American University Top Questions

The academics are challenging, but also fair to the students. All the professors I have had really want their students to succeed, and if a student cares and puts in enough effort, they should be able to get the grades they want and deserve.

The academics are challenging, but also fair to the students. All the professors I have had really want their students to succeed, and if a student cares and puts in enough effort, they should be able to get the grades they want and deserve.

Unless you're interested in International Relations or Business, I highly suggest applying elsewhere.

Class participation is common in all classes I have taken at my school. Students are competitive but while they compete with each other they also encourage one another to learn more. I am an International Studies major. For my career path, I am really happy I chose American University. I have so many options and opportunities to take advantage of in terms of post graduate plans that I cannot wait to get started after graduation.

As a journalism student, the majority of my professors have been adjuncts who either rock or suck. It's mostly been the former. I do like the professional experience that they bring to the classroom. Professors at AU are super helpful if you reach out to them, and they really do like it for the most part when you go to their office hours. I believe our School of Communication is sorely underrated. Again, AU = internship central. There are a lot of folks who aspire to join the Foreign Service, start a nonprofit, or become a Hill staffer. Not all of them are like this, though. AU students are very ambitious, which kicks me into high gear when applying for internships or study abroad programs. Most classes are small(ish) and participation-based. This is good if you are an overly opinionated Olivia like me. Ironically though, the participation-based format of most classes has also taught me when to keep my mouth shut. The best academic experience I've had was through my study abroad program. AU gets this right, for sure. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who has the means to do it. Even if you think you don't, AU still covers your financial aid/most scholarships while you are abroad.

The academics at AU are the perfect mix of challenging and fun. Once you get past those few lecture hall intro classes (macroeconomics, biology, psychology, etc) the professors truly take the time to get to know you and usually have names down within the first couple of classes. AU has a great mix of fun classes and classes that are needed to survive in the real world. My favorite class at AU was "Personal Finance", and I believe that everyone should be required to take it before graduating. I would say that a students work really hard to achieve their grades, and their amount of studying reflects the grades they get. Personally, I work hard to get good grades; they do not come easy. Similarly, class participation is very common and makes the class more fun and go by faster. However, sometimes you get those people that just love to talk about their "unique" experiences, and therefore annoy the entire class. But there are usually only a few bad apples in each class. I truly feel that education at AU is geared toward both getting a job and learning to learn.

All my professors know my name and overall I've had a really positive experience with all my professors. Students study a fair amount; it's like high school, the kids who care study and the kids who don't care don't study much. The library is open 24 hours on weekdays and it's fun to go in and see all the kids who have fallen asleep trying to pull all nighters. Professors have office hours and encourage you to visit them. The university is always improving its academic program; next year gen eds have been updated and adapted, which is really exciting. Well, it is for me anyway because I'm a nerd about choosing classes.

Most classes at American are not too big. Most of my professors know me by first name, with the exception of my 80 student psychology class, which is also the only class where the teacher does not take attendance. Accordingly, the biggest classes in that class are on exam day because that is the only day that matters. I have found so far in freshman year I can get by with minimal studying, and the general education classes are easy. My major/department is audio technology. The class sizes are really small so the professors know us all and the equipment is really quality. Overall, the education at American is geared more towards learning for its own sake.

Academics are a major focus of American University students and professors. The class sizes are usually small, except for general education lectures. Class participation is a BIG deal. Most professors count class participation as more than just attendance. You must be willing to speak up. Students are not too competitive with others for getting the highest grade, but they are competitive within themselves. Students will push themselves to create work much more impressive than what their syllabus required. I am a Political Science major and Business Administration minor. The SPA department is one of the most popular on campus. The SPA advisors are average, but most of my professors have been excellent. The education at AU is definitely geared towards getting a job. Networking with other students, professors, and professionals is highly valued and our Career Center is one of the best in the country.

Academics are great. I love that class sizes at AU are incredibly small so you really get to know your professors. I don't think I've had any classes over 75 people and that was only one class. Most of my classes are around 20 or less. I feel like I've learned a lot in my classes and from my professors and I would recommend AU as an academic institution. It was also easy to double major across schools. I have a double major and a double minor, each in a different school at AU, but it was easier to do than it would be at most schools.

Academics at American University (AU) are great. As a communications student, I've had a professor who won two Oscars, an amazing photojournalist and a professor who photographs fashion week in NYC. The professors at American are dedicated, experienced and passionate about teaching. With that being said, as with any university, there are teachers who are better than others. On that note, I feel that it's very important not to simply choose a course because ratemyprofessor.com says the professor is an "easy A." It's also important not to be biased towards adjunct professors. Some of my all-time favorite professors were adjuncts, so it's important to stay open and explore all your options. Even now, as a senior, I have professors from freshman year who still remember my name. There are professors who have met with the class on weekends for field trips and who make extra time after class to chat and answer all your questions. Students are intelligent and passionate. There are so many who are interning on the hill or with non-profits and who dedicate their time to activism and outreach. As the case with any busy college students, there are often times where you can tell a classmate didn't have time to do the reading. However, when it gets down to crunch time, the library is full to capacity and everyone has their noses buried in the books. AU is a great university because it provides you with hands-on-learning experiences. Not many people can sit in a politics class and relate their personal experiences on the hill with class discussions or pop into your film class after their internship with PBS. What I have always loved about AU is that it's a school that allows you to take your learning out into the real world. The university career center is amazing and is always offering workshops to help students succeed. There are constant opportunities to network, take classes, meet with career counselors and to build up your resume. As a senior, I've found that one of the most beneficial things about being at American. I'm graduating not only with a fantastic education, but also with a resume that will appeal to employers. In our fragile economy, this is an incredible asset and something I am truly thankful for.

Academics are great, as I mentioned in a previous question, the small class sizes lead to great discussions and more interaction with professors and students. One class that I took for my Sociology major was called Sociology of Birth and Death. It was so fascinating and really interactive. We took a field trip to a funeral home when we were discussing how society deals with deal and we had a panel of midwives comes to the class when talking about the birth part of the class. So unique! I learned so much! I am currently taking a class called Marketing of Social Change which looks at marketing in a different way than marketing for a big business or corporation. it's really helpful because this is the type of marketing work that I want to do one day.

The professors are skilled experts in their field and teach to student's strengths. They are very understanding and not uptight. It is easy to get A's here.

In my experience, professors have tended to know me by name, especially those teaching history courses. Over the past year, I've really gotten to know many of the names in the History Department from various events that have been held by the faculty there. The professors are generally very open and friendly, and their offices are never hard to get to - they're all in one of the buildings surrounding the quad (the offices of the History Department faculty are in the Battelle-Tompkins building). I love taking the time to talk with my professors about my grades and then move into conversations about our personal lives - it makes learning from them so much more easier. In all, one of the greatest things about about AU's academics is its very friendly, open environment towards learning.

Professors here are great at forming relationships with students to help facilitate their education. It is not difficult to get help from a professor or even start an independent study with one. The students are really into working, getting internships, and participating in classes. A lot of them are future politicians and whatnot, so they just love to get their opinions in. Classes, in that sense, can be really interesting (and entertaining from time to time). It's rarely boring.

American University is a very good quality school, and the classes offered are challenging. However, the faculty are more than willing to help students to get good grades. One of the best things about AU is the caliber of professors that are both knowledgeable in their fields and happy to spend the time necessary with their students in order to make sure everything is clear. The academics at AU, although rigorous, are there to make sure students get the best jobs available at the end of their four years.

