With an acceptance rate of 29.4%, American University (AU) is a nationally recognized institute accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The institute offers a multitude of offline and online programs in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and certificate courses in Art, Arts Management, Audio Technology, Critical Race, Gender & Culture Studies, Literature, History, Philosophy & Religion, World Languages & Cultures, Anthropology, Data Science, Economics, Mathematics & Statistics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Psychology, Sociology, Health, Environmental Science.
For more information about admissions on AU, you can contact them by using one of these contacts:
E-Mail
Phone No. : 2028851000, 202-885-6000, Fax : 2028856014
Application Process
The process in general consists of 3 easy steps
Step1: Submitting an application form
The applicant must create an account in the AU’s site, once created, he/she would be able to access the application form. Applicants do not need to complete the form in one sitting. They are not required to upload a statement of purpose as part of the application form. Uploading, supporting documents, and recommendation letters are done at a later stage.
Step2: Payment of application fee
Applicants must pay the course-specific application fee (unless eligible for a waived fee). He/she will not be able to upload letters of recommendation, transcripts, or test scores until the fee has been received.
Step3: Uploading Required Material.
Applicants must submit all required materials as early as possible to allow time for them to be received. After admittance, he/she will be required to mail all official transcripts. Received documents are not returnable or transferable.
Undergraduate Admission Process
Prospective students can apply online using either the Common Application or Coalition Application. In addition to submitting a completed application, there are several components the Admissions Committee requires that help us evaluate you as a candidate for admission. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Application checklist
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Common Application or the Coalition Application, including essay
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Submit the Non-refundable $75 application fee or application fee waiver
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High School Transcript(s)
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SAT and/or ACT Scores (if not Test-Optional)
Note: International and US Global Nomad (US citizen) students graduating high school outside the US are not required to submit SAT I or ACT.
Minimum admission requirements
Freshman applicants who follow the U.S. educational system should have completed at least 16 college preparatory secondary school units. We require that you have 4 units in English, 3 units in academic mathematics, including the equivalent of 2 units in algebra and 1 unit of geometry, at least 2 units of laboratory science, at least 2 units of social science and 2 units of a foreign language.
Successful candidates for admission have usually completed a rigorous college preparatory course of study that goes beyond the minimum requirements above.
Admitted Student Profile for Fall 2019
Freshman (first-year) application deadlines
Fall Semester
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Early Decision: November 15
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Early Decision 2: January 15
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Regular Decision: January 15
Spring Semester
Graduate Admission Process
Application Requirements for all the programs require:
Statement of Purpose
A successful statement will illustrate a candidate's goals, highlight their research interests, and explain how their experience is relevant to the academic research conducted by faculty in their program of interest. Please try to limit your statement of purpose to 500-1,000 words (250-500 for certificate applications).
Transcripts
All applications require transcripts from degree-seeking college institutions. A bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) earned at an accredited college or university is required. AU standards ask for a minimum of 3.0 GPA for undergraduate work.
A transcript uploaded by a student is considered "unofficial." Departments use these during their review period. Official transcripts are required only after the applicant has accepted admission to American University. Official transcripts must be sent and received by a university representative and should confirm the earned degree when applicable.
International transcripts will need to be evaluated and show the equivalency of the US 4-year degree. Please include a WES evaluation with your transcript.
Resume or CV
The resume should list a candidate's relevant work experience, internships, research, awards, and/or publications, as well as educational history.
A curriculum vitae (CV) is also accepted.
Some programs may require:
Standardized Test Scores
They are as follows:
General Record Examination(GRE)
Required for all PhD programs and most Master's programs. They are not required for graduate certificates. Scores must be taken within five years of applying. There are no universal score requirements.
To submit GREs, use school code: 5007 (no department code). GRE scores can take up to six weeks to arrive after the test date.
Language proficiency tests
For international students whose native language is not English and who do not possess an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited U.S. institution: applicants need TOEFL test scores of at least 100 [95 for the online Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) program], a Pearson Test of English score of at least 68, or a minimum IELTS score of 7. TOEFL must be taken within two years of applying.
To submit TOEFL, use school code: 5007 (no department code). TOEFL scores can take up to six weeks to arrive after the test date.
Praxis
Passing scores by DC standard on Praxis Core exam required for all MA teaching degrees and MA special education, including certificates. The DC teacher licensing agency sets passing scores as Reading 156, Writing 162, and Math 150. To submit Praxis, use school code: 5007 (no department code).
Praxis scores can take up to six weeks to arrive after the test date.
Other test types
To submit other test types, applicants must send a legible screenshot of their score report to the official site.
Letters of Recommendation
Recommenders will evaluate a candidate based on academic performance, motivation for a program of study, intellectual capacity, and/or research, and writing ability.
Letters must be sent by the recommender. Fill out the Recommendation Request form on the Supplemental Items Listing page to send your recommender a notification so that they can submit their letter.
If you experience any errors with the Recommendation Request form or if you need to submit a new request to a news recommender, contact casgrad@american.edu.
Portfolio or Writing Sample
Some programs require portfolios or writing samples. See your program's requirements page or the section below for specific instructions on content and transferring files.
Ph.D./Doctoral Admission Process
Similar to the master’s program, applicants for doctoral programs primarily requires the following for admissions:
International Students
For the First-Year International Applicants, the instructions cited in the following must be followed.
Applicants can apply online using the Common Application or Coalition Application. Files of applicants will not be reviewed until all of the materials below have been received by the Office of Admissions:
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Completed application, including essay and CV/Resume
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Application fee of U.S. $75
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Academic records for grades 9-12 with official transcripts and certified English translations (if applicable), for each secondary institution, attended
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Two academic letters of recommendation
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Demonstrated English proficiency
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Interruption of Studies Statement if you have already graduated from secondary school at the time of application.
No SAT or ACT scores required. AU does not evaluate SAT or ACT scores for students (including U.S. citizens) graduating from secondary schools outside the United States.
English Proficiency
AU requires strong English language skills. All freshmen applicants (including U.S. citizens) can prove English proficiency by one of the following:
Via curriculum
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Four years of study (grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 or equivalent) in U.S.-accredited or IB, CXC or UK curricula (inside or outside the U.S.), where English is the only medium of instruction AND no ESL courses have been taken;
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Four years of study (grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 or equivalent) in selected English-speaking countries or in the educational systems of these countries (regardless of location) where English is the only medium of instruction AND no ESL courses have been taken.
English speaking countries include the UK, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec).
via testing
Please note: AU does not accept TOEFL IBT "MyBest" combined scores.
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A paper-based test score of 550 or higher (taken on or before May 31, 2017), or all paper-based test sub-scores of 20 or higher (taken after May 31, 2017).
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IELTS (International English Language Testing System): Composite score of 6.5 or higher. Sub-scores for each section of the IELTS must be 6.0 or higher.
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Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 53 or higher.
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SAT Critical Reading score of 530 or higher (taken before 3/1/2016), or SAT Reading Test sub-score of 29 or higher (taken after 3/1/2016)
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ACT English score of 23 or higher.
For native speakers of English from the U.S., UK, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec) who list English as their first language on the Common Application, proof of English proficiency is not required but may be requested.
