You can learn more about our programs by visiting our website, signing up for a virtual information session, or scheduling a campus visit. Additionally, you can reach out to us directly via phone at 202-885-6230 or email at spainfo@american.edu to request more information.

SPA offers seven traditional, two online, and one executive master's degree programs, which range from 30 to 39 credit hours.

Traditional Master's Degrees

• MA in Political Communication-36 credit hours
• MA in Political Science-33 credit hours
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)-39 credit hours
• Master of Public Policy (MPP)-39 credit hours
• MS in Data Science-30 credit hours
• MS in Justice, Law & Criminology-33 credit hours
• MS in Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy-33 credit hours

Online Master's Degree

• Master of Public Administration & Policy (MPAP)-36 credit hours
• MS in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security-36 credit hours

Executive Master's Degree

• Key Executive Leadership MPA-36 credit hours

Doctoral Degrees

SPA also offers three PhD programs, which require completion of 72 credit hours if entering without an earned master's degree, or 48 credit hours if entering with a related earned master's degree:

• PhD in Justice, Law & Criminology
• PhD in Political Science
• PhD in Public Administration and Policy

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a professional degree for those who want a career in public service that involves management and decision making. This program develops skills used by leaders and managers to implement policies, projects, and programs.

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a professional degree that places an emphasis on evaluating analytical skills to solve policy issues. MPP graduates work with quantitative and qualitative information to develop, assess, and evaluate alternative approaches to emerging issues and challenges.

Our executive programs are for mid-career or senior level professionals who wish to continue working while completing one of the School of Public Affairs’ degree programs on a part-time basis. The executive programs require substantial work experience in the field—typically, a minimum of five years of full-time work in a relevant career. However, the minimum level of required work experience varies by program. Our executive program is delivered in a weekend format to accommodate working professionals. Our executive programs are all cohort programs, meaning that all participants move through the curriculum together and follow a prescribed set of requirements. For more information, please visit our Executive Programs Overview.

Full-time student status is defined as registration in a minimum of nine (9) credit hours during both the fall and spring semesters, or by enrollment for four credit hours during the summer semester. Enrollment in all summer sessions during a calendar year will be added to determine the total summer credit hours. (Not all SPA programs offer a summer semester option.)

International students on an F-1 or J-1 visa must remain full-time status during fall and spring semesters as required by immigration regulations. All other graduate students at SPA can switch between full-time and part-time each semester as needed.

Any changes in registration from full-time to part-time status may impact financial aid and merit award amounts. Please contact the AU Financial Aid Office at facounselor@american.edu for further clarification on financial aid awards, and contact the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at spagrad@american.edu regarding merit-based awards.

Transfer students may apply to any of our degree programs through our online application. Application requirements remain the same as for a first-time SPA student. Students may transfer up to six credits from another accredited program into our traditional graduate programs. The department chair and academic advisor will determine which credits will be accepted and applied after the student has been admitted. If you’re seeking to transfer credits, please forward course descriptions and syllabi to the chair of your department for consideration.

Traditional Master's Degrees

February 15

Priority deadline for first round consideration for Fall merit awards

May 1

Final international student deadline for Fall admission

November 1

Final international student deadline for Spring admission

November 1

Priority deadline for first round consideration for Spring merit awards

Varies

Online programs start in the fall, spring, and summer each year. Please consult an admission adviser for more information and deadline details.

After the posted deadlines, applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the respective term or degree program is full. If you are interested in merit aid consideration, we strongly encourage you to submit your application before the priority deadline.

BA/MA combined programs are open to current AU undergraduate students only.

The final international student deadlines refer to applicants who require a new F-1 or J-1 visa. Current international students at another academic institution in the U.S. on an F-1 or J-1 visa can be admitted after these dates and will transfer their SEVIS record to American University. For more information on the SEVIS transfer-in process and/or international student deadlines, contact spaapp@american.edu.

Executive Master's Degrees

Executive program deadlines vary-the websites for each program will tell you more.

• Key Executive Leadership

PhD Program

PhD deadlines vary by year-the application deadlines webpage will provide you with the current deadline.

• PhD Application Deadlines

The School of Public Affairs' Graduate Admissions Review Committee reviews master's and graduate certificate applications on a rolling basis throughout the year for fall and spring entry terms. Applications continue to be accepted beyond the priority deadlines on a space-available basis until approximately four weeks before classes begin for each term. Domestic and international master's applicants seeking the full range of merit award opportunities at SPA are always encouraged to meet the priority merit aid deadlines. PhD applications are reviewed only once per year for the fall entry term. The January application deadline is firm; therefore, PhD applicants are advised to apply early to ensure that the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions receives all materials before the stated deadline.