I've always enjoyed my classes here. Enjoyed probably isn't a strong enough word-- I've loved everything I've learned. Although I'm a Lit major, my anthropology, sociology, theatre, and psychology classes have also been fascinating. The only class in which the professor didn't know all of our names was my psychology lecture, which I took in my very first semester. That was the only class I had in one of the few lecture halls on campus-- since then, all of my classes have had fewer than thirty students. I've always been amazed by how much my professors remember about our past work and class participation off the tops of their heads. None of them seem like they teach out of obligation-- they all seem excited to share their knowledge with us, and explain things clearly and interestingly. My favorite class that I took here... well, that would be impossible to answer. One of the best was probably the Literary Imagination, in which we read recent works of literature and wrote creative works inspired by the readings. Occasionally, the others even came by to speak with the class. Another favorite was Transformations of Shakespeare. Unlike most Shakespeare classes, we discussed his plays as performance material, not just literature. We saw five local productions of Shakespeare plays-- all very different in tone-- and discussed them, as well as how we would direct or perform them if given the chance. I would never have been so passionate about Shakespeare if it wasn't for that course. My University College seminar class on the Nature of Evil is the most fascinating course I've ever taken, though very heavy subject matter-- fittingly, the next semester, I picked a college writing course on Humor. That was an awesome class, too. Really, all of them were. I've taken two classes on sex and gender, an area I really knew nothing about, and both have changed my world view and the way I think of other people. Even my least-favorite class was still interesting-- Great Ideas in Mathematics. Math was a university requirement, and I was horrified, because I am incredibly terrible at math. This class, however, was different. It was more conceptual and creative, and many of our exercises used logical reasoning rather than actual numbers. The whole class yelled 'WHOA!' on more than five occasions as the professor blew our minds with unbelievable concepts like multiple infinities and dimensions, which our class activities helped us grasp. We ended up learning very high-level mathematical theory, without having to do high-level arithmetic. The only reason why it was my least favorite is because math has always been difficult for me, so I struggled academically with the class. If it had been Pass/Fail, I probably would have loved it. My friends always seem to discuss their classes and assignments, and most seem generally interested in their majors. I've never met anyone who really seemed apathetic about school, although many are very quiet in class. It's often the same people participating in every class, which you could say of any school, but most people here seem intellectually voracious. I've never heard anyone talk about cheating on assignments. I have seen people sleeping in class, though given how busy my friends tend to be, I don't blame them. I understand that AU's changing the way their Gen-Ed curriculum is set up. I don't know much about what it will look like in the future, but right now, you need two college writing classes, a math class, and two classes from five different categories: creative arts, Traditions that Shape the Western World, Global and Multicultural Perspectives, Social Institutions and Behavior, and Natural Sciences. I was exempt from several of the categories because of the AP classes that I took in high school, but the courses that I took all taught me a lot about areas that had previously been mysteries. Most students here have a minor or double-major. I'm only going for a major, in the hopes that I'll graduate early, but I find the requirements for a major or minor pretty fair. It is aggravating how quickly classes fill up at registration-- a commitment to small class sizes means most students don't get the classes they want, and some classes that are major requirements only have one section, which doesn't make sense to me. I think part of it is because Lit is a fairly small department, so there aren't usually a huge number of courses offered outside college writing. So far, this hasn't been a problem for me, although I know one student who worries he'll have to stay an extra semester because there was no room for him in the one class he needed to graduate.

All of my classes at American have typically ranged from 25-40 students. My professors have tended to know all of the students by name. In fact, this semester (today actually) the professor of my "Globalization: Battle of Ideas in the Political Economy" class took us all out to a local restaurant for the last day of class. The professor is very knowledgeable and has many professional connections in the field, yet he still took the time out to take us to lunch and talk to us about a variety of topics (i.e., what our long term plans are, what our job prospects look like, etc.). In addition, another renown professor that I has this past semester had personal one-on-one interviews with each of the students in his class. He has been a guest professor at universities around the world and oftentimes puts students in contact with his colleagues from other universities.

My professors are very friendly and all know my name, though I make an effort to participate in class. I don't study often and do well on tests by just attending class and doing the assignments. Class participation usually revolves around 3 or 4 kids, but professors are pretty laid back about attendance (or at least seem to be). In the School of International Service, the professors are well-known in DC (lawyers, politicians, ambassadors, etc) and are happy to recommend or introduce you to their connections. I think the most valuable part of the AU experience has been the ability to build relationships with professors.

SPA and SIS among the best in the country, SOC and Kogod not bad, CAS for the most part total crap. If you're into politics or international affairs, awesome, otherwise, steer clear.

I am a PhD student, but having been a teaching assistant for the last calendar year, I can comment on aspects of academics that would be relevant for undergraduate students. From what I have observed, most classes are relatively small, thus giving student's the opportunity to interact with their professors and/or instructors more frequently. Students seem to put in good effort on the most part, but my experience is that students at private schools such as American (as compared to my education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for my undergraduate and graduate degrees), can expect to receive a bit more support. Given the size of the classes, participation is usually part of the course and this gives students a better opportunity anyway to really internalize the information that they are being taught. In my department of Justice, Law, and Society, students can expect to take classes that are highly philosophical in nature, but which I believe serve to sharpen critical thinking of skills, which can be applied to many other subjects.

