Through their dedication, perceptiveness, and creativity, Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) drive American foreign policy
towards its objectives of promoting peace, stability, and prosperity. This includes advocating American foreign policy,
protecting American citizens, and bolstering American business throughout the world.
Many FSOs have liberal arts or business degrees, while some have advanced degrees in specialized areas ranging from law
to the social and hard sciences. Knowledge of a foreign language is not a requirement to join the Foreign Service, as FSOs
receive language training required for overseas assignments. However, the U.S. Department of State welcomes applicants who
have foreign language competence, especially in Slavic, Middle Eastern, and Asian languages. Each FSO must choose one of
five career tracks: Management Affairs, Consular Affairs, Economic Affairs, Political Affairs, or Public
Diplomacy. Increasingly, issues such as the environment, science, AIDS, international law enforcement, narcotics
trafficking, and trafficking in persons have gained priority among American foreign policy objectives. This shift has
opened fascinating new avenues in which FSOs are making major contributions on the cutting edge of foreign policy. While
serving in Washington, D.C., offices in all tracks also participate in developing and implementing our foreign policies.
What awaits you in the Foreign Service is the opportunity of a lifetime. You'll get to know foreign languages and
cultures while making a difference in the lives of both American and foreign citizens.
FIVE CAREER TRACKS
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Equal Opportunity Employer.
