FALL 2015 REGISTRATION SUGGESTIONS FOR FIRST SEMESTER GRADUATE STUDENTS Full-time graduate students usually take 9 credit hours per semester; typically three, 3-credit courses. First semester students may not register for more than 9 credit hours. Please note that international students holding F or J visas must be registered full-time at 9 credit hours. All students with university merit awards (scholarships and assistantships) must also be registered full-time at 9 credits unless approved otherwise. In order to be eligible for U.S. federal loan aid, students must be registered at least half-time (5 credit hours in the fall/spring semesters; 2 credit hours in the summer). Please select your program from the list below: Comparative & Regional Studies (CRS) Development Management (DM) Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs (EPGA) Global Environmental Policy (GEP) Global Governance, Politics, and Security (GGPS) International Communication (IC) International Development (ID) International Economics (IE) International Economic Relations (IER) International Economic Relations (IER) Certificate International Media (IM) International Peace & Conflict Resolution (IPCR) Master of International Service (MIS) Natural Resources & Sustainable Development (NRSD) Social Enterprise (SE) United States Foreign Policy & National Security (USFP) Comparative & Regional Studies (CRS) Students in Comparative and Regional Studies typically focus on their core requirements in their first semester, and are recommended to take the following courses in fall 2015: 1) SIS-672 Theories of Comparative and International Studies 2) Their specific Regional Core Seminar numbered as follows: Africa: SIS-619-024 Conflict in Africa Americas: SIS-670-001 Americas Core Seminar Asia: SIS-655-001 Asia Core Seminar Europe: SIS-629-001 Europe Core Seminar Middle East: SIS-671-001 Middle East Core Seminar Russia and Central Eurasia: SIS-653-010 US/Russia Post-Cold War Relations a) SIS-619 Global Political Economy b) SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods c) ECON-603 Intro to Econ Theory. (This course may be waived for students who have recently taken or have knowledge of both macroeconomics and microeconomics. Please consult your academic advisor for more information.) d) Another course in their region of interest. Regional courses are any 600-level courses that include the region in the course title or description. Marisa Rivero is the academic advisor for CRS. Last updated: July 20, 2015
Development Management (DM) Students in Development Management (DM) typically satisfy their core requirements in their first semesters and focus on their areas of concentration and the Action Research Practicum in their final semester(s). DM students who begin in the fall semester usually enroll in: 1) SIS-637 International Development 2) SIS-636 Micropolitics of Development a) SIS-600 International Affairs Stats/Methods b) An economics course (see below) c) A concentration course. There are two required economics courses: ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory and ECON-661 Survey of Economic Development. The introductory course (ECON-603) may be waived by taking and passing SIS' online economics placement exam. If ECON-603 is waived, the degree is reduced from 42 credits to 39. Information about the online economics placement exam will be provided soon. The exam is usually offered several times a semester, and at least once over the summer. All DM students are required to take ECON- 661. Mary Barton is the academic advisor for DM. Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs (EPGA) As a first semester student in Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs, you should take: 1) PHIL-693 Global Ethics 2) SIS-607 Peace Paradigms or SIS-622 Human Rights a) The other course option in 2. (above) b) A 'choose-one' course in either Philosophy or SIS. (See EPGA Advising Worksheet for a list of potential classes) c) A course in your concentration - if you have a clear focus for your concentration. Concentrations include Peace and Conflict Resolution, Human Rights and Social Justice, Global Environmental Justice, Ethics of Development, International Economic Justice, and Global Governance) d) An approved methodology course (See EPGA Advising Worksheet or SIS Grad Advising website for a list of approved classes) Mike Rosenberger is the academic advisor for EPGA. Global Environmental Policy (GEP) Students in Global Environmental Policy are encouraged to focus on required core courses in their first semester and should take: 1) SIS-660 Environment and Politics 2) Two of the following: a) Another approved Theory course b) An Economics course (students with a background in basic micro and macro-economics may request permission to substitute a higher level economics course in place of ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory) c) A Research Methodology course (students without a background in statistics are encouraged to take SIS-600 Int l Affairs Statistics and Methods as one of their methodology courses. For a