So far, I have been really happy with American University. I love the location. Washington DC is such a cool city to live in. Though some of the students from Georgetown and George Washington University joke about how American is out in the suburbs, I like it. The area surrounding American is really beautiful, full of trees that look amazing in the fall. It does take a little longer to get downtown, but I'll take a little extra commute if it means I don't have to listen to police sirens and cars all night long. AU's campus, especially the main quad and the amphitheater, is really beautiful and has a nice intimate feeling. I love how I can walk from one end of campus to the other in under ten minutes. On a warm sunny day, I love getting lunch and eating it out on the quad, or getting coffee at the Davenport Lounge. However, while I love the location and campus, I do have some issues with AU. The dorms are not very nice. While they are re-doing them slowly and adding new dorms, AU does have a housing shortage, forcing many freshman to be put into triples and forcing many upperclassmen off campus. AU also has only one apartment-style dorm building. Personally, I love to cook, so having a basic dorm room without a kitchen is not an option to me. Plus, AU's dry campus policy makes living on campus particularly undesirable once you turn 21 and can legally drink. Luckily, there are a couple nice apartment buildings nearby where tons of students live. I've always liked AU academically. My classes are challenging, but usually interesting. I have found, however, it depends on what department you are in. AU is great with International Relations, Political Science, Business, and Communications, but many of their humanities and liberal arts departments fall short. Personally, I'm an art history major, and I find that the small pool of teachers and lack of diversity among them is really frustrating. I feel like I learned far more about art history in the year I spend abroad than in the entire time I spent at AU. One of my favorite parts of my college experience was studying abroad. AU makes it incredibly easy to study abroad and has tons of great programs to choose from. It was one of the deciding factors as to why I chose AU. I wound up studying abroad for an entire year in Rome, Italy and absolutely loved it! One of the cool things about AU is that so many people study abroad. While I was abroad, I had so many friends who were also studying in Europe that I could visit. One of my best memories is visiting a few of my friends who were all studying in Amsterdam. When I got back, I had so many people to talk to about my experience - I remember going to a party with my friend who had studied in Madrid, Spain, and nearly every single person at the party had studied abroad. The experience of travel is so enriching and AU really does a great job of encouraging its students to pursue it. This, combined with AU's large international student population, make the campus a really interesting place full of diverse global experiences. Overall, most students seem to be happy at AU. However, some students seem to feel frustrated with how AU's administration and how it spends money. Our tuition is already really high and yet AU still charges exorbitant amounts to park on campus - more than either Georgetown or GW, both of which have less space available for parking. Also, the new "Wonk" advertising campaign AU strikes many of the students as a waste of time and money. Why spend money posting advertisements all over the DC Metro system when you could be spending money on new books for the library, or renovating housing, or giving out more financial aid? Despite these complaints, I think most students like AU. I for one have been really happy with my college experience at AU.

Professors will learn your name here. You will not be one of 500 students. My largest class so far has been of about 40 students - and I'm a senior here. Class participation is very common and you will find that most students are very involved in their education. I have taken a couple of very memorable classes - American Society (Sociology course), Physics 110 (challenging but if you can take it with Nate Harshman, do it!). You will meet great people and often find yourself going to office hours for fun!

I think my high school over-prepared me for college so I have never seen the work as being too intense. The work isnt hard, there is just a lot of it. The classes tend to be pretty small even the classes in bigger spaces are usually only around fifty kids or so. Its on the student to meet the professor because even though some classes are small, the professor wont always get to know the student. Class participation varies by class, some classes are discussion based some are not. The only thing that really irks me is that since some classes are graded on a few assignments, its difficult to tell how your doing in the class

Sure, all schools have those required classes no one wants to take but everyone has to, and AU is no different. But even then there is something about the faculty at AU that makes even those classes fun and exciting. I think it has everything to do with the knowledge of the faculty. Professors at AU are experts in their fields. A professor teaching foreign policy was probably in the foreign service, and a professor teaching directing has probably directed something you've seen. Our professors talks on shows from CNN to the Daily Show. They know their stuff. And when you get to the point where you can take a class based on a professor's interest, they are the most fascinating and rewarding. At least that has been my experience in the School of International Service. The classes are interesting and informative, and the professors are there to teach and to help you learn.

