SCHOOL of INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
American University · Washington, D.C.
COMPARATIVE AND REGIONAL STUDIES
CRS Degrees
Fields of Study
Overview
The field of Comparative and Regional Studies (CRS) bridges comparative analysis and regional specializations. Whereas comparative reasoning focuses on uniformities and variation among cases, examining a specific region grounds knowledge and provides insight. Melding these two approaches, CRS offers an innovative program of study.
The CRS program at the School of International Service is innovative in that it uses the prisms of comparative inquiry to enable students to gain knowledge of specific countries while engaged in cross-regional analysis. By pioneering the frontiers of comparison across regions, this program represents a distinctive form of professional education, it is at once scholarly and eminently practical.
With emphasis on rigor and practical application, CRS
places many students in internships overseas and in Washington D.C. With
a population drawn from all world regions, the capital itself is a vast
campus, offering extensive resources, including international organizations,
embassies, U.S. government offices, major libraries, a university consortium,
numerous museums, and other cultural venues.
Academic Program
There are common themes that cut across regions and can be divided into the following dimensions:
- Comparative Political Economy
- Comparative Governance
- Social Change
- Comparative Foreign Policy and Security
Below are examples of specific cross-cutting themes that provide a basis for comparative inquiry and facilitate the transfer of analytical skills from one region to another: transition to a market economy, globalization and regionalism, science and technology, political culture, identity, including the nation, class, gender, race and ethnicity, and religion, regime change, civil society and social movements, foreign policy analysis and domestic-international linkage; and regional security arrangements and major power relations.
Regions
Africa
The concentration in Sub-Saharan Africa covers some 48 states south of
the Sahara . The study of Africa has four broad themes: state, society,
economy, and international affairs. African states have grappled with
the need for effective institutions, responsive political processes, and
accountable leaders. The problems of autocracy and difficulties of democratic
development are acute. The nature of African societies poses important
questions such as the context of governance, the roles of civil society,
and ethnic and communal diversity.
The Americas
This concentration focuses on the historical and growing interconnectedness
of the countries of the Americas. Courses in this program explore the
evolution of United States-Latin American relations beginning with colonialism
and continuing to the present, and domestic politics in the region. Specific
courses examine topical issues, such as the historical genesis of race
relations and their impact today; the evolution of the cold war and its
impact on the region; the transnationalization of the drug war; and neoliberalism
and its effects on social relations.
Asia
Combining comparative studies with Asian regional studies provides students
an opportunity to examine the rise of modern and contemporary Asia from
both historical and theoretical perspectives. Although our primary focus
is on East Asia - namely China , Japan, and Korea - other sub-regions,
such as Southeast Asia and South Asia are also covered. Courses probe
issues related to domestic politics, democratization, policy-making processes,
political economy, security and foreign policy.
Europe
The concentration in European studies focuses on Western and Eastern Europe
through a broad range of courses on security and foreign policy, political
economy, regional integration, and public policy-making. The curriculum
highlights contemporary political challenges facing European governments.
Middle East
Courses on the Middle East highlight society and the state; internally
and externally derived processes of social change; restructuring political
regimes; cultural, religious, and ethnic identities; intra-regional conflicts
and the involvement of the superpowers.
Russia and Central Eurasia
A rich tapestry of European and Asian cultures has shaped the development
of Russia and Central Eurasia. Courses on the newly independent states
- Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia - focus on
the persistence of historical tensions between authoritarian and democratic
political cultures and the dramatic transformations that have taken place
since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Centers and Councils
Members of the CRS faculty chair a number of university-wide councils including the Council on Latin American Studies, Center for North American Studies, Center for Asian Studies, Council on Comparative Studies, Europe Council, and the Africa Council. These councils conduct a wide range of activities including lecture series, academic certificate programs, and conferences that provide an interdisciplinary approach to learning in each field. Examples include activities of the Center for Asian Studies such as the annual Six-University Conference, the Washington Asia Forum Lecture Series, and the annual Hunsberger lecture.
Study Abroad
Graduate students in CRS are encouraged to study and conduct research abroad. SIS offers dual master's degree and/or exchange programs in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. SIS's graduate oriented study abroad programs are led by AU faculty and new locales are identified each year.
Career Opportunities
Located in Washington, DC, one of the world's leading centers of international interaction, students have access to an array of internships and career opportunities in the field of Comparative and Regional Studies.
CRS students are encouraged to participate in internships while studying at American University. The professional staff of the American University Career Center is available to help students explore both domestic and international internship opportunities. Careers and internships in which CRS students are placed include U.S. government agencies (Departments of State, Defense, Justice, Commerce, and CIA), AMIDEAST, American Red Cross, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, Woodrow Wilson Center, Associated Press (Belgium), Brookings Institution, Asia Society, Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies, Human Rights Watch, Internews (Bosnia), Kyoto News, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Ernst & Young, International Republican Institute, Coca-Cola, Inc., and the Youth Advocacy Progam International.
Alumni Network
Alumni play a key role in helping students reach their career and academic goals. Alumni are active in sharing career information with the university community and recruiting School of International Service students for internships and jobs. In recent years, alumni have hosted receptions and discussions in such diverse locations as the World Bank, the State Department, and the Academy for Educational Development.
Finally, the school's 13,000-strong alumni community serves as an incomparable resource for current students and an example of the leading role played in international affairs by School of International Service graduates.