must complete all degree requirements no
later than 6 years from the first date of enrollment
Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress will
be given an academic warning or placed on academic
probation
Key Academic Regulations
o A-F v. Pass/Fail Grades
o Graduate students must take all courses counting towards
their academic program for the letter grade (A-F) option.
o Excepti0ns include Skills Institutes and non-credit internship
(must be P/F)
o Transfer Credits
o Graduate students may apply to transfer up to 6 credits of
graduate coursework towards their MA program
o Transfer requests must be approved by a student’s program
director no later than the end of their first semester
o Additional information available on Course Transfer Approval
form (located on Forms page of Grad Advising website)
SIS Professional Experience Requirement
o MA students must demonstrate that they have
professional experience relevant to their MA program
o Can be satisfied by one of the following:
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Internship during the MA program
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Must be registered; no-credit or academic credit
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Prior Internship (within 2 years of admission)
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Job, Current or Prior (within 2 years of admission)
Additional information available on the SIS Graduate Advising website
Tool of Research (TOR) MA Language Requirement
o MA students must demonstrate that they have non-
English language reading skills at or above the
intermediate level
o Language skills can be demonstrated by
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Passing the Tool of Research exam at the Center for Language
Exploration, Acquisition and Research on campus
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Fall Dates: Sept 29-Oct 3; Nov 17-21
Earning a grade B or better in an intermediate level language course
• Testing with a language tutor
• Having earned a BA in a non-English language completed within
three years of matriculation into the MA
o Optional TOR exam for new students on Friday (sign up at Info Fair
during Thursday reception)
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Important Fall 2014 Dates
o Friday, Aug 22 Express Advising for new students only
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Hours vary by advisor (see Orientation schedule); sign-up in SIS-250
o Aug 25– Sept 8 Add/Drop Express Advising
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Friday, August 22 – Last day to initially register without late fee
Monday, Sept 8 – Last day to make changes to fall schedule with no
financial penalty; Beginning of withdrawal period
Express Advising hours available on Grad Advising website:
www.american.edu/sis/gradadvising (including some phone-ins)
o Oct 17 Midterm
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Last day to withdraw from a course or change grade-type
o Nov 3 Spring 2015 Registration begins
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Advisors will hold Express Advising for advance registration
Students do not have to meet with advisors before registering
Navigating Your Graduate School Experience
American University and the School of International Service offer a range of services and opportunities that can help you make the most
of your experience in a graduate program. Below you will find a sampling of important people, places, and organizations that can
contribute to your success as a student and a professional.
ACADEMIC
RESOURCES
PROGRAM
RESOURCES
BEYOND-THE-CLASSROOM
RESOURCES
Academic Advisors
Program Coordinators
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• Connect you with faculty who
share your interests
• Expose you to extra-/co-curricular
opportunities
• Act as a resource during your
transition back to school
 Provides information to students
through a national directory of
scholarships
 Works with students through
competitive processes for Fulbrights,
Boren Fellowships and other awards
• Includes staff dedicated to SIS
Graduate students
• Offers self-assessment tools, resume
review and interview prep
• Available via walk-in hours,
workshops, and networking events
http://www.american.edu/sis/gradadvis
ing/
Check your program’s homepage for
Program Coordinator contact
information.
http://www.american.edu/careercenter/
meritawards/index.cfm
http://www.american.edu/careercenter
SIS Abroad Office
Faculty
• Provides information on study
abroad programs
• Guides students participating in
dual degree and exchange programs
with international partners
• Offers international internship
placements
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http://www.american.edu/sis/sisabroad
/Index.cfm
http://www.american.edu/sis/facult
y/
http://www.american.edu/ocl/isss/
Library
Program’s Student Organization
Office of Disability Support Services
• Offers classes and workshops on a
range of research skills
• Provides assistance through online
chat function
• Includes social science research
experts available for one-on-one
appts.
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• Ensures that students with disabilities
have equal access to university
services and programs
• Coordinates services to meet needs of
students with disabilities
• Gain practical experience by getting
involved with AU Negotiation Project,
Creative Peace Initiatives, or the
Graduate Student Council
• Offer opportunities to bring a speaker
to campus, network, or build your
resume
http://www.american.edu/ocl/dss/
http://www.american.edu/sis/resources
/index.cfm
Advise on overall program of study
Assist with course selection
Explain graduation requirements
Serve as resource guide/University
navigator
http://www.american.edu/library/
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Hold office hours where you can
explore your path in the field
Speak at events on campus and
in D.C. related to their areas of
expertise
Most programs have a student
organization where students can
take on leadership roles in
providing feedback about their
program, initiate projects
related to their field of study,
and build community
Check your program’s homepage for
program-specific organizations
Office of Merit Awards
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
International Student & Scholar
Services Office (ISSS)
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Provides information and support for
international students
Offers community building programs
for international students to engage
with each other and with American
students
SIS Career Advising
Events on Campus and in D.C.
