2012–2013 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The academic calendar is divided into fall and spring semesters of approximately 15 weeks each and summer sessions of varying length. The
last week of the fall and spring semesters is set aside for final examinations. The academic calendar for the Washington College of Law (WCL) of
American University varies from this general schedule, and its key dates are noted below in italics. For the full WCL academic calendar, please go
to: www.wcl.american.edu/registrar/.
The holidays and vacations observed by the university are noted below. Spring break is the week following the spring semester midterm.
Classes continue until 10:40 p.m. the evening before a holiday or vacation period.
FALL SEMESTER 2012
August 18–26 S–Su Welcome Week
August 20 M WCL: First day of classes
August 24 F Last day to register for fall without a late fee
August 27 M Fall classes begin
Late registration (with $100 fee) begins
Students begin submitting applications for fall graduation
August 31 F Late registration for fall ends
Last day to drop MBA 1st Module courses for 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
September 1 S Undergraduate transfer spring 2013 semester admission application deadline for students living outside the U.S.
September 3 M Labor Day; no classes, university offices closed
September 5 W Mathematics Equivalency Examination
September 10 M Last day to add a fall course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project.
Last day to drop a fall course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
Last day to drop MBA 1st Module courses for a 50% refund (no refunds for 1st Modules after this date)
September 17 M Last day to drop a fall course for a 50% refund
Last day to drop MBA 1st Module courses
September 24 M Last day to drop a fall course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
October 1 M Early warning notices due in Registrar's Office
Freshman spring 2013 semester admission application deadline
October 12 F Fall Break; no classes, university offices open
October 19 F Last day to drop a fall course or change a grade option (mid-term)
October 19–21 F-Su All-American Weekend
October 20 S Writing Proficiency Examination
October 22 M MBA 2nd Module courses begin
October 26 F Spring 2013 priority registration for graduate students begins. Payment is due December 14, 2012.
Last day to drop MBA 2nd Module courses for 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
October 29 M Spring 2013 priority registration for undergraduate students begins. Payment is due December 14, 2012.
November 1 Th Undergraduate transfer spring 2013 semester admission application deadline for students living in the United States
November 2 F Last day to drop MBA 2nd Module courses for a 50% refund (no refunds for 2nd Modules after this date)
November 9 F Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for fall degree candidates
Last day to drop MBA 2nd Module courses
November 15 Th Early Decision freshman fall 2013 semester admission and financial aid application deadline
November 20 T Tuesday classes cancelled; Friday classes meet.
November 21–25 W–Su Thanksgiving holiday; no classes; university offices closed Thursday and Friday
November 29 Th WCL: Last day of classes (includes make-ups for holidays)
December 4 T WCL: Examinations begin
December 7 F Fall classes end
Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for fall degree candidates
Spring 2013 priority registration ends. Payment is due December 14, 2012. Undergraduate freshman payments are due
January 4, 2013.
President's Receptions for August 2012 Graduates and December 2012 Applicants (rsvp required)
December 10–11 M–T Fall final examinations
December 12 W Fall study day; no classes
December 13–15 Th–S Fall final examinations
December 14 F Payment due for Spring 2013 priority registration.
December 15 S WCL: Examinations end
December 17 M Fall final examinations (for Wednesday classes)
December 13–20 Th–Th Fall final grades due
December 20 Th Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December 2012 diplomas; no event associated with this date)
December 22– S-T Winter break; university offices closed
January 1
SPRING SEMESTER 2013
January 4 F Undergraduate freshman spring 2013 priority registration payments are due.
January 9 W WCL: First day of classes
January 10–13 Th–Su Spring Welcome Week
January 11 F Last day to register for spring 2013 without a late fee
January 14 M Spring classes begin
Late registration (with $100 fee) begins
Students begin submitting applications for spring graduation
January 15 T Freshman fall 2013 semester admission application deadline
January 18 F Late registration for spring ends
Last day to drop MBA 1st Module courses for 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
January 20 Su Inauguration Day; no classes, university offices closed
January 21 M Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes, university offices closed
January 23 W Mathematics Equivalency Examination
January 28 M Last day to add a spring course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project.
