Application Procedures
Each applicant must assemble all the application components and submit them to the Admissions Office. If you are applying online,
you may submit your application and pay your application fee electronically. Your letters of recommendation, transcript(s), and any
supplemental forms must be submitted through the mail. All mail should be sent to:
Online Admissions, American University
1415 W. 22nd Street, 5th Floor
Oak Brook, IL 60523
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A COMPLETE APPLICATION CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING:
Completed Application Form
Application Fee
The cost to apply is US $55 for each application submitted for MA TEFL, MA Economics, and MS Nutrition and Wellness
applicants only.
College Transcripts
Please submit one official* transcript from each college, university, professional school, or other postsecondary institution
you have attended. All institutions must be reported. Transcripts must be in sealed envelopes from the school/college you
attended. Students who have completed a Master's degree will still need to submit official transcripts of their Bachelor's
degree. Undergraduate transcripts must show conferral of Bachelor’s degree.
Some institutions will not release official transcripts to students. In that case, the transcripts should be sent directly from the
issuing institution to: Online Admissions, American University, 1415 W. 22nd Street, 5th Floor, Oak Brook, IL 60523.
* The term official means an original document or copy of your original document which is certified, stamped, and sealed in an
envelope by an officer of your school. All documents must be received by American University in the sealed, unopened envelope.
Faxed copies and photocopies that are not certified will not be accepted. The university requires transcripts be written in the
native language of the school. If this language is not English, the documents must be accompanied by a certified English
translation.
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Standardized Test Scores
Official standardized GRE test scores are required for the MA TEFL, MA Economics, and MS Nutrition and Wellness
programs.
Our ETS institutional code number is 8439
Include a photocopy of your test scores, if available, when sending your other materials. GRE test scores may not be more
than 5 years old.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required for these programs. Recommendation letters can be submitted along with your
other materials by mail. Please use the Recommendation Form on our website at www.online.american.edu/admissions.
Recommenders may email their letters to [email protected] (must include full name of applicant).
Statement of Purpose (for College of Arts and Sciences)
Your Statement of Purpose is a very important part of your application. It should be a well-written and carefully crafted paper
of approximately 1,000 words in length. You should describe in detail your personal and career goals; relevant employment
experience; reason for wanting to study at American University's College of Arts and Sciences; and ability and commitment
to undertake graduate education at this time. Be sure to include your name on every page of your Statement of Purpose. If
you are applying using the online application form, you may submit your Statement of Purpose electronically in the space
provided on the online application form.
Admissions Essay (for School of Communications)
Your essay is a critical part of your application. It should be well-written and carefully crafted, approximately 1,000 words.
Describe your motivation for seeking graduate study at American University’s School of Communication, focusing on the
program to which you are seeking admission. Please be specific as to which of your experiences will contribute to your
success. What do you hope to gain, and what do you bring to the program? How do you envision using your degree?
Résumé
Please include a current résumé if you have professional work experience. If you are a veteran of the U.S. military,
include your years of service.
CERTIFICATE APPLICANTS
If you are applying to a graduate certificate program (rather than to a Master’s or Doctoral degree program), you should follow the
same instructions for this application with the following notations:
• No GRE test score is necessary.
• Your Statement of Purpose on the application should include a brief (250 words or less) explanation of why you are
interested in the program.
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MINIMUM STANDARDS OF ADMISSION
Minimum standards of admission include:
• Possession of a Bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) earned at an accredited college or university.
• Maintenance of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average in the undergraduate program, calculated on the last
60 credit hours of coursework completed and available at the time of consideration of application for admission. The
Graduate Admissions office will calculate the GPA for the last 60 hours (or its equivalent) of your undergraduate
coursework.
• Maintenance of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all relevant graduate work for which a grade has been awarded.
TOEFL test score of at least 600 (paper), or 100 (Internet-based test); IELTS test score of 7; or PTE test score of 68 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.
An applicant for graduate study may be admitted without reference to the undergraduate average provided that he or she has maintained
either a 3.3 cumulative grade point average in a Master’s degree program completed at an accredited institution; or has maintained a 3.5
cumulative grade point average in the last 12 credit hours which are part of a Master’s or Doctoral degree program still in progress at such
an institution at the time of the evaluation of the application; or in graduate work taken in nondegree status at American University and
applicable to the degree program for which he or she is applying.
International Applicant Information
TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE Test Scores for Non-native English Speakers
All international students are required to submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), from the
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, or from the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE). Exemptions
are granted for students whose native language is English, or who have obtained a 4-year undergraduate degree or a graduate degree
from an accredited institution in the United States or other English-speaking country.*
The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 600 on a paper-based exam, or 100 on the Internet-based exam. The minimum acceptable
IELTS score is 7. The minimum acceptable PTE score is 68. Our TOEFL institutional code number is 8439; there is no department
code.
* TOEFL exam, IELTS exam, and PTE exam scores can be waived if student has obtained a 4-year undergraduate or 2+ year graduate
degree from an accredited institution in another English-speaking country, such as Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, or New
Zealand.
Students with international transcripts must have them evaluated course-by-course by one of the following organizations:
1. World Education Services (WES): http://www.wes.org/
2. Educational Credential Evaluators Inc (ECE): https://www.ece.org
3. ACRAO International Education Services (IES): http://ies.aacrao.org/evaluations/
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PERSONAL INFORMATION
1.
Name
(Dr. / Mr. / Ms.)
2.
Preferred First Name/Nickname
(middle initial)
________________________
3.
Former last names (e.g. maiden)
________________________
4.
Gender
5.
American University ID (former students)
6.
Permanent mailing address
(first)
Male
(last or family name)
Female
______________
(apartment number and street address)
(city)
(state)
(postal code)
(country)
Home Number
(include country code if an international phone number)
7.
Cell Number
________________________________________________________________________
(include country code if an international phone number)
Current mailing address
if different from above
(apartment number and street address)
(valid until)
(city)
8.
E-mail address
9.
Date of birth
10.
Is English your first language?
11.
Number of years of full-time professional work experience
12.
Are you a U.S. citizen?
(state)
(postal code)
(country)
_____/_____/______
(dd) (mm) (year)
Yes
No
______________________________________
Yes
No
If yes, proceed to question 14. If no, proceed to question 15.
R a ce/Ethnicity: to be a nswered by U.S. citizens only.
American University uses race/ethnicity data to 1) remain in compliance with accreditation and federal aid requirements, 2) provide a
mechanism to assess our academic and professional services.
13.
Are you Hispanic/Latino?
Yes
No
Regardless of your answer to the prior question, please indicate how you identify yourself:
American Indian
Native Hawaiian
Alaska Native
Other Pacific Islander (non-Native Hawaiian)
Asian
White
Black or African American
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Questions 15 through 17 are to be answered by non-U.S. citizens only.
14. Country of citizenship ____________________________
15. City and Country of birth __________________________________
16. Do you hold a U.S. Permanent Resident/Immigrant visa (“green card”)?
If no, what type of immigration status do you plan to hold while at AU?
YES NO
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Military Service (if applicable).
17. Are you an active duty member or veteran of the U.S. military? YES NO
Branch of Service
Highest Rank Achieved
Entry Date
Separation Date
Test Scores (if currently completed).
GRE (MA TEFL and Certificate applicants only)
Test date
Verbal score
Verbal %
Quantitative score
Quantitative %
Analytical writing score
Analytical writing %
TOEFL or IELTS (international students only)
Which Test Taken
Test Date
Listening date
Writing score
Reading score
Speaking score
Disciplinary History.
18. Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any post-secondary (or the international equivalent) institution
you have attended, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in a disciplinary action? These
actions could include, but are not limited to: probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from the institution.
YES
NO
19. Have you ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime? YES
NO
Note that you are not required to answer “yes” to this question, or provide an explanation, if the criminal adjudication or conviction
has been expunged, sealed, annulled, pardoned, destroyed, erased, impounded, or otherwise ordered by a court to be kept
confidential.
If yes to either of the above, please include a statement including the approximate date of each incident, explain the circumstances,
and reflect on what you learned from the experience.
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ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
20. Intended academic program
21. Degree you plan to pursue:
Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Science (MS)
Graduate Certificate Program
(MAT)
Fall (September )
22. Year and term you are applying for
Spring (January)
Summer (May)
23. Are you planning to transfer any graduate credits taken at another school?
Yes
No
24. Have you applied for admission to American University before?
If yes, for what semester
Yes
No
25. Have you ever enrolled at American University?
If yes, check the appropriate box(es)
Yes
☐ Undergraduate
☐ Nondegree
No
☐ Graduate
☐ Certificate
For what semester
PREVIOUS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDY
Please list chronologically every college, university, professional school, or other postsecondary institution at which you have
studied. Attach additional sheets if necessary. All institutions must be reported.
Undergraduate:
Name of College & Location
Date Begun
Date Ended
Degree Awarded & Major
Date Awarded
26. Undergraduate GPA :
undergraduate GPA
Graduate:
Name of College & Location
Date Begun
Date Ended
Degree Awarded & Major
Date Awarded
27. Graduate GPA :
graduate GPA
number of credits
Additional Educational History (please include any additional information about your educational background here)
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SIGNATURE
I hereby apply for admission to American University. I agree to abide by its regulations. I certify that the foregoing information is true
and complete to the best of my knowledge and fully realize that omission or falsification or information will be considered sufficient
reason for rejection of this application or for dismissal.
(signature of applicant)
(date)
Please submit application form, along with official transcripts*, recommendation letters*, statement of purpose*, test scores,*
and any additional required supplementary documents to:
Online Admissions, American University
1415 W. 22nd Street, 5th Floor
Oak Brook, IL 60523
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
[email protected]
APPLICATION FEE
The application fee for using this paper-based Application for Admission is US $55 for degree and certificate programs.Applications must
be received with a fee in order to be processed. Funds must be drafted in U.S. currency. Fee waivers are granted to certain groups, please
inquire with your Admissions Representative to verify if you qualify.
OFFICE USE ONLY
Applicant ID:
_
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