The classes at AU are pretty reasonable. You might find that the hardest classes are the ones that are not part of your major. If you find something easy, than push yourself. That being said, my number issue with AU is it's thorough General Education Program. With 5 "areas," and two required "clusters" within each area, it's a program to confuse you! By the time you graduate, you will have taken 10 Gen. Ed. classes -- which equates to an entire quarter of your education! But don't let the 100- and 200-level classes fool you in difficulty. Many of these classes are difficult and demanding! My advice: take as many AP classes as you can in high school. While many high schools have been backing off of the AP trend, taking AP classes you can handle will save you lots of time and money. For instance, if you take AP Bio, AP Chem or AP Psychics, you'll receive eight credits! That will take care of an entire general education area. The AP classes will be MUCH easier to stomach. Plus, once you hit 15 credits that you transfer in, you're automatically a semester ahead. That makes it easier to register for classes, and it'll also be easier on your wallet when you can graduate a semester early!

Profs are always accessible to students - whether it be 3:00 AM in the morning or in the office, academics are top priority at AU.

Academics are really great at American. All of my professors know my name, and 3 of my classes this semester have less than 20 students. Most classes are discussion based, particularly in the lit department. The main problem is that grade inflation hasn't quite hit the school. Based on what friends from other schools say, it's a lot harder to get an A here. They lie to you about loving kids who are undecided. You get stuck with an adviser who is supposed to know about everything, and therefore knows basically nothing. Not helpful at all for deciding what you want to do with your life.

Classes at American are either engaging, challenging, and impactful or completely useless. Gen Ed requirements are a pain and sometimes more work than they should be, but that's pretty universal. Every class tends to have an international scope, either due to the curriculum, the teacher, or the 85{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the class that is in SIS. Class participation (and sanity, for that matter) are almost entirely dependent on the teacher; sections of courses can be entirely different, so doing your research on professors is a must. Professors here are genuinely interested in their students, and most love being teachers. They're available outside of class, frequently give out personal information, and make a strong effort to know students. Advisers are helpful for the most part, and the academic requirements are reasonable and easy enough to navigate. A number of SIS classes (especially introductory ones) are think-tankish and made to make you a better person, but upper level courses are dense, specific, and heavy on skills, critical thinking, and practical applications. Campus events and dorms see ridiculous amounts of political involvement/philosophical discussion/related-but-not-required reading. Students at American tend to really love what they study.

Every professor knows my name. Favorite = Political Power and American Public Policy. Least favorite = microeconomics. Most study daily. class participation is common. We always talk about intellectual things. very competitive. I am in the School of International Service, which is one of the best in the nation. The department if very helpful, focused, organized, and truly prepares everyone for international affairs.

I think only one of my professors knows my name the others don't, my favorite class is writing for mass comm, i dont eve like writing that much but my teacher is great she really helps us in class to become better writers. other teachers just preach at you and think you will know how to do everything. but its not as bad as it sounds they have office hours i just dont take advantage of them. some students have intellectual conversations, i wish i had more, when i am around older students they talk about real things and it is really nice. I think classes for your major will help you to get a job but Gen Eds are almost worthless, what they do is tell you if you are interested in studying this subject for a major, and in the you learn how to learn.

So far, most of my professors have known me by name and I have been able to get to know my classmates. I don't really have a favorite or a least favorite class. They've all been pretty good. Some students never seem to stop studying while others seem not to study at all. I think it depends a lot of your classes and professors. In most of my classes, participation is an important part of our final grade. Professors really encourage us to think outside of the box and promote discussion about the topics we're studying. I love the School of Communication at AU. I'm always getting e-mails about things going on in the various departments. I have only taken two Comm courses, but they have been two of the best courses I've taken. The professors were great.