No. It is equivalent to fall admissions. For the spring admissions cycle, the number of applicants decreases and so do the number of students admitted. The acceptance rate, therefore, remains the same.

If you have submitted an online application, you can use the e-mail address and password you created when you started your application to log into your application account to track the status of your application. You'll want to review your online application account to make sure we have received all of your materials. Only completed applications, which include all supplemental materials, will be considered. Please allow 7 to 10 business days to process your application materials after they have been submitted. If you have any questions regarding your application status, please contact the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at 202-885- 6230 or spaapp@american.edu.

Electronic submission of documents through the online application is strongly encouraged. The SPA application has three parts:

1. application form;
2. application fee; and
3. supplemental items

You can submit your supplemental materials, including online recommendation requests, only after you have clicked "Submit" on the application form and paid your application fee.

You will not be able to return to edit your application once you have clicked "Submit," so we strongly encourage you to check it thoroughly for any final changes before submission. You will be able to monitor your application progress and SPA's receipt of your supplemental materials via your online application account throughout the application process. Please do not send a hard copy duplicate set of any supplemental documents unless requested by the Office of Graduate Admissions.

If you need an alternative means to submit supporting documents such as official transcripts, you may mail, e-mail, or fax them to us in one of the following four ways. Please allow at least 10 business days for documents not submitted through the online application to show as received.

 

Mailing address options for official transcripts

Via U.S. Mail (U.S. Postal Service)	Via Courier Service (FedEx/UPS/DHL, etc.)
SPA Graduate Admissions Office of Enrollment 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016-8001 USA	SPA Graduate Admissions Office of Enrollment 4801 Massachusetts Avenue NW Suite 218 Washington, DC 20016-8001 USA
Via Email	Via Fax
GraduateAdmissionsDocuments@american.edu Note: Please do not send questions to the above e-mail address. It is for document submission only.	202.885.3991

 

Application files are not reviewed until all required documents have been submitted. Some delays in review are the result of outstanding documents. You will receive a confirmation e-mail from the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions notifying you once your application is complete and has been moved to the Graduate Admissions Review Committee for review. We encourage you to revisit your completed application account to check the status of your application.

We prioritize a 7-10-business-day turnaround on the review of master's degree applications once they are complete. The final admissions decision will be available on your application account, and you will receive an e-mail from the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions to let you know once an admissions decision is available.

The review process for PhD applications begins in mid-January and most first round decisions are rendered by mid-February. A short wait list may be maintained until mid-March.

You may apply to more than one program within American University and/or the School of Public Affairs. You will be required to submit a separate application and pay a separate application fee for each program to which you apply. Questions about which application materials may be shared across applications should be directed to the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at 202-885-6230 or spaapp@american.edu.

You may defer for up to one year from your semester of admission with approval from the Office of Graduate Admissions and upon receipt of your non-refundable $250 deferral deposit. To request a deferral, please e-mail the Office of Graduate Admissions at spaapp@american.edu indicating the reason for your deferral request and the semester to which you want to defer. Please note that combined bachelor’s/master’s applicants cannot defer.

Any merit award granted for your original semester of admission cannot be carried over to your deferred semester. You will be reconsidered for merit aid for the next admission cycle, although the award is not guaranteed.

If a student is denied admission to SPA and wishes to reapply, they should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at spaapp@american.edu in order to consult with the Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment to discuss the prospect of reapplying. These circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis.

As an applicant to a SPA graduate program, you will be asked to pay a non-refundable $65 application fee when you apply. This fee is waived for:

• Applicants who attend an in-person SPA recruitment initiative (i.e., campus visits, major events).
• Current AU employees, AU students (including BA/MA and BA/MS applicants), and AU alumni.
• Active duty members or veterans of the U.S. military.
• Active member of Golden Key or Phi Beta Kappa.
• Active or returned AmeriCorps, Bonner Scholar/Bonner Leader, Teach for All, Teach for America, and Peace Corps participants.
• First-generation college students.
• Recipients of eligible nationally or internationally recognized fellowship or scholarship programs, including FAMU Scholars, Fulbright Fellows, Koch Summer Fellows, McNair Scholars, Pickering Fellows, PPIA/IIPP Fellows, Rangel Fellows, and Truman Scholars.
• Graduates of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
• AU Washington Semester Program alumni

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test is optional* for all of SPA’s master’s (on-campus and online) and certificate programs. If you wish to include a GRE test score as part of your application, please email spaapp@american.edu. SPA’s admission team will hold your file until the score is available and uploaded prior to advancing for admission consideration. (Please see guidelines below regarding the submission of GRE test scores.)