full list of approved methods courses: http://www.american.edu/sis/gradadvising/secondmethods.cfm) d) A Science course (students without a strong science background are encouraged to take the ENVS-610/ENVS-611 sequence). Please see below for information regarding ENVS-610 Environmental Science I for fall: i. ENVS-610 Section 001 is for environmental science students. It uses a textbook that is based on environmental chemistry, particularly global cycles (Chemistry of the Environment, by Thomas G. Spriro, et al.), which assumes you have taken a college level course in Chemistry. The lectures are focused on science. Students do quantitative problems taken from the textbook, for homework. ii. ENVS-610 Section 002 is for environmental policy students. It does not have a textbook; instead it assigns news and short review articles (largely from Science and Nature) that usually have a policy component. Students are not expected to have much of a science background and instead of quantitative homework problems, the students do group presentations aimed at proposing a policy. iii. Students with a science focus are better off in the science section 001, while those more interested in policy are better off in the policy section 002. If you are in the wrong section for your interests we recommend you switch. ENVS majors should be in section 001 unless you have a strong interest in policy. Marley Crutcher is the academic advisor for GEP. Global Governance, Politics, and Security (GGPS) First semester students in the Global Governance, Politics, and Security program are encouraged to take: 1) SIS-619: Global International Relations Theory 2) SIS-619: History of Global Politics 3) Either SIS-600: International Affairs Stats and Methods or an economics course. When selecting an economics course, please note that all GGPS students must complete SIS-616: International Economics. However, students are expected to have completed at least a year-long sequence in microand macroeconomics before taking SIS-616: Int'l Econ. Students who have not completed micro and macro at the undergraduate or graduate level must complete ECON-603: Introduction to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-616: Int'l Econ. If you have previously completed micro- and macroeconomics please contact your advisor to discuss waving ECON-603: Intro to Econ Theory. Mike Rosenberger is the academic advisor for the GGPS program. International Communication (IC) First semester students in the International Communication program are encouraged to take: 1) SIS-640 International Communication 2) SIS-642 Intercultural Relations 3) Either SIS-600: International Affairs Stats and Methods or an economics course. When selecting an economics course, students may choose either ECON-603: Introduction to Economics Theory or SIS-616: International Economics. (Please note that students are expected to have completed at least a year-long sequence in micro- and macroeconomics before taking SIS-616: Int'l Econ. If you have previously completed micro- and macroeconomics please contact your advisor to discuss waiving the prerequisites for SIS-616: Int l Econ.) Annie Belott is the academic advisor for IC.
International Development (ID) Students in International Development (ID) typically satisfy their core requirements in their first semesters and focus on their areas of concentration and capstone requirements after completing the core. First semester students usually enroll in: 1) SIS-637 International Development 2) SIS-600 Int l Affairs Stats/Methods a) SIS-636 Micropolitics of Development b) An Economics course (see below) These courses help lay the theoretical and methodological framework for the program. There are two required economics courses: 1) ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory*, and 2) ECON-661 Survey of Economic Development. *The introductory course (ECON-603) may be waived by taking and passing SIS' online economics placement exam. If ECON-603 is waived, the degree is reduced from 42 credits to 39. Information about the summer and fall administration of the online economics placement exam will be provided soon. All ID students are required to take ECON-661. Students interested in pursuing the specialized concentration in International Development Economics (IDE), offered in conjunction with the Department of Economics, should schedule an appointment with the ID academic advisor to discuss IDE requirements. Mary Barton is the academic advisor for ID. International Economics (IE) First semester students in the International Economics program are encouraged to take: 1) ECON-505: Introduction to Mathematical Economics (must have previously taken Calculus). 2) ECON-601: Macroeconomics 3) SIS-616: International Economics (for students who have not previously taken International Economics; if taken this course will be used as elective credit); OR one research methods course. Please see the IE program worksheet for a list of approved research courses. Please review the schedule of classes for any course prerequisites. If a course has a prerequisite, please contact your academic advisor to determine if and how it can be waived. Marisa Rivero is the academic advisor for IE. International Economic Relations (IER) First semester students in the International Economic Relations program are encouraged to take: 1) SIS-616: International Economics (students who have not taken both micro- and macroeconomics must take ECON-603: Into to Economics Theory before taking SIS-616: Int l Econ.) 2) SIS-619: International Political Economy (only if waiving ECON-603) or one of the two approved IER core courses for the Fall 2015 semester (list available on the IER website). 3) One research and professional methods course. Students with a background in statistics are encouraged to take ECON-623: Applied Econometrics I. (Please note, SIS students must have
