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.
August 18–26
August 20
August 24
August 27
S–Su
M
F
M
August 31
F
September 1
September 3
September 5
September 10
S
M
W
M
September 17
M
September 24
October 1
M
M
October 12
October 19
October 19–21
October 20
October 22
October 26
F
F
F-Su
S
M
F
October 29
November 1
November 2
November 9
M
Th
F
F
November 15
November 20
November 21–25
November 29
December 4
December 7
Th
T
W–Su
Th
T
F
December 10–11
December 12
December 13–15
December 14
December 15
December 17
December 13–20
December 20
December 22–
January 1
M–T
W
Th–S
F
S
M
Th–Th
Th
S-T
FALL SEMESTER 2012
Welcome Week
WCL: First day of classes
Last day to register for fall without a late fee
Fall classes begin
Late registration (with $100 fee) begins
Students begin submitting applications for fall graduation
Late registration for fall ends
Last day to drop MBA 1st Module courses for 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
Undergraduate transfer spring 2013 semester admission application deadline for students living outside the U.S.
Labor Day; no classes, university offices closed
Mathematics Equivalency Examination
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)
Last day to drop a fall course for a 50% refund
Last day to drop MBA 1st Module courses
Last day to drop a fall course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
Early warning notices due in Registrar's Office
Freshman spring 2013 semester admission application deadline
Fall Break; no classes, university offices open
Last day to drop a fall course or change a grade option (mid-term)
All-American Weekend
Writing Proficiency Examination
MBA 2nd Module courses begin
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
Spring 2013 priority registration for undergraduate students begins. Payment is due December 14, 2012.
Undergraduate transfer spring 2013 semester admission application deadline for students living in the United States
Last day to drop MBA 2nd Module courses for a 50% refund (no refunds for 2nd Modules after this date)
Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for fall degree candidates
Last day to drop MBA 2nd Module courses
Early Decision freshman fall 2013 semester admission and financial aid application deadline
Tuesday classes cancelled; Friday classes meet.
Thanksgiving holiday; no classes; university offices closed Thursday and Friday
WCL: Last day of classes (includes make-ups for holidays)
WCL: Examinations begin
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)
Fall final examinations
Fall study day; no classes
Fall final examinations
Payment due for Spring 2013 priority registration.
WCL: Examinations end
Fall final examinations (for Wednesday classes)
Fall final grades due
Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December 2012 diplomas; no event associated with this date)
Winter break; university offices closed
January 4
January 9
January 10–13
January 11
January 14
F
W
Th–Su
F
M
January 15
January 18
T
F
January 20
January 21
January 23
January 28
Su
M
W
M
February 2
February 4
S
M
February 11
February 15
February 18
March 1
March 8
March 10–17
March 18
March 22
M
F
M
F
F
Su–Su
M
F
March 23
March 25
S
M
March 29
April 1
F
M
April 5
April 29
F
M
April 24
April 30
W
T
May 1
W
May 1–7
May 4–10
May 10
May 11
W–T
S–F
F
S
May 12
Su
May 12
May 19
Su
Su
SPRING SEMESTER 2013
Undergraduate freshman spring 2013 priority registration payments are due.
WCL: First day of classes
Spring Welcome Week
Last day to register for spring 2013 without a late fee
Spring classes begin
Late registration (with $100 fee) begins
Students begin submitting applications for spring graduation
Freshman fall 2013 semester admission application deadline
Late registration for spring ends
Last day to drop MBA 1st Module courses for 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
Inauguration Day; no classes, university offices closed
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes, university offices closed
Mathematics Equivalency Examination
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)
Writing Proficiency Examination
Last day to drop a spring course for a 50% refund
Last day to drop MBA 1st Module courses
Last day to drop a spring course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
Freshman fall 2013 semester financial aid application deadline
Early warning notices due in Registrar’s Office
Admissions and financial aid priority application deadline for fall 2013 semester undergraduate transfer students
Last day to drop a spring class or change a grade option (mid-term)
Spring break; no classes, university offices open Monday through Friday
MBA 2nd Module courses begin
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.
Writing Proficiency Examination
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.
Last day to drop MBA 2nd Module courses for a 50% refund (no refunds for 2nd Modules after this date)
Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for spring degree candidates
Summer 2013 admission application deadline (U.S. citizens only)
Last day to drop MBA 2nd Module courses
Spring classes end
Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for spring degree candidates
WCL: Last day of classes (includes make-up days)
Spring study day; no classes
WCL: Examinations begin
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
Spring final examinations
Spring final grades due
Commencement Weekend Activities
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.)
Commencement Ceremonies: Kogod School of Business (9:00 a.m.)
School of International Service (1:00 p.m.)
Official Degree Award Date
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
May 20
May 24
May 27
May 28
June 1
June 6
June 7
June 27
July 1
M
F
M
T
S
Th
F
Th
M
July 4
July 5
July 19
July 25
July 29
August 1
Th
F
F
Th
M
Th
August 8
Th
August 15
Th
7-week (A) and Online Learning I (E) sessions begin
Students begin submitting applications for summer graduation
First 6-week (B) and 3-week (C) sessions begin
Last day to add a summer internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
Memorial Day; no classes, university offices closed
WCL: First day of classes
Writing Proficiency Examination
3-week (C) session ends
Payment due for summer sessions D and F
7-week (A), first 6-week (B) and Online Learning I (E) sessions end
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
Independence Day; no classes, university offices closed
Fall 2013 priority registration ends. Payment due on August 1, 2013
Theses and dissertations due in deans' offices for summer degree candidates
WCL: Last day of classes
WCL: Examinations begin
Payment due for Fall 2013 priority registration
WCL: Examinations end
Second 6-week (D) session ends
Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for summer degree candidates
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