College of Arts and Sciences at American University

09/11/2026

🌃🎨 Tenleytown's annual Art All Night is Saturday, September 12, and American University 's Katzen Arts Center is open until 10 p.m.! Start the night with live music from the AU Pep Band at 7 p.m., then explore open MFA artist studios, the new fall exhibits in the AU Museum, large-scale photography in the Kreeger Lobby, and GILT by association in the Katzen Rotunda.

Check out the full schedule of events across Tenleytown: https://bit.ly/4cHMlZL'

09/10/2026

Still making changes to your schedule? Our CAS Peer Advisors are here to help. 📚

From adding a class to dropping one, they’re breaking down the add/drop process and sharing what you need to know to navigate it with confidence.

Watch the reel, save it for later, and reach out to your academic advisor if you have questions about your individual schedule. 🦅

09/09/2026

🚀 American University is launching a new BS in Engineering Physics, giving students opportunities to start building, designing, and conducting research from their first year.

Students can design and launch rockets, learn rapid prototyping in AU’s Design and Build Lab, participate in faculty research, and pursue opportunities connected to NASA and the DC region’s aerospace and scientific community.

The degree combines rigorous physics with hands on engineering, R1 research, faculty mentorship, and room for students to explore interests ranging from aerospace and computer science to biology, audio technology, and environmental science.

See what students can build at AU:

New degree gives students hands-on experience and access to R1 research from their first year, with industry connections and opportunities across Washington, DC

09/03/2026

📣📣 Opening THIS Saturday, September 5: Six must-see exhibitions you can visit for FREE at the Katzen Arts Center! https://bit.ly/4csDeMt

At AU Museum:
🎨 Ahn Chang-Hong: noon-mool
🖌️ Beyond Words: The Sacred Art of Ayesha Kamal
📷 Observer: The Street Photographs of Norman S. Carr
🎥 Double Feature: Two Graphic Narratives by Mary Garrard

In the Kreeger Lobby:
📸 Seeing America in Scale: A Humongous Photography Exhibition

In the Katzen Rotunda:
⭐ GILT by association: Paintings, Sculpture, Prints & Drawings

Join us for the FREE opening receptions this Saturday, September 5: GILT by association, 3-6 p.m. in the Katzen Rotunda; Seeing America in Scale, 6-9 p.m. in the Kreeger Lobby; and the fall exhibitions in the AU Museum, 6-9 p.m.

09/02/2026

🌎 The College of Arts and Sciences went global this summer.

CAS faculty and students taught AI in Albania, studied water quality in American Samoa, made music with young students in Kenya, dug into archives across Europe, researched coral health, and collaborated with scientists and scholars around the world.

From research and teaching to fieldwork and discovery, see where their work—and their adventures—took them this summer: https://bit.ly/4xuXgy8

09/01/2026

What can quantum physics teach students about making the most of college?

At American University 's New Student Convocation, Professor of Physics Nate Harshman, AU’s Scholar/Teacher of the Year, encouraged the Class of 2030 to resist the urge to optimize every part of their college experience.

Drawing on ideas from complex systems and a lesson he learned during his own first month of college, Harshman urged new Eagles to make room for curiosity, exploration, creativity, and the unexpected.

“Within the uncertainty of complexity is your freedom,” he told students.

From exploring DC and reading beyond the syllabus to taking risks and becoming an expert in something “obscure and delightful,” Harshman’s message offered the Class of 2030 a different way to think about the four years ahead.

Read the full story:

AU’s Scholