Applicants must hold an accredited bachelor's degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least B+ (3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale). Students who do not meet these minimum requirements, if otherwise admissible, may be assigned additional coursework in excess of degree requirements specified at the time of admission.

A Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is optional. Applicants who have completed the exam are welcome to submit their scores as part of their application. Non-native English speakers are required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they hold a degree from a U.S.-accredited institution before enrollment at SIS. The minimum TOEFL score for full admissions consideration is 100 on the Internet-based test (iBT) or 600 on the paper-based test (PBT). The minimum IELTS score is 7.0. Applicants should plan to take the TOEFL prior to December to ensure full consideration of the application for the following fall semester.

All applicants are required to submit official transcripts and translations from their undergraduate institutions and two letters of reference evaluating their suitability for the program in international service. Finally, applicants must submit an essay outlining their motivation for graduate study. The essay should also contain a brief description of their intended program of study.