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Apply
How It Works
The following information includes suggested steps for applying
for graduate study at CAS. Undertaking each step in a timely fashion
will help to ensure that you’ve completed your application
correctly.
CAS uses a rolling admissions process. However, please note that
some of our departments have application deadlines for particular
graduate programs. Please check the
program to which you are applying, or check our Requirements
Chart.
Before Applying
Research our programs. Get a feeling
about whether our program will be the right fit for your academic
interests. Find a faculty member whose interests are similar to
your own, and who may be a good mentor or advisor.
Request
Information about CAS programs We will send you an overview
of CAS programs, faculty, and research. You’ll also be
subscribed to our e-mailing list so that you can receive e-mail
updates and reminders about financial aid, GRE testing, and
career services, as well as periodic e-mails from our faculty
and invitations to our open houses.
Attend a recruiting fair or open house.
Our admissions staff travels to several graduate school fairs during
the autumn; check the schedule to see if we’ll be near you!
We also host open houses in Washington, DC during the spring, and
we would love to meet you on campus.
Applying
Each application for graduate admission is evaluated on an individual
basis. Once all of your documents are received in the admissions
office and have gone through an initial evaluation, your application
is passed along to a faculty admission committee within the department
that you are applying. The faculty committee makes a recommendation
for an admission decision, which is ultimately approved or disapproved
by the Academic Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Minimum requirements of admission include:
- Possession of a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) earned at an accredited
college or university. (See the chart titled "International Degrees Equivalent
to a U.S. Bachelor's" for international equivalencies.)
- Maintenance of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average
in the undergraduate program, calculated on the last 60 credit hours of course
work completed and available at the time of consideration of application for
admission.
- Maintenance of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all relevant graduate
work for which a grade has been awarded.
- For international students whose native language is not English and do
not possess an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited U.S. institution,
TOEFL test scores of at least 600 (paper), 250 (computer), or 100 (internet
IBT); or a minimum IELTS score of 7.
- An applicant for graduate study may be admitted without reference to the
undergraduate average provided that he or she has maintained either a 3.3
cumulative grade point average in a master's degree program completed at an
accredited institution; or has maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average
in the last 12 credit hours which are part of a master's or doctoral degree
program still in progress at such an institution at the time of the evaluation
of the application; or in graduate work taken in nondegree status at American
University and applicable to the degree program for which he or she is applying.
- GRE Exam scores (if required by the academic program — see Requirements
Chart.pdf for specific GRE guidelines).
- Praxis I Exam scores for all Master's and Certificate programs
in Teaching. (See Requirements
Chart.pdf for specific guidelines.)
How to apply:
- Fill out an application form, either online
or download an application.
Submit all required transcripts, recommendation letters, test
scores, writing samples, and statement of purpose. More specific
infomation see our Application
Procedures.
- Keep a copy of all of your documents, and be sure to submit
your application by the required deadline for your program. Our
peak review period is between January 1 and April 1.
- Check your application status – if you applied online,
you may log in to your application account at any time to check
on the status of your application. If you applied using the paper
form, you can check your application status by emailing us at CASGRAD@american.edu
- Waiting for a decision – Admissions decisions are released
as soon as the faculty admissions committee and the academic dean
render a decision. You will receive your notification by postal
mail.
Deadlines
CAS uses a rolling admissions process. However, please note that
some of our departments have application deadlines for particular
graduate programs. Please check the program
to which you are applying, or check our Requirements
Chart.
Enrolling
If you are admitted, you will need to decide on whether to accept
or decline our invitation to study at the College of Arts and Sciences
at American University.
Accepting:
-
Send your enrollment deposit
Unless you receive a scholarship, fellowship, or other merit
award, you will be required to send a non-refundable $250
enrollment deposit to secure your place in the incoming class.
The $250 will be applied toward your tuition, and should be
sent to the Graduate Admissions office along with your signed “Acceptance
of Admission” sheet
in your packet of information that you receive when you are admitted.
-
Registering for classes
After your deposit has been sent, please contact the College’s
Graduate Advisement Specialist, Lauren Tabbara to set up your student registration record. You may
then consult with your faculty advisor, either by e-mail or phone,
to determine your first semester’s coursework and schedule.
Your faculty advisor will then clear you to register.
Once you are cleared for registration, you may register for your
classes by (a) asking your faculty advisor to register your courses;
or (b) picking up a registration form with your advisor’s
signature and dropping it by the Registrar’s office.
-
Attend Graduate Student Orientation
The College of Arts and Sciences sponsors one full-day
orientation session on the Friday before Fall classes begin. You
will receive an advance invitation through the mail with details
and an agenda.
Many of our departments provide their own smaller orientation
sessions. Please keep in contact with your department or program
to inquire about any scheduled orientation sessions for new graduate
students.
If you are unable to attend any orientation sessions on campus,
please view our online graduate student orientation at http://www.american.edu/ocl/orientation/graduate_students/welcome.html
-
Student ID card
When you arrive on campus, or during Graduate Student Orientation,
you will need to obtain your “ Americard”
student photo ID. The location of the “Americard”
office is in Anderson Hall.
-
my.american.edu
Portal
Once you are registered, you can view your class schedule, account
balance, and lots more information via the my.american.edu
portal. Simply log on to http://my.american.edu
and follow the instructions to create your portal account.
Declining
Should you wish to decline the offer of admission, please simply
e-mail us at CASGRAD@american.edu
stating that you with to decline the offer. It would also be helpful
to us, for the future, if you would state the reason that you wish
to decline. Thank you.
Preparing For Graduate Study
Housing in DC
Independently-operated apartment buildings such as The Berkshire
and 4100 Massachusetts are located within walking distance of
the campus. There are, of course, hundreds of other apartment
buildings located a few Metrorail or Metrobus stops away in
neighborhoods such as Upper Georgetown, Cleveland Park, Friendship
Heights, and Van Ness. Nearby suburbs outside of the District
where graduate students often live include Arlington, VA, and
Bethesda, MD.
The following Internet-based apartment search engines provide
useful listings of available apartments:
Buy your books
You can check for required readings by viewing our Campus
Bookstore’s website and filling in your course information.
*Note: It is not required that you buy your books through the campus
bookstore.
Health insurance
All full-time degree students are required to carry health insurance.
Enrollment in the university-sponsored Student Health Insurance
Plan is automatic, unless you submit a waiver identifying your own
existing health insurance coverage. Please see the Student
Health Center website for more information.
Financial Aid
See our Financial Aid Section
Living in Washington, DC
