FAQ for Newly Admitted Graduate Students

Congratulations on your admission to American University's

School of Communication!

This site provides answers to the most frequently asked questions by our newly admitted graduate students, so please take the time to read it. As the fall semester approaches this page will be updated frequently so check back often to ensure that you have the latest information regarding your transition to American University's School of Communication.

Important Dates

September 10, 2011: Graduate Student Orientation (weekend programs)

Summer Social Events for Newly Admitted Students

The graduate office staff has organized a number of social activities during the summer for newly admitted SOC graduate students to get to know each other. Planned events include:

• Tuesday, August 23: Trivia Night at Clyde's, Chevy Chase, MD

Details, including RSVP information, will be emailed to students closer to the date of the event.

Important Info:

• Jean McGee is the graduate academic advisor for all masters students at SOC. She can be reached at jmcgee@american.edu or 202-885-2078. She will be contacting you with important information while you are in your program at SOC so make sure you open her email messages. Walk-in hours are 9:30 – 11:30 am each morning and by appointment.

• The SOC Grad Office is MGC 328. We are open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday.
  
• From this point on, all correspondence to you from the University will be sent to your american.edu email account. It is critical that you check your AU email regularly. You are responsible for information sent to that account, including wait list notifications.
  
• Your myau.american.edu portal contains a wealth of information – fees, registration and waitlist status, course schedules, etc.

• Division and Program Directors:

  Film & Media Arts Prof John Douglass (jdougla@american.edu)
  International Media Prof Rick Rockwell (rockwell@american.edu)
  Journalism & Public Affairs Prof Jill Olmsted (jolmste@american.edu)
  Political Communication Prof Dotty Lynch (dlynch@american.edu)
  Public Communication Prof Lenny Steinhorn (lsteinh@american.edu)
  PhD in Communication Prof Kathryn Montgomery (kcm@american.edu)

• Pizza Lunch in the Grad Office on Friday, September 2, 2011 @ noon. Join us for pizza and let us know how your first week at SOC went!

Helpful Links:

• Academic Calender
• • weekday programs
  • weekend programs
    

• Enrolling and Registering
  
• Advising
• Equipment Recommendations
• • Film & Media Arts program
  • Interactive Journalism program
    

• AU Central
  
• Student Accounts
• Student Activities
• Student Jobs
  
• Connecting with Other Admits: Yahoo group 
• Housing
• Getting an ID Card
• Parking Permits
• Taxation Guidelines for Graduate Assistantships
  
• Textbooks
• Student Health
• Contact Information for Key Offices and Services
• Things to Do While You're in Washington, DC

If you have further questions or would like to suggest additional links and/or information, please contact the Graduate Office at 202-885-2040 or via email at gradcomm@american.edu.