permission from the IER program director before they will be allowed to enroll.) Please see the IER program worksheet for a list of approved research and professional methods courses. Please review the schedule of classes for any course prerequisites. If a course has a prerequisite, please contact your academic advisor to determine if and how it can be waived. Marisa Rivero is the academic advisor for IER. International Economic Relations (IER) Certificate First semester students in the International Economic Relations Certificate program are encouraged to take: 1) SIS-603: Introduction to Economic Theory (students who have previously taken both macroeconomics and micro-economics previously may be able to waive this course and register for SIS-616: International Economics). 2) SIS-600: International Affairs Statistics and Methods 3) One SIS elective course. **Note: SIS-665: International Trade and Investment Relations is only offered during the fall semester and SIS-666: International Monetary and Financial Relations is only offered during the spring semester. Both courses have a prerequisite of SIS-616. Please review the schedule of classes for any course prerequisites. If a course has a prerequisite, please contact your academic advisor to determine if and how it can be waived. Marisa Rivero is the academic advisor for the IER Certificate program. International Media (IM) First semester International Media students should consult with the academic advisor for IM, Annie Belott, when planning their course schedule. International Peace & Conflict Resolution (IPCR) As a first semester student in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, you should take: 1) SIS-607 Peace Paradigms 2) Two of the following: a) SIS-609 Conflict Analysis & Resolution: Theory and Practice b) SIS-600 International Affairs Stats and Methods c) An economics course (ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory, SIS-619 Economics of Violence and Peace or an approved economics course) d) A course in your Concentration (if you have a clear idea of what you want the focus of your concentration to be) Students pursuing a dual-degree between IPCR and the Master of Arts in Teaching or the Master of Theological Studies should consult with the academic advisor for IPCR, Annie Belott, when planning their course schedule. Master of International Service (MIS) Students beginning the Master of International Service degree program (MIS) in the fall semester are required to register for the core courses, SIS-686 Proseminar I: International Affairs (3 credits) and SIS-619-038OL/039OL Executive Leadership.* In addition, they may register for the following: 1) A methods or economics course (3 credits) OR 2) 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. *Information regarding the Executive Leadership course will follow. Mary Barton is the academic advisor for MIS. Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (NRSD) 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-620 Environmental Economics (for students with a background in micro and macroeconomics; please contact the NRSD advisor regarding a prerequisite waiver if you would like to register for SIS-620 Environmental Economics) 3) One of the following courses: a) SIS-637 International Development b) SIS-620 Global Climate Change c) SIS-620 Political Ecology of Food & Agriculture d) SIS-620 Water Governance e) SIS-620 Sustainable Design and LEED Training NRSD students are also required to take a non-credit Spanish class, which will meet on Wednesday mornings from 9:00am-12:00pm. You will not officially register for this course, but for this reason, you should also not register for any other course that meets on Wednesday mornings. Marley Crutcher is the academic advisor for NRSD. Social Enterprise (SE) The Master of Arts in Social Enterprise (SE) is a cohort program, meaning that students sequence through the required core courses together as each group of new students enters in the fall semester. Students entering SE in fall 2015 should take: 1) SIS-635 Intro to Social Enterprise 2) SIS-696 Professional Competencies I 3) An introductory level economics course (see below) 4) A concentration or elective course There are two required economics courses for SE students: 1) One at the introductory level* (either ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory or FIN-605 Managerial Economics), and 2) A second approved economics course. The list of approved upper level/second economics courses for SE is found on the back page of the SE advising worksheet. *The introductory course may be waived if you have recently taken both macroeconomics and microeconomics, have an undergraduate degree (major) in economics, or pass the SIS online economics
placement exam. Please refer to the SE worksheet for specifics. If the introductory economics course is waived, the degree is reduced from 42 credits to 39. Information about the summer and fall administration of the online economics placement exam as well as the documents necessary to apply for the waiver will be provided soon. Mary Barton is the academic advisor for SE. United States Foreign Policy and National Security (USFP) First-semester students in the United States Foreign Policy and National Security program are encouraged to take: 1) One of the two required Core USFP courses* (SIS-689 Foreign Policy: Theories of Decision Making or SIS-682 Foreign Policy: Institutions and Processes) 2) Two of the following: a) USFP Core Elective (The approved USFP Core Electives for Fall 2015 are: SIS- 681 i. Intelligence & Foreign Policy; SIS-653 Public Diplomacy; SIS-653 U.S. National Security Strategy and/or one of the following approved courses on USFP toward a region: SIS-653 U.S. Policy Toward South Asia; SIS-653 US/Russia Post-Cold War Relations b) Economics course (ECON- 603; If ECON-603 has been waived: SIS-616 International Economics) c) History course (SIS-653 Continuity and Change) d) SIS-600 Int l Affairs Statistics & Methods e) Concentration course (If have a clear focus for your concentration) *If SIS-689 and SIS-682 do not have any open spaces, you should add yourself to the waitlist and choose three courses from the second section. Kaitlin Capobianco is the academic advisor for USFP.