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Welcome to the School of Public Affairs Pursue Your Higher Purpose with SPA

Front of Kerwin Hall

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

  1. Stay in touch...we are here to support you!
    spagrad@american.edu
  2. 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.
  3. Explore the myAU.american.edu portal. It contains a wealth of information that will inform and support your student life on campus.

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 

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

This important virtual session is hosted by the School of Public Affairs in collaboration with American University's Office of Financial Aid (OFA) and AU Central (Student Accounts & Billing). The session will cover information related to Federal and Grad Plus Loans, AU Billing Plans, and levering various financial sources to finance your SPA Master's degree. The session will also host a live question and answer session.

 

All admitted, deposited, and enrolled Fall 2025 SPA international students are invited to join Cris Dinu, SPA's Assistant Director of International Graduate Student Development, and the School of Public Affairs (SPA) Graduate Admissions team to learn more about important next steps regarding the University's immigration process, academic planning, and onboarding initiatives as you prepare to become a student at American University and SPA.

When: Friday, April 4, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM ET

Where: Kerwin Hall | American University Campus*

*Draft agenda offered upon registration. Final logistical information offered week of event.

SPA will host a full visit day experience on-campus on Friday, April 4, 2025. Students will also be invited to visit classes on the evening prior, Thursday, April 3, 2025.

SPA's Spring Engagement Day offers Fall 2025 admitted master's students an opportunity to further explore SPA's academic programs and associated research institutes and centers, engage with select faculty, current students, alumni, staff, and their future peer network, as well as experience the beautiful American University (AU) campus and the excitement of Washington, D.C. The experience is sure to enable students the opportunity to envision themselves as part of the welcoming, diverse and inclusive AU and SPA communities.

The SPA Spring Engagement Day visit agenda will include faculty current issue talks, departmental meetings with Chairs, Program Directors, and Academic Advisors, a career services and professional outcomes presentation, current student panel, as well as a session devoted to SPA's merit aid strategy.

All Fall 2025 admitted graduate (master's and certificate) students to SPA are invited to attend. More details including a detailed itinerary and logistics will be offered to registered guests closer to the event.

When: Tuesday, April 8-Friday, April 11

Time: Daily Sessions 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM (ET)

Where: ONLINE*

*Draft agenda offered upon registration. Zoom links and E-Folder offered closer to the event.

SPA Decision Week offers the opportunity to...

  • EXPLORE your academic program at The School of Public Affairs (SPA)
  • ENGAGE with our community of faculty, staff, alumni, and current students
  • EXPERIENCE all that your academic, professional, and personal life will be with a DECISION to say YES2SPA and Realize your Purpose at AU, SPA, and in -- Washington, D.C.!

All Fall 2025 admitted master's and graduate certificate students are invited to attend.

We look forward to engaging with you during this exciting event!

Dates: Thursday, June 12 & Friday, June 13

Location: American University-East Campus | Constitution Hall*

*Draft agenda offered upon registration. Final logistical information offered week of event.

The School of Public Affairs (SPA) will host SPA JumpStart 2025, a special on-campus initiative that offers a robust agenda oriented around career development and the introduction to integral campus and community services to support your successful onboarding as a new graduate student! The experience is 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 preparedness in graduate student life.

The agenda includes a(n): career development workshop and panels, professional headshots, a SAMI (SPA's skill institute) sampler, campus resource fair, housing bus tour, current student and alumni panel as well as a Book Talk, ice cream social, and community cook-out! The event is complimentary for one and all! JumpStart offers SPA’s Fall 2025 class an opportunity to further engage with; SPA faculty, alumni, staff, and current as well as incoming students, campus and community resources, and your new Washington, D.C. home. 

The event is sure to JumpStart your academic and professional careers! We look forward to you joining and actively engaging with the AU/SPA/and Washington, D.C. community-at-large!

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

New SPA graduate students begin their academic and professional journeys to Realize their Purpose!

 

Questions: SPA_GradEvents@American.edu

Join staff from AU's Office of Financial Aid to learn about the student loan processes and options for financing your education. Note that much but not all of the presentation will be focused on federal loans (available to US citizens, US nationals, green card or I-94 holders, and a limited number of others found here: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/eligibility.pdf)

 

Join staff from AU's Office of Graduate and Professional Studies to learn about living in DC, including options for living on campus.

Join staff from AU's International Student Scholar Services office to learn about the visa and paperwork processes for studying in the US and at AU.

Join staff from AU's Veterans Services office to learn about GI, Yellow Ribbon, and other related benefits.

Other SPA/Campus Resources

Academic Calendar
Career Center
International Student & Scholar Services
Military & Veterans Student Services
Off-Campus Housing Services
SPA Graduate Council
Student Health Center
Student Jobs (on-campus)
University Center & Student Activities

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.

Learn More