All of my professors know my name. My favorite class is Civil Rights and Liberties, the professor is a badass and you learn so much. It's amazing. My least favorite class is college writing, because of the large amount of writing, but I learn many things so it balances out. Class participation is very common, and extremely encouraged. I swear that American students only have intellectual conversations out of class, though this can't be true at any given time you can find people arguing about foreign policy. Students are competitive to an extent, if you talk to any of the students who are majoring in Political Science, they all want to go to law school and become Congressmen/women. The most unique class I have take this year would most likely be my college writing class that is focusing on privacy and surveillance. I really like that they can incorporate things that you like into classes that you don't like. I am majoring in political science at a school that ranks among the top 10 political science schools in the nation. I have had lunch with professors as well as going to office hours to chat. American's academic requirements are rigorous at times. But with so many classes to choose from it is very easy to find something that interests you in the least bit. Education at American is geared both towards getting a job and for learning. Many people go on to pursue masters and phd degrees so it makes sense that they are gearing towards it both.

My largest class has 40 students. Professors make themselves available all the time. Class participation is very common and the conversations in class generally carry on after the class has ended. American desires for its students to learn, as well as be prepared for the real world. The career center was ranked in the top 10 college career centers in the United States.

Some professors know my name. My favorite class is Spanish since it's generally easy. Many students study, but I rarely do. It's boring. I just study for test time. Certain students are cmopetitive. American's education is set up for both the career and simply learning. I only spend time with my bros outside of class.

AU doesn't have any classes bigger than 150 students and very few lectures. Discussion is often the way you learn. Class participation is common and I've never had a professor who didn't know my name. Students as a whole study enough to keep up their grade, but don't stress about it. Everyone's helpful rather than competitive and it's common to find people in the dorm lounges at four am discussing presidental primaries or chaos theory. Professor as a whole are very accessible and eager to help putting in at least as much effort to help you succeed as you put into their classes. The General Education classes are annoying to have to get out of the way, but they give you enough choices that you don't hate doing them. AU is very career oriented, but there are classes that are just there for learning too. It's all about who you are and what classes you choose to take. AU has everything from public policy classes geared to helping students with congressional jobs/internships to classes like Science Fiction and modern society.

From my two semesters of classes, I have been satisfied with my academics. I have not had a class with more than 50 people, if that, and most are small- between 20-30 students, which only encourage class participation. I'm in the honors program, and honors classes are capped at 20 students, and 15 for Freshman English classes. Professors are very accessible, and encourage you to visit them during office hours. For the most part, they are very understanding, and willing to give you a hint or push you in the right direction if you are stuck on something. I've had a few professors take the class on field trips into DC, and some have brought in food for the class. Classes generally run twice a week, either on Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri schedules and are 75 minutes long, although there are "block" classes that are twice as long, but only meet once a week.

i am constantly impressed not only with my own professors but the other professors i come into contact with through various clubs, presentations, etc. our professors are heads of think tanks, many-time CEOs and executives, filmmakers, geniuses. do a little research, pick the right professors, and you'll be blown away.

Professors do know my name, especially in my small honors classes. I love my classes, especially my religion and my poetry class, even though those are both disciplines outside of my major. Class participation is common -- again, especially in honors classes, which are smaller and have less people to hide behind. American students do have intellectual conversations outside of class. I often find myself telling my friends what I learned in a class lecture that day, and we go over papers and other homework together. As a student in the honors program, I am satisfied with Americans academic requirements. I feel I am being pushed in new ways.

Profs are decent.

All my professors know my name. I love my communications classes. Students are very academically motivated. We have intellectual conversations outside of class. Students are competitive but also helpful. Politics in the US with the wednesday lab was unique. Education at american is geared towards learning for its own sake.

Professors do know your name unless you are extremely shy in class and never participate and even so, there are some teachers that do go that extra mile to get to know everyone in their class. Honors students are usually more competitive. The most interesting class I have taken was an honors class titled International Organizations and Global Governance which targets the organizations like the UN, the WB and the IMF and tears them apart and analyzes them from both sides. I do like going to office hours. You get to meet your teachers better. Sometimes I feel academics are not as challenging as they should be, except honors classes.