*Optional means an applicant may submit an official standardized test score for consideration in an effort to strengthen their file. 

Please note the following recommendations offered by the faculty regarding the submission of a GRE for the following programs:

• MA in Political Science:
  • The MA Political Science program does not currently require the GRE; however, students with GPAs below 3.1 who believe their GPA does not reflect their academic potential are encouraged to include a GRE test score in their application file.
• MS in Justice, Law & Criminology (JLC); MS in Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy (THSP):
  • The MS JLC and MS THSP programs do not currently require the GRE; however, students with GPAs below 3.0 who believe their GPA does not reflect their academic potential are encouraged to include a GRE test score in their application file.

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test is required for admission to the following programs in the School of Public Affairs:

• PhD in Justice, Law & Criminology
• PhD in Political Science
• PhD in Public Administration & Policy

Submit official test scores from the GRE (institutional code: 5007) to the School of Public Affairs. Scores must be less than five years old to be considered official.

If you are applying for one of the dual degree JD/Master’s through the Washington College of Law (WCL) and the School of Public Affairs (SPA), you may substitute the LSAT* or the GRE**. An applicant may also include an LSAT or GMAT test score as part of an MPA or MPP application file being mindful that test scores for these master’s programs are currently considered optional.

*LSAC will send your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report to WCL after they receive your LSAT score, transcripts and letters of recommendation. WCL will share this report with the School of Public Affairs (SPA). Do not request LSAC to send your CAS report to SPA in addition to WCL.

**Submit official test scores from the GRE (institutional code: 5007) to American University, no departmental code is necessary. Scores must be less than five years old to be considered official.

In the case of Ph.D. file review, yes, we superscore. Our faculty will look at the best scores from multiple test attempts and take the highest score from each section of each test. This said, if you have submitted multiple GRE test scores to the University/SPA, all test attempts and associated scores will appear in your application (The University’s application platform does not allow for their omission). Official test scores must be sent to the School of Public Affairs directly from the testing agency in order to be considered.

Please remember that submitting GRE test scores for SPA’s master’s degree (on-campus and online) and certificate programs is optional.*

*Optional means an applicant may submit an official standardized test score for consideration in an effort to strengthen their file. If you wish to include a GRE test score as part of your master’s degree application, please email spaapp@american.edu. SPA’s admission team will hold your file until the score is available and uploaded prior to advancing for admission consideration. (Please see guidelines below regarding the submission of GRE test scores.

In applying to our Ph.D. programs where the GRE is required as part of the application and if you have already registered for the GRE test, please enter the test dates when asked on the application, and leave the test scores blank. You should enter test scores only if you have already taken the standardized test. If you have not yet taken the test or received the scores, you are not required to fill in the question regarding test scores in order to continue filling out your application. 

Please remember that SPA must receive official test scores from the testing agency (ETS) for a file to be moved forward for admission consideration. Submit official test scores from the GRE (institutional code: 5007) to the School of Public Affairs. Scores must be less than five years old to be considered official.

Score report availability may vary depending on the test type and location. Please allow two weeks from your test date for SPA to receive your official test scores from a testing agency in the U.S., and four to six weeks for test locations outside of the U.S. Please contact the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at 202-885-6230 or spaapp@american.edu if your official test scores have not reached us after one month. We’ll ask you to provide your unofficial score report and contact information. We may ask you to contact the testing agency to follow up regarding your score report if we are still unable to access it.

All graduate applicants to the School of Public Affairs, regardless of citizenship or residency, must demonstrate English language proficiency in order to be eligible for admission. To fulfill this requirement, applicants must satisfy one of the following criteria:

• Submit official test scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Pearson Test of English (PTE), or the Duolingo English Test that meet the minimum score requirement.
• Exchange student applicants from the Hertie School of Governance partner university may submit the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) in lieu of the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. The minimum score requirement is Grade C on the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or Grade B on the Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE).
• Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university located in a country on our list of English-speaking countries where the primary language of instruction is English.
• Successful completion of American University's Master's Accelerator Program with an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher.

For more details, please visit the International Students Admission Requirements page.

The English language proficiency requirement can be fulfilled through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Pearson Test of English (PTE), or the Duolingo English Test. We strongly recommend that applicants make arrangements to take these examinations at least one month prior to the application deadline. Scores more than two years old will not be accepted. Official test scores must be sent to the School of Public Affairs directly from the testing agency (TOEFL-institutional code 5007, IELTS-request agency send by mail, PTE-university code X1Q-K6-10) in order to complete your application. Score reports submitted by the applicant will not be considered official.

