Contact Us
Phone: (202) 885-2940
Graduate programs: spagrad@american.edu
Undergraduate programs: aupublicaffairs@american.edu
Welcome to the School of Public Affairs Pursue Your Higher Purpose with SPA
Congratulations on your admission to one of the nation’s top schools for Public Affairs! We are inspired by your commitment to a profession that is devoted to solving some of the greatest challenges facing this generation and generations to come. We invite you to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate all your efforts and achievements that have brought you to this next phase of your academic and professional journey. And we are so happy to welcome you to the SPA graduate student community!
Chat with a Current Student
Like you, every SPA student has a unique story to share about how they intend to realize their purpose @ SPA! Schedule to chat with one of our current students.
Learn More
Admitted Student Checklists
As you consider your SPA graduate admissions offer, please take the following steps:
✓ Create your myAU portal account. You will need your AU ID number, which can be found on the top left side of your admission letter, under your address. Note: Creating this account does not mean that you accept the offer of admission. What it provides is additional information that will enable you to access helpful resources to assist you in making your decision to say YES2SPA!
✓ Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you wish to apply for Federal student Loans. American University's FAFSA code is 001434. The Office of Financial Aid (OFA) at American University will review this information and will notify you of your eligibility. Questions may be directed to financialaid@american.edu.
✓ Engage in SPA’s upcoming virtual events (see sidebar for schedule and details).
✓ Identify your Graduate Advisor so that you can collaborate on creating an academic plan that optimizes your interests and course of study.
✓ Say YES2SPA by remitting your nonrefundable deposit of $250 US dollars. (Deposit is not required until the date specified in SPA’s admission letter and will be credited to your student account when you begin your graduate program.)
✓ Email your official undergraduate e-transcript confirming your successful completion of a Bachelor's degree before the first day of the semester to GraduateAdmissionsDocuments@american.edu. Please refer to SPA's FAQ(s)
Recommended
✓ Connect and follow us on social media. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
✓ Visit American University's Off-Campus Housing site, which offers access to living options in the area and helps you develop a student profile in an effort to identify potential roommates. Questions may be directed to offcampushousing@american.edu.
Important Reminders
- Stay in touch...we are here to support you!
spagrad@american.edu - Use your AU email account only and always! All correspondence will now only be sent to your "name@american.edu" account. Please regularly monitor your inbox.
- Explore the myAU.american.edu portal. It contains a wealth of information that will inform and support your student life on campus.
Say YES2SPA for Fall 2024
SPA’s Fall 2024 class is open and welcomes your YES2SPA! Please refer to the response dates on your admission letter for the deadline to respond. Please be mindful that merit aid decisions are made separately from admissions decisions. Merit aid notifications will begin February 15 and will continue until April 15, 2024.
In order to confirm:
- Pay the non-refundable enrollment deposit (directions attached to your SPA admissions letter). The deposit holds your place in the incoming class, enables you to register for your courses, and will be applied to your student account as a credit toward tuition.
- Questions: spagrad@american.edu
Monthly Post-Admission Workshops
All SPA admitted students are strongly encouraged to register and attend a virtual SPA Post-Admission Workshop (PAW).* The monthly sessions are led by Jennifer Forney, Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment, who will explain next steps following the exciting news of your admission to one of our graduate programs.** Agenda items include: financial and merit aid; advising and course enrollment; and engagement opportunities like major events, campus visits, and topical, virtual sessions. Please don’t miss the chance to know what to expect in the important weeks ahead as you enter the decision-making stage of accepting your admissions offer and joining our community with a YES2SPA!
*Admitted students that cannot attend an upcoming PAW should consider scheduling a telephone conversation with the assistant dean. Please reach out to spagrad@american.edu to schedule.
**Post-Admission Workshops are intended for admitted students to SPA’s array of on-campus master’s degrees.
CareerStart
It is time to begin your career development with an SPA CareerStart virtual session! Please register for ONE of the dates and join your SPA Graduate Career Advisor, Rob SanGeorge, for a comprehensive overview of the robust American University career services available to you!
Post-attendance, you are encouraged to schedule a 1:1 “coaching” session with Rob as an important next step.
Please know that SPA will be offering Mr. SanGeorge the names and emails for our new Fall 2024 cohort across all of our degrees very soon. With your “YES2SPA”, you will be added to the restricted social media platform that shares weekly postings of internships and relevant job postings in the greater Washington, D.C. area.
Registration for SPA JumpStart (invitation forthcoming) will include the on-campus/in-person CareerStart session on Friday, June 14 as part of the event agenda. Register now to reserve your spot!
This event is intended for deposited* Fall 2024 on-campus master’s and graduate certificate students to the School of Public Affairs.*SPA’s deposited F24 international students should have secured their I-20 before registering.
April 11: Class Registration Begins
After you submit your enrollment deposit, new graduate students may begin the exciting journey of designing their academic plans and registering for courses. Your graduate advisor will reach out soon to schedule an academic planning session!
June 13 & 14: JumpStart
The School of Public Affairs (SPA) will host SPA JumpStart that will offer a robust agenda spanning two days on the beautiful American University (AU) campus. The agenda will be designed to cater to all of SPA's on-campus master's degrees and graduate certificates and will "JumpStart" new students' academic, professional, and social engagement in graduate student life. The agenda will offer career development panels and workshops, a sampler SPA Analytics and Management Institute (SAMI) class, campus resource fair, housing bus tour, current student/alumni panel as well as an exciting special event followed by a social reception.
SPA's JumpStart offers Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 enrolled master's and graduate certificate students an opportunity to further engage with: SPA faculty, staff, and current as well as incoming students; campus and community resources; and their new Washington, D.C. home. The experience is sure to JUMPSTART new students' academic and professional pursuits!
All Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 enrolled SPA master's and graduate certificate students are strongly encouraged to make plans to attend. More details* including a detailed itinerary and logistics will be offered to registered students closer to the event.
*NEW: Enrolled students for SPA JumpStart will be offered the opportunity to stay on-campus for the duration of the event.
Questions: SPA_GradEvents@American.edu
August 23: New Student Orientation
Please mark your calendars for SPA’s new student orientation. The event should be considered mandatory for all on-campus master’s and graduate certificate students as it offers important information about academic policies, support services, as well as the opportunity to meet your respective department and peer network. An invitation with additional detail will be extended closer to the orientation date.
August 21: International Student Orientation
International Student Orientation covers important immigration, employment, and cross cultural sessions, as well as academic information specifically of interest to all international students beginning at American University. This program will give you the chance to learn important information for your studies, as well as to meet your new classmates.
August 26: Fall 2024 Semester Classes Begin!
Your academic and professiona journey begins as you realize your purpose!
Financial Aid Webinars
Join AU's Office of Financial Aid to learn about opportunities for federal funding. Note that this webinar is for U.S. students. To learn more about scholarships, contact your program to learn more as those funds are awarded directly through your school.
Housing Webinars
Join admissions representatives to learn about resources available to graduate students to find housing in the Washington, DC area while you study at AU.
Information Session for Admitted International Students
An opportunity for graduate students who have been admitted to a program at AU to hear from our International Student Scholar Services (ISSS) office about visa requirements and support available on campus.
Veteran's Graduate Student Webinar
Join the Veterans Services Office to learn about (or get a refresher on) the resources available to U.S. active duty, veterans, and U.S. military-affiliated students.