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!
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.
✓ NEW: DMV Neighborhood Housing Guide. The School of Public Affairs (SPA) has leveraged an array of resources to compile the D.C., Maryland, Virginia (DMV) Neighborhood Housing Guide. This guide offers incoming students insights into transportation, a few of the well-known DMV neighborhoods, and other helpful information to support students as they consider where they will live in the exciting DMV region.
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 2025
SPA’s Fall 2025 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 around the prioirity deadline of February 15 and will continue until our Fall 2025 response deadline of April 15.
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 (PAWs)
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.** Agenda items include: financial and merit aid; advising and course enrollment; and engagement opportunities like major events, campus visits, as well as 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 graduate student community with a YES2SPA!
*Admitted students who cannot attend an upcoming PAW should consider scheduling a meeting or 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 range of on-campus master’s degrees
New dates forthcoming
April 10: Fall 2025 Course Registration Begins
Your SPA Graduate Advisor will be contacting you after your enrollment deposit to enroll in Fall classes.
August 18: 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 22: New Master's Student Orientation
Please mark your calendars for SPA’s new master’s 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.
Questions: spagradaffaris@american.edu
August 25: Fall 2025 Classes Begin
New SPA graduate students begin their academic and professional journeys to Realize their Purpose!
Questions: SPA_GradEvents@American.edu
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! Whether you are driven to impact an issue or motivated to build a practical skillset, a master’s degree from SPA can, and will, make the difference.