The AU School of Public Affairs requires the following minimum scores for our graduate degree and graduate certificate programs:

• TOEFL: 100 on Internet-based tests, 250 on computer-based tests, 600 on paper-delivered tests using the older scoring method, or 75 on paper-delivered tests using the revised scoring method
• IELTS: 7.0
• PTE: 68
• Duolingo: 120

Exchange student applicants from the Hertie School of Governance partner university may submit the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) in lieu of the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. The minimum score requirement is Grade C on the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or Grade B on the Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE).

If your score is below the minimum, you should consider retaking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE before completing your application. Applicants who do not meet the minimum score may be considered for American University's Master's Accelerator Program.

For more details, please visit the International Students Admission Requirements page.

For current AU undergraduate students, SPA offers combined bachelor’s/master’s programs with all six of our traditional master’s degree offerings (Political Communication, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Justice, Law & Criminology, and Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy). Our Combined Programs page will tell you more.

Undergraduate students in good academic standing may apply for a combined degree after they have completed 75 credit hours towards their undergraduate degree, and, except in rare cases, by the end of the semester in which they have completed 90 credit hours.

The School of Public Affairs and the Washington College of Law (WCL) offer five dual degree programs:

• JD/Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• JD/Master of Public Policy (MPP)
• JD/MS in Justice, Law & Criminology
• LLM/Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• LLM/Master of Public Policy (MPP)

You must submit a separate application to each school and indicate your dual degree program interest on both applications. You should submit all of your supplemental materials and your standardized test scores directly to the Washington College of Law, and those will be shared with SPA. You will receive separate admission decisions from each school. Please carefully review deadlines for WCL to ensure that they are met. Dual degree applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor from each school.

The admission decisions from each school are independent. Should you apply to a dual degree program and be admitted only to SPA, our offer of admission still stands, and you are eligible to proceed as a student in SPA. Note that admission decisions to one program have no bearing on or leverage with the other.

The School of Public Affairs realizes the challenges of financing a graduate degree. Please always begin with fully understanding the cost of attendance (COA). Next, attempt to make full use of three primary sources of funding at the graduate level; Federal loans, merit-based aid, and contributions you can make through work income, outside scholarships, educational awards and so on.

Merit awards (tuition remission and/or graduate assistantships) as well as donor-funded scholarships are administered by the School of Public Affairs' Office of Graduate Admissions. Your application file is used to make these determinations, no separate application is required.

American University’s Office of Financial Aid administers need-based aid in the form of Federal or Grad Plus loans. All domestic students are strongly encouraged to submit a FAFSA for loan consideration.

It is also important that you proactively plan and search for additional, external sources of funding. For more information, please visit our Tuition and Funding page.

Applicants are considered for merit awards as part of the admissions process. SPA offers several different types of merit award funding, including tuition remission awards, donor-funded scholarships, and graduate assistantships. Merit awards are extended to strong admitted students that present compelling academic and professional profiles as well as a clear commitment to public service. These awards are based on an assessment of an applicant’s credentials using traditional academic indicators (e.g., GPA, GRE scores, strength of recommendation letters, personal statement, resume, etc.). To be considered for a merit award, an applicant should submit a completed application by the priority application deadline for their desired entry term (November 1 for Spring or February 15 for Fall) and answer yes to the question “Do you wish to be considered for a merit award” on the application. You will be considered for all types of SPA merit aid. There is no separate application required.

The federal government makes available low-interest-rate guaranteed student loans for eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents. You do not need to wait until you are admitted to begin the guaranteed student loan process. To apply, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Be sure to list the American University (AU) FAFSA code, 001434, in the college release section. The phone number to the Financial Aid office at American University is 202-885-6100, if you have questions regarding the loan process. Graduate certificate applicants do not need to complete the FAFSA, as they are not eligible for financial aid.

Full-time employees of American University (AU) who are interested in exercising tuition benefits in order to offset their tuition costs at SPA should consult the Human Resources (HR) Benefits Team at 202.885.3400 or AUTuitionBenefits@american.edu. In addition, details about Employee Tuition Benefits are outlined on the AU HR Education Benefits page.

The School of Public Affairs is proud of our growing list of “preferred” affiliations that attract compelling and diverse students to our array of master’s degrees. Students are asked about these relationships and/or volunteer service on the SPA application. Benefits often include application fee waivers and priority merit aid consideration.

Please visit our Tuition and Funding page to learn more about many of SPA’s formalized relationships that are directly tied to SPA merit aid and/or learn more by making inquiry at spagrad@american.edu.