Professors are hit and sometimes miss. Talk to upperclassmen and see what professors are good and not. I still go see professors that I don't have classes with any more. I would recommend an interdisciplinary major. Getting one together seems fairly straightforward. Take advantage of the opportunities and enhancement the city gives you. It is one of the greatest parts of going to this school. It focuses on learning and sets you up for success in the work world.

many professors know my name. my favorite classes are the communication classes, and general education classes such as personal finance and sociology:views from the third world. students study pretty often. people participate in discussions often. since we're all around the same level, students aren't too competitive. the most unique class i've taken was understanding mass media. professors encourage office hour visits. the academic requirements are pretty strict but work well for the student. both.

My professors in 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my classes know my name My most favorite class is Critical Approach to Cinema and Politics in the U.S. Both subjects take you beyond the basis of the course. My least favorite is Statistics and Civilizations in Asia - just not my thing Students study often, but it is all relative Class participation is common and often required, unless you don't mind your grade American University students debate about everything - you just bring it up and the debate will begin Students are competitive but not to the point of obsession The most unique class I've taken in Critical Approach to Cinema My major is International Relations and Political Science - simply I'm going to Law School I don't spend too much time with my professors outside of class The requirement are good, not great, but good AU has education geared towards learning coupled with a fantastic career center

Yes professors know my name. My favorite classes have been in the Literature department because while it is small, it is strong and I have found my literature the most engaging. The study habits of students vary. There is a fair amount of students here who do not care at all but there are plenty of kids who are always at the library. We have a pretty good mix of students who embrace their education and those who would rather experience the other parts of college. I hear intellectual conversations outside of class all the time. It makes me proud of my school and my peers. I get this warm feeling. People are constantly debating or discussing - not just politics, but philosophy, literature, cinema, history, and economics. I spend tons of time with my professors outside of class. American University professors are very accessible and not so cocky that they mind just chatting with their students about things other than a quick question about an exam. I have learned as much outside of class from my professors as I have learned in my classes. The professors are probably the best thing about American.

Every professor that I have had so far knows my name. My favorite class so far is a tie between World Politics and Macroeconomics--both were eye-opening, stimulating, and solidified that I have chosen the right major. I don't have a least favorite class! Students study on average, at the freshman level, probably about 10 hours a week (not including homework). As you go up in status, I have heard that studying increases as well. Class participation is frequent because many professors do not like to lecture the entire time and prefer seminars. I find that American students have a mix of intellectual and social conversations--everyone here has ideas and opinions, but it's not all school all the time! My majors are international studies and political science. The School of International Service is an amazing school and gives its student's amazing opportunities with events and professors. I truly feel like I'm being prepared for the real world. The School of Public Affairs is equally as good. The professors are brilliant and extremely helpful. Education at American is competitive and stimulating, but is mostly for learning's sake. Events sponsored by the school, the library, writing center, and career center are entities that are geared towards helping students find their careers. I think that that distinction is extremely important for success.

all but 1 i love all of my classes, seriously, except for statistics. it sucks and is boring. i study all the freakin time, but that doesn't seem to be typical lots of class participation in the honors classes, which are smaller ALL THE TIME sort of, but not with one another unique........ all of the classes are stuff i didn't take in high school. international relations (school of internatinal service) with a focus in peace and conflict resolution, specialization in the middle east. minors in arabic and hebrew. occasionally, office hours are useful WAYYYYY too many general education requirements+math+2 semesters of english. it's hard to take the stuff that you know you'll love and want to learn about learning for its own sake

I took a class on Contemporary Africa and it changed my life. My professor was an accomplished legislative director and made me understand African culture in politics from a different perspective than I used to. There were also several guest speakers and out of class events to attend that furthered my comprehension of the class. I changed my major because this course captured my interest in International Politics and International development.

Academics at AU are unique. Class size is always reasonable ranging from the size of a high school honors class up to a college lecture hall. However, most classes hover at the small range, meaning about 22-30 students. I have never had a professor that couldn't remember who I was. I haven ever had a professor who didn't have mandatory office hours or that was not willing to help. AU's requirements are such that we get to learn a little about a lot early, then learn a lot about our concentration later on. It builds a more universal, more globally experienced student. We engage in conversations outside of class all the time. Just last evening, I ended up spending two hours of study time talking about the 2008 presidential elections and gay marriage. We are as competitive as any student at any other school.