Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies

Global Exposure, Diversity, and Hands-On Career Development Propel Graduates to Success

With campuses in Washington, DC, Bologna, Italy, and Nanjing, China, Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) offers a globally focused academic experience while connecting students with diverse employer networks and opportunities.

Recognizing shifting recruitment trends, SAIS ensures students engage directly with employers through career treks to global hubs like Geneva, New York City, London, San Francisco, Rome, and, more recently, expanding markets like Singapore. “With fewer employers coming to college campuses for recruiting, we are taking students to them,” explains Michael McKenzie, assistant dean for global careers.

Student-led career clubs — focused on consulting, technology, finance, energy, conflict management, environment, global security, and intelligence — play a key role in shaping career treks, employer outreach, and programming, while offering students hands-on leadership opportunities.

SAIS students are empowered to take ownership of their career development early on, supported by a structured, strategic approach. Every student participates in a professional development course that introduces them to essential career tools and services, including platforms such as Handshake for professional networking and OneHop for alumni engagement. The course also covers resume writing, cover letters, and interview preparation, all aimed at helping students refine their career strategies.

“We want to teach them how to fish, not give them fish,” McKenzie adds, summarizing SAIS’s philosophy on career preparation.

Students also have access to career coaches and a robust global network of 24,000 alumni that provides ongoing support in cities worldwide.

McKenzie says SAIS’s interdisciplinary approach and its focus on diversifying skill sets — developing both regional expertise and functional specialization — are intended to strengthen students’ candidacy across a wide range of sectors and give them a competitive edge in the job market.

The SAIS classroom experience likewise thrives on diversity, bringing together students from various career stages and experiences, alongside a faculty of distinguished practitioners and professionals with extensive real-world expertise. McKenzie says: “Groups with diverse perspectives and varied backgrounds are much more successful — they solve problems faster. The history of good problem-solving in our alumni and students stems from the diversity of thought that they can apply.”

As SAIS continues to evolve, it’s expanding its focus on technology as a key driver of global affairs. Its specialized one-year MA in Strategy, Cybersecurity, and Intelligence (MASCI) equips students with the skills necessary to navigate and lead in this rapidly evolving landscape. “We’re excited to provide students with opportunities that position them at the forefront of global challenges,” McKenzie says.

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Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
https://sais.jhu.edu
[email protected]
202-663-5700