The preferred method to submit your supplemental items is online through the application system. All documents must be in PDF format. If you are not able to upload supplemental items through the application system, you may submit items using the following methods:

Email: graduateadmissionsdocuments@american.edu (this email address should be used only to submit application materials; if you need to contact the School of Communication, Office of Graduate Academic services office, email gradcomm@american.edu)

Sending by U.S. mail:
SOC Graduate Admissions
Office of Enrollment
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-8081

Sending by courier/overnight service(FEDEX, DHL, etc.)
SOC Office of Enrollment
4801 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-8001
USA

An "unofficial" transcript is a document that has been opened and examined by the student or printed from an institution's website before being submitted to SOC. Any transcript that you upload to your application is considered "unofficial."

An "official" transcript is a document that has been prepared, authenticated and sealed by the Registrar at your college or university. To be considered official, a transcript must be mailed, unopened, to the Office of Enrollment:

Please note: students who have attended institutions outside of the U.S. please refer to the FAQ: I attended post-secondary institutions outside the U.S., should I still upload my transcript(s)? 

Although we strongly prefer that you submit unofficial copies of original paper transcripts (scanned and uploaded as PDFs), we will accept grade reports/copies of transcripts downloaded from your institution's website, provided that:

1. The institution name/logo is clearly displayed.
2. The grade report is printed directly from your institution's online system (with your institution's URL clearly visible on the document) and scanned into our system as a PDF. We cannot accept grade reports/transcripts that have been copied into Microsoft word or a similar text edit program.

Each submitted transcript must clearly show the institution name, course title, course level (if applicable, e.g. 300, 400, etc.), grade earned in each course, number of credits earned in each course, and degree awarded (if applicable). If your degree is yet to be awarded, the transcript must have some indication of your enrollment in that degree program.

An official transcript, confirming degree conferral and consistent with the transcript information provided in the original application, will be required of all incoming students prior to the start of classes.

SOC reserves the right to rescind the offer of admission to any applicant who is not able to provide sufficient degree conferral information in their final, official transcript.

You must submit unofficial transcripts from all institutions. The unofficial transcript will be used for reference only.

In addition, you are required to submit official transcripts from institutions you have received or will receive a degree to a NACES approved organization, who will provide us with an official copy of your course by course (course) evaluation. This is required before your application can be reviewed.  

You should submit transcripts from each institution where you completed more than one semester of full-time coursework, unless the course title, course level, grades and credits earned at previous institutions appear on the degree institution transcript(s) you submit to us. If our admissions staff is unable to assess your previous performance from the transcript(s) submitted, you may be asked to provide additional documentation before your application can be reviewed.

You should submit study abroad transcripts only if one of the following applies:

1. Your program was longer than one semester
2. You earned a credential/degree from that institution.

If the courses and grades of your study abroad are already reflected on your home institution transcript, you do not need to submit an original transcript from the study abroad institution.

Admitted students with unofficial domestic or official, in-progress transcripts that do not show degree conferral will be required to submit official transcripts confirming degree conferral prior to enroll.

Your recommenders are strongly encouraged to submit their letters online. Once you have clicked "submit" in your online application, you will be prompted to complete the "Recommendation Requests" in the Supplemental Items section. Here you will indicate the names and professional/academic email addresses of your recommenders. Personal email addresses of your recommenders should not be used for this purpose. This will generate an email to your recommenders instructing them on how to submit their letters online. When the recommendation letters are submitted, you will receive an email notification.

Proof of English Proficiency is required from all applicants whose native language is not English and who do not hold a bachelor's or master's degree from a U.S. accredited college/institution

Applicants to the School of Communication, who meet the below criteria may request a waiver:

1.  The applicant is required to hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university whose only language of instruction is English, AND

2. This university is located in one of the following countries whose official language is English: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Micronesia, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Saint Maarten, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe

Please note that waivers are granted on a rare basis and all students are strongly recommended to complete the required test(s) well in advance for timely admission and funding consideration.

The deadline to submit supporting documents for the immigration paperwork is June 1.

If you plan to study at American University on an F-1 student visa, you will need an immigration document, the I-20 form, issued by American University's International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). To study on a J-1 visa, you will need a DS-2019 form issued by your financial sponsor. If your sponsor does not issue DS-2019 documents, it will be issued by ISSS. Learn more about requesting an F-1 or J-1 visa.

Applicants who are transferring from a different U.S. institution and hold an F-1 or J-1 visa, must complete an Immigration Transfer form. Learn more about transferring an F-1 or J-1 visa.

International students are required to submit the Certification of Finances for International Students and financial proof in order to receive an I-20 Immigration Document. Please indicate clearly on the form the type of visa you plan to obtain for your studies in American University and your current visa type if applicable. If you are pending U.S. permanent resident or asylum status, please indicate on the form accordingly. This form is required after paying your non-refundable $250 seat deposit. Learn more about the Certification of Finances. 

 For the estimated cost for your program of study, see our Cost Guides. Choose Graduate: School of Communication (SOC) from the list. 

Log into Student Planning via the portal. The Eagle Service link can be found under the Academics menu. Select the My Progress tab to review your degree audit information. Select one of the courses that is associated with an unmet requirement. Search for available sections, then select "Add Section to Schedule." Repeat this process until you have filled out a complete schedule. You can review your plan via the Plan and Schedule tab, and you can search for classes directly via the Course Catalog tab.

No. Adding a section to your plan does not guarantee a seat in that section. You can add any class to your planner that you want and it will appear in yellow on your plan. When you attempt to register for the section, the registration system will validate that there is a seat available and that you meet all of the restrictions and/or requisites. You are not in the class until you have successfully registered for the class. When you have successfully registered, the class section will have a green check mark in the upper left- hand corner on your plan.

If you have added yourself to the waitlist for any sections via Student Planning and you want to see where you are on the list, log into the portal and select the “My Waitlisted Sections” link under Academics.