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All of my professors are experts in the field and have diverse research interests. Also, they have designated offices hours and are always willing to advise students. There are many resources available for professional development and networking opportunities. The workload is manageable, even for working graduate students. The class sizes are very small, which works well for in-class discussions. I wish the program was a little more diverse. Thankfully, the School of International Service has launched... Read More various initiatives to increase the diversity of the program. Also, Washington D.C. is very expensive, therefore rent is very high. However the quality of the program makes it all worth it.

This program is a great program for people who want to work in the relatively small world of political communications. The connections to experts in the field and support in getting jobs are hands down the best thing about this program. The professors are mostly practical experts not ivory tower folks. They will teach you what you need to know to do the job and not get sidetracked too much on theory. The downsides of the program are the expense, the fact that many of your elective classes will have... Read More at least half undergraduates and the lack of financial aid.

This is a phenomenal program in terms of academic support. Financial aid is a little lacking but it is graduate school. It comes with the territory. All the professors from the dean of the college down to adjunct professors are more than willing and supportive in assisting you. They are incredibly friendly and provide a lot of great advice. No question is insignificant. The career center routinely holds job fairs and assists with resumes and job searches. There is tutoring available. In a nutshell,... Read More the school goes out of its way to help you with your needs. And the workload from the classes is not unbearable.

I think that my program is superb in terms of the networking opportunities and support it offers you. If you want to apply for one of the major government fellowships, this is the place to be. They also have a excellent career office and academic support system. On the other hand...well, living in DC is hugely expensive, and you'll need to have some kind of job or outside source of income, since you're unlikely to get much from American University. But that would be true of pretty much top international... Read More relations program, and the advantages of living in DC almost certainly outweigh its disadvantages.

I love American University (AU), despite the high cost of tuition and living in DC. I feel that I am receiving a quality education and my professors have been knowledgeable experts in their respective fields. The opportunities for networking in our nation's Capitol are unsurpassed, and the School of International Service has a great reputation. I am proud to tell people I meet that I am a student at American University's School of International Service (SIS). Transportation via the Metro or the university... Read More shuttle make getting to school easy. Though parking is a bit pricey it is never hard to find a parking space. I am continually impressed with my classmates and other students that I meet on campus, and I feel so lucky to be able to study with such diverse global citizens. I feel that I am among my kind of people at AU and SIS. The Career Center and Library always provide top-notch assistance on anything from internships, to scholarships, to research. My program in EPGA is definitely small, but I am so glad that I chose it. It's giving me the theoretical knowledge and practical skills for work in human rights, business ethics, and conflict resolution. Compared to other DC area schools who offer degrees in my field of study, I felt that my program at AU and SIS offered the best combination of the art and science of peace studies.

The School of International Service is among the top programs for International Relations in the country, and I'm fortunate to have been accepted. The classes offered so far have been exceptional, and there are numerous networking programs available to students to mingle with each other and alumni, and/or professionals within our field. Unfortunately, the networking events are usually the only events I can attend as everything else (i.e. presentations, book discussions, etc) tend to be during the... Read More day, which doesn't really help those of us who work during the day.

The School of Public Affairs has a Graduate Gateway Program to aide students with both Graduate School and a career path. This is a good program because it provides students with an internship in which has the potential to lead to a full time position. The professors actively seeks to help students in a seminar and one-on-one sessions. The negative side to this program is it does not accept FAFSA so students are forced to seek out private loans or third party scholarships to fund the cost of tuition... Read More and housing.