• AU and SIS offer nearly constant
events connecting your studies to
major policy issues, current events,
etc.
• Recent events have focused on
climate change, budget
sequestration, human rights in
China, and the conflict in Syria
Student Organizations
Language Resources
This resource guide is designed for SIS graduate students who need to improve their language skills to
fulfill the Tool of Research language requirement and/or for students who wish to further develop their
language skills for professional development.
On-Campus:
Center for Language Exploration, Acquisition & Research (CLEAR)
Located in Asbury Hall at AU, CLEAR has multiple spaces integrated with multimedia and computer
equipment to facilitate technology-enhanced language instruction, and the hosting of language-related
events. In addition to administering the Tool of Research exam, CLEAR offers coaching in the following
languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian,
and Spanish.
Phone: 202-885-2357
Email: clear@american.edu
Web: http://www.american.edu/cas/clear/
Location: Asbury Hall, North Wing - Lower Level, Room B36
Graduate Audits of Foreign Language Courses
All current graduate students in good academic standing at American University are permitted to audit
foreign language classes taught at AU for a substantially discounted rate in order to support their
development of research related to their chosen program of study. Audits earn no academic credit and
may not be used as a substitute for a Tool of Research examination or to fulfill any degree requirement.
For registration and fees, visit the website below. Please be aware that the registration deadline is
typically three to four weeks in advance of the start of the semester.
Phone: 202-885-2453
Email: ask-cas@american.edu
Web: http://www.american.edu/cas/advising/language-audit.cfm
Global Languages Network
AU has partnered with The Global Language Network (GLN) to offer reduced-cost language classes on
AU’s campus. These classes are independently run by GLN and are not being offered as AU courses. GLN
courses earn no academic credit and may not be used as a substitute for a Tool of Research examination
or to fulfill any degree requirement. Registration for the courses begins Saturday, August 23, and fall
classes begin on Wednesday, September 10. Visit the GLN website to register and for more information,
including fees. Courses being hosted at AU this fall 2014 semester are:
 French Frequent Flyer (Intermediate)- Tuesdays, 7:30 - 9:30pm - SIS 115
 Turkish Explorer (Beginner III)- Wednesday, 6:30 - 8:30pm - Asbury B-36
 ESL Frequent Flyer (Intermediate)- Wednesday, 7:00 - 9:00pm – Asbury B-29
 French Foreigner (Beginner I)- Saturday, 12:00 - 2:00pm - SIS 260
Web: http://thegln.org
Abroad:
Critical Language Scholarship
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 will provide funding for students to participate in beginning, intermediate and/or advanced
level summer language programs at American Overseas Research Centers and affiliated partners. All
program costs are covered for participants. All applicants must be U.S. citizens. The application deadline
is in early to mid-November.
Please contact the Office of Merit Awards at 202-855-1854 for the dates and times of
information sessions, or e-mail meritawards@american.edu to be added to the Critical
Language Scholarship Blackboard site.
Web: http://www.clscholarship.org/
Boren Graduate Fellowship
The Boren Graduate Fellowship supports students pursuing the study of languages, cultures, and world
regions that are critical to US interests. Most students use a Boren Graduate Fellowship to fund
international study of a foreign language within a country or region. The Fellowship excludes the
countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. The
university deadline for this award is in late January, but students begin the application process in the fall
semester. Counselors in the Office of Merit Awards work closely with applicants throughout the
application process.
Please contact the Office of Merit Awards at 202-885-1854 to learn about additional campus
deadlines and to schedule an appointment with a Merit Awards advisor. Also, e-mail
meritawards@american.edu to be added to the Boren Graduate Fellowship Blackboard site.
Web: https://www.borenawards.org/
DC Metro Area:
Tenley-Friendship DC Public Library
DC Public Libraries offer Powerspeak Languages, a free, online language-learning program, accessible
using your D.C. public library card. Language lessons available include: Spanish, French, German,
Mandarin, and English. Tenley-Friendship Library also offers free ASL instruction.
Phone: 202-727-1488
Web: http://www.dclibrary.org/tenley
Location:
4450 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016
Other Resources
Below are some local schools and institutions where SIS graduate students have taken language courses.
(This list is not intended to be comprehensive nor serve as an endorsement.)
Alliance Francaise: http://www.francedc.org/
Goethe-Institut: http://www.goethe.de/ins/us/was/enindex.htm?wt_sc=washington
Middle East Institute: http://www.mei.edu/
Spanish Now: http://www.gospanishnow.com/
Graduate School USA: http://graduateschool.edu/