American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Our students distinguish themselves for their service, leadership, and ability to rethink global and domestic challenges and opportunities. At AU passion becomes action; students actively engage in the world around them; and the leaders of today train the leaders of tomorrow.American University was founded by John Fletcher Hurst, a respected Methodist bishop who dreamed of a creating a university that trained public servants for the future. Chartered by Congress in 1893, AU has always been defined by its groundbreaking spirit. Before women could vote, they attended American University. When Washington, DC was still segregated, 400 African Americans called American University home. As we continue to grow in reputation and stature, we remain grounded in the ideals of our founders as we continue to be a leader for a changing world.Since being chartered by Congress in 1893, American University has been a leader in higher education in the nation and around the world. A global outlook, practical idealism, a passion for public service: They're part of American University today, and they were in the air in 1893, when AU was chartered by Congress. George Washington had dreamed of a "national university" in the nation's capital. But it took John Fletcher Hurst to found a university that, in many ways, embodies that dream. The land Bishop Hurst chose for AU was on the rural fringe of the nation's capital, but it was already rich with Washington history. Abraham Lincoln had visited troops at Fort Gaines, which perched on the high ground now held by Ward Circle and the Katzen Arts Center. Presidential footsteps would continue to echo through AU history. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of a building, named for Hurst's friend, President William McKinley. When the Methodist-affiliated university opened in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson gave the dedication.If AU's Washington ties were evident from the start, so was its groundbreaking spirit. The first 28 students included five women, a notable figure at a time before women could vote, and an African American student won a fellowship in 1915 to pursue a doctorate. Undergraduates were first admitted in 1925, by which time graduate students had shifted to a downtown campus on F Street, near the White House. It was there in the heart of downtown that in 1934, at the start of the New Deal, AU launched a program to help train federal employees in new methods of public administration. President Franklin Roosevelt, who spoke at the event launching the program, promised it would have the "hearty cooperation" of all branches of his administration. The program would evolve into today's School of Public Affairs.During World War II, students shared the campus with the Navy, which used it for research and training. It wasn't the first time that war impacted AU directly. During World War I, the still largely undeveloped campus had been turned over briefly to the war department for use as a military camp, testing and training site. The period after World War II was a time of growth and innovation. The Washington Semester Program, founded in 1947, began drawing students from around the nation-and ultimately, the world-to participate in what was then a new concept: semester internships in the nation's capital. In 1949, the Washington College of Law merged with AU, adding its rich history-it was founded for women in 1896-to the pioneering spirit of the university. By that same year, though the nation's capital was still a segregated town, the AU community included over 400 African American students.Academic programs continuously gained high national rankings, and the quality of AU's students was reflected in the high number of merit awards and prestigious national scholarships and fellowships, such as Fulbright awards and Presidential Management Fellowships. The university's growing reputation in the creative arts was underscored with the opening of the 296-seat Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre in 2003 and the Katzen Arts Center in 2005. With 130,000 square feet of space, the Katzen includes a 30,000 square foot art museum with three floors of exhibition space, the Washington area's largest university facility for exhibiting art. In 2007, Neil Kerwin, SPA/BA '71, became the first alum to become president of AU. A noted scholar of public policy and the regulatory process, he has been part of the life of AU for 40 years, as student, professor, dean, and provost, and guided the university through the process of implementing its strategic plan, "American University and the Next Decade: Leadership for a Changing World," which expresses a conviction that AU's academic strengths are grounded in its core values of social responsibility and a commitment to cultural and intellectual diversity. It's a vision for the twenty-first century, but it's grounded in ideals that go back to John Fletcher Hurst and the dream of a university that makes a difference in the lives of its students, its community, and the world. In 2017, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who was most recently the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under former President Barack Obama, was named the 15th President of American University. She is the first woman to hold the highest leadership position at AU.MissionTo advance knowledge, foster intellectual curiosity, build community and empower lives of purpose, service, and leadership.VisionAmerican University is a leading student-centered research university where passionate learners, bold leaders, engaged scholars, innovators, and active citizens unleash the power of collaborative discovery. We partner with key organizations in the Washington, DC, region, and around the globe to better the human condition, learn from a vast array of experiences and internships, create meaningful change, and address society’s current and emerging challenges.ValuesIntegrityExcellenceHuman dignityCommunityDiversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusive excellenceFree inquiry and seeking truthImpactNestled in a residential district of Washington, DC, our 90-acre campus gives you the advantages of a traditional college setting combined with unparalleled access to the energy, culture, and opportunities of our nation's capital. We're an intimate community within an urban city, where the stunning sights of our city are never far from view. Relax with your friends on our beautiful grounds (a designated arboretum) one moment; take an impromptu trip to the National Mall the next. Whether you're learning in our century-old structures and state-of-the-art facilities, experiencing the arts in our museums and theatres, or venturing out into the city, American University offers endless opportunities.
Watch the videos to learn about the student life-cycle and the teaching environment at the University.