Last day to drop a spring course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
Last day to drop MBA 1st Module courses for a 50% refund (no refunds for 1st Modules after this date)
February 2 S Writing Proficiency Examination
February 4 M Last day to drop a spring course for a 50% refund
Last day to drop MBA 1st Module courses
February 11 M Last day to drop a spring course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
February 15 F Freshman fall 2013 semester financial aid application deadline
February 18 M Early warning notices due in Registrar’s Office
March 1 F Admissions and financial aid priority application deadline for fall 2013 semester undergraduate transfer students
March 8 F Last day to drop a spring class or change a grade option (mid-term)
March 10–17 Su–Su Spring break; no classes, university offices open Monday through Friday
March 18 M MBA 2nd Module courses begin
March 22 F Last day to drop MBA 2nd Module courses for 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
Fall 2013 priority registration for graduate students begins. Payment is due August 1, 2013.
March 23 S Writing Proficiency Examination
March 25 M Fall 2013 priority registration for undergraduate students begins. Payment is due August 1, 2013
Summer 2013 registration begins. Payment is due at time of registration for summer sessions A, B, C and E.
Payment is due June 7, 2013 for summer sessions D and F.
March 29 F Last day to drop MBA 2nd Module courses for a 50% refund (no refunds for 2nd Modules after this date)
April 1 M Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for spring degree candidates
Summer 2013 admission application deadline (U.S. citizens only)
April 5 F Last day to drop MBA 2nd Module courses
April 29 M Spring classes end
Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for spring degree candidates
April 24 W WCL: Last day of classes (includes make-up days)
April 30 T Spring study day; no classes
WCL: Examinations begin
May 1 W Financial aid application deadline for fall 2013 continuing undergraduate students
Candidates' reply date for Regular Decision freshmen
Undergraduate transfer fall 2013 semester admission application deadline for students living outside the United States
May 1–7 W–T Spring final examinations
May 4–10 S–F Spring final grades due
May 10 F Commencement Weekend Activities
May 11 S WCL: Examinations end
Commencement Ceremonies: School of Public Affairs (9:00 a.m.)
School of Communication (1:00 p.m.)
College of Arts and Sciences (4:30 p.m.)
May 12 Su Commencement Ceremonies: Kogod School of Business (9:00 a.m.)
School of International Service (1:00 p.m.)
May 12 Su Official Degree Award Date
May 19 Su WCL Spring Commencement Ceremony
SUMMER SESSIONS 2013 (Dates subject to change)
For Summer 2013 Add/Drop, Withdrawal, and Refund dates, see www.american.edu/summer/index.cfm.
May 13 M 7-week (A) and Online Learning I (E) sessions begin
Students begin submitting applications for summer graduation
May 20 M First 6-week (B) and 3-week (C) sessions begin
May 24 F Last day to add a summer internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
May 27 M Memorial Day; no classes, university offices closed
May 28 T WCL: First day of classes
June 1 S Writing Proficiency Examination
June 6 Th 3-week (C) session ends
June 7 F Payment due for summer sessions D and F
June 27 Th 7-week (A), first 6-week (B) and Online Learning I (E) sessions end
July 1 M Second 6-week (D) and Online Learning II (F) sessions begin
Undergraduate transfer fall 2013 semester admission application deadline for students living in the United States
July 4 Th Independence Day; no classes, university offices closed
July 5 F Fall 2013 priority registration ends. Payment due on August 1, 2013
July 19 F Theses and dissertations due in deans' offices for summer degree candidates
July 25 Th WCL: Last day of classes
July 29 M WCL: Examinations begin
August 1 Th Payment due for Fall 2013 priority registration
WCL: Examinations end
August 8 Th Second 6-week (D) session ends
Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for summer degree candidates
August 15 Th Online Learning II (F) session ends; end of summer sessions
Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August 2013 diplomas; no event associated with this date)
Revised 16feb12/bb; 12nov12/bb; 5mar13/an/mg
