Washington, D.C.
The SAIS Advantage
Washington, D.C., acts as an extension of our campus—attracting top faculty and students from around the globe.
Engage With Policymakers
Proximity to power and access to thought leaders create rich academic and professional opportunities.
Study in the Heart of a City Center
SAIS is located in Dupont Circle, an international hub close to think tanks, embassies and diverse cultural spots.
Experience Life in a World Capital
Students immerse themselves in the life of the city through social events, community service and internships.
Prepare to Lead
SAIS always has attracted idealistic individuals who want to make a difference in the global community.
About the Washington Campus
The city of Washington, D.C., has traditionally acted as an extension of SAIS's main campus, giving students access to the world's most influential individuals and institutions—and unparalleled opportunities for hands-on learning and career networking. SAIS is close to the White House, U.S. Capitol and World Bank, and neighbors include think tanks, embassies, and corporate and federal offices.
With proximity to power, we are located on Massachusetts Avenue on Washington's Embassy Row in Dupont Circle. SAIS is across the street from the Brookings Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and near the Center for Global Development and the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
The History of SAIS
- 1940's
- Christian Herter and Paul Nitze discuss over breakfast in Georgetown idea of creating an international relations graduate school in Washington, D.C.
- School founders establish charter and name of the School of Advanced International Studies
- Halford Hoskins becomes first director of SAIS
- SAIS opens its doors for classes
- First SAIS class graduates
- SAIS requires a second language proficiency as part of the curriculum
- Philip W. Thayer becomes dean of SAIS
- 1950's
- SAIS launches Middle East Studies Program-first of its kind in the U.S. to focus on the modern Middle East
- SAIS becomes affiliated with Johns Hopkins University
- University of Rangoon in Burma becomes home of SAIS's first overseas program--the Rangoon-Hopkins Center
- SAIS opens the Bologna Center in Italy
- SAIS Review academic journal is launched
- SAIS establishes Washington Center for Foreign Policy Research, the school's 'think tank' which becomes the Foreign Policy Institute in 1980
- 1960's
- Francis O. Wilcox becomes dean of SAIS
- SAIS moves from original Florida Avenue location to building on 1700 block of Massachusetts Avenue-- now known as the Nitze Building
- SAIS creates B.A.-M.A. Program with Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus
- Priscilla Mason, one of the original SAIS staff members, retires after 23 years of service
- 1970's
- Then-National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger speaks at SAIS during the contentious height of the Vietnam War
- Robert E. Osgood becomes dean of SAIS
- SAIS establishes Master of International Public Policy (M.I.P.P.) program for mid-career professionals
- George R. Packard becomes dean of SAIS
- SAIS creates the "core curriculum" for the M.A. program
- 1980's
- SAIS holds it first commencement ceremony in Washington with economist John Kenneth Galbraith as speaker
- SAIS creates its first dual-degree programs with Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health and University of Pennsylvaniaís Wharton School of Business
- SAIS renames main location at 1740 Massachusetts Avenue the Paul and Phyllis Nitze Building
- SAIS and Nanjing University open the Hopkins-Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies in China
- SAIS opens Rome Building on 1600 block of Massachusetts Avenue named in honor of benefactor Benjamin T. Rome
- 1990's
- SAIS celebrates its 50th anniversary
- Paul Wolfowitz becomes dean of SAIS
- SAIS graduate Jody Williams '84 wins Nobel Peace Prize for work related to banning landmines
- SAIS receives piece of the Berlin Wall from German government to display in Nitze Building Courtyard
- 2000's
- President Bill Clinton speaks at SAIS on normalizing trade with China
- The Dalai Lama gives SAIS commencement address
- Then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice speaks at SAIS-an event originally scheduled for September 11, 2001
- Jessica Einhorn is first graduate named dean of SAIS
- SAIS celebrates 60th anniversary with gala at Italian Embassy featuring then-Secretary of State Colin Powell
- Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks at SAIS
- President George W. Bush speaks at SAIS on the Iraq War
- Then-Delaware Senator Joseph Biden speaks at SAIS
- SAIS Graduate Timothy Geithner '86 is named U.S. Treasury secretary
- 2010's
- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at SAIS on global health
- Vali R. Nasr becomes dean of SAIS
Visit the Washington Campus
Prospective Students
Campus Tours
Prospective students also are welcome to explore our facilities on their own by securing a visitors pass at the front desk of the Nitze Building. The best time to visit SAIS is during the fall or spring semester.
Prospective students are encouraged to experience the quality of SAIS students and professors by attending a class. Class visits are available during the academic year, September through May. To arrange a visit, sign up on your MySAIS page.
Information Sessions
Information sessions allow prospective M.A., M.I.P.P. and Ph.D. applicants to learn more about the SAIS atmosphere, curriculum and application process. Friday afternoon information sessions are followed by the weekly SAIS happy hour during the academic year, which all visitors are invited to attend.
Admissions Office staff members are available to speak with you informally. The Admissions Office is located in Room 200 of the Nitze Building. Our walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 2 to 5p.m. or by appointment.
Public & Press
Events
The viewpoints that hundreds of visiting heads of state, diplomats, government officials, organization executives and other thought leaders bring to the campus each year create an atmosphere in which classroom studies and research projects take on a new and deeper meaning. Many of these events are open to the public and media as well.
Events are held at the Nitze Building, 1740 Massachusetts Ave., NW; the Rome Building, 1619 Massachusetts Ave., NW; and the Bernstein-Offit Building, 1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW.
Events Calendar
Contact
Nitze Building
1740 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States
202.663.5600
In the Area
- SAIS Washington SAIS Washington
- The World Bank The World Bank
- United States Capitol United States Capitol
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- United State Department of State United State Department of State