AN OVERVIEW OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
Academic Profile
American University is a private doctoral institution located in a residential neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Total fall 2004 enrollment was 11,571. Of this total, 5,870 were degree-seeking undergraduates, 3,579 were degree-seeking graduate students, 1,652 were law students, and 470 fall 2004 visiting students in the AU Abroad programs.
The university offers 56 bachelor’s degrees, 49 non-law master’s degrees, eight doctoral degrees, and 4 law degrees. There are more than 20 programs (mostly graduate) leading to certificates. Courses are offered on a semester basis. In addition to the 15-week fall and spring semesters, the university offers several summer terms, primarily 6 or 7 weeks in length.
American University students are drawn from across the country and the world. Students come from all 50 states and 140 countries. Although AU is located in Washington, D.C, less than 18 percent of full-time undergraduate students come from D.C., Maryland, or Virginia. Seven percent of the undergraduate population and almost 14 percent of the graduate population are international students.
The university’s mission is carried out by 476 full-time teaching faculty, 19 administrative faculty, 83 faculty serving in other capacities (such as librarians and research faculty) or on leave, and 1,143 full-time staff. More than 96 percent of full-time faculty have the highest degree in their field. In addition, American University takes pride in its 476 adjunct faculty, who include policy makers, diplomats, journalists, artists, writers, scientists, and business leaders.
American University is organized into six major schools and colleges:
- The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Founded in 1925, the College of Arts and Sciences is the largest school or college at the university. It is home to the Departments of Anthropology; Art; Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science, Audio Technology and Physics; Economics; Health and Fitness; History; Language and Foreign Studies; Literature; Mathematics and Statistics; Performing Arts; Philosophy and Religion; Psychology; and Sociology, and the School of Education. All departments offer bachelor’s degrees and most offer master’s degrees. Doctoral degrees are offered in the Departments of Anthropology, Economics, History, and Psychology. The college is headed by Dean Kay Mussell, professor of literature, and includes 212 full-time teaching faculty.
- School of Public Affairs (SPA). The School of Public Affairs was founded as a department in 1934 and established as a school in 1957. It has three departments: Government; Justice, Law and Society; and Public Administration. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Its programs have received recognition by U.S. News and World Report and others as one of the top 12 such schools in the country. In addition, it is known for its series of non-degree offerings in such topics as campaign management, women and politics, and lobbying. The school is headed by Dean William LeoGrande, professor of government, and is home to 51 full-time teaching faculty.
- Washington College of Law (WCL). The Washington College of Law was founded independently in 1896 as a coeducational institution, offering one of the few opportunities for women to study law. The college became a professional division of American University in 1949. Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 55 law schools in the nation, the college offers a juris doctor degree, a master of laws degree, and a doctor of juridical science degree. It is headed by Dean Claudio Grossman, professor of law, and has 58 full-time teaching faculty. In 2002, WCL was reaccredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
- Kogod School of Business (KSB). Founded in 1955, the school of business is home to the departments of accounting, finance and real estate, information technology, international business, management, and marketing. KSB is recognized by Business Week, U.S News and World Report, and The Wall Street Journal Guide to the Top Business Schools in their rankings of top business programs. For example, the 2004 Wall StreetJournal/Harris Interactive survey report of the top 50 MBA programs in the country ranked AU 42nd. The school offers undergraduate degrees, master of science degrees, and a master of business administration degree. The college is under the leadership of Dean Richard Durant, professor of marketing, and includes 56 full-time teaching faculty. In 2003, the school’s accreditation was reaffirmed by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- School of International Service (SIS). Founded in 1957, the School of International Service is the largest school of international affairs in the country. It offers undergraduate degrees in international studies and in language and area studies, a wide variety of master’s degrees, and a doctoral degree in international relations. Students in SIS study a broad range of fields, including international communication, international development, international economics, U.S. foreign policy, peace and conflict resolution, global environmental policy, and ethics and peace. The school is led by Dean Louis Goodman, professor of international relations, and includes 51 full-time teaching faculty.
- School of Communication (SOC). The School of Communication is the newest school or college in the university, founded in 1976 and separated from CAS in 1993. It offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fields such as journalism, public communication, visual media, communication studies, and film and electronic media. Under the leadership of Dean Larry Kirkman, professor of communication, the school has 33 full-time teaching faculty.
In addition to the six major schools, the Washington Semester Program, headed by Dean David Brown, plays a vital role at the institution. Every semester, approximately 400 students from around the country and the world visit the institution to take classes and to participate in the internship opportunities offered in Washington, D.C. More than 200 colleges and universities are affiliated with the program. A wide variety of topics is studied: American politics, economic policy, justice, international business and trade, international environment and development, and museum studies and the arts. Created under the leadership of Dr. Robert Pastor, vice president of International Affairs and now under the direction of interim provost Dr. Ivy Broder, the AU Abroad Program offers students the opportunity to study in major capital cities and other areas abroad and gain full AU course credit. In 2005-2006, 671 AU and non-AU students took advantage of this opportunity at such sites as Brussels, Buenos Aires, Beijing, Berlin, Rome, Prague, Southern Africa, Paris, London, Santiago, Madrid, and Sydney.
University Governance
The legal powers of the university are vested in the Board of Trustees. Executive and administrative authorities are given to the chief executive officer, President Cornelius M. Kerwin. The university administration includes Interim Provost Ivy Broder as the chief academic officer and Donald L. Myers as the chief financial officer and vice president of finance and treasurer; Abbey Silberman Fagin, senior director of development; Gail Short Hanson, vice president of campus life; Robert Pastor, vice president of international affairs; and Mary E. Kennard, vice president and general counsel. In addition, faculty, staff, and students participate in various levels of governance through appropriate university-wide, college-specific, or student representative bodies, committees, councils, and project teams.
Buildings and Facilities
American University’s 88.5-acre campus consists of the main campus at 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, the Tenley satellite campus (home to the Washington Semester Program) and the Washington College of Law. The university has 50 buildings, including 10 residence halls (housing approximately 3,800 students) and 40 academic and administrative buildings. In addition to these buildings, the Katzen Arts Center opened in Fall 2005. The university has several administrative buildings located in close proximity to the university: 4000 Brandywine Street, 3201 New Mexico Avenue, and 4200 Wisconsin Avenue.
Updated September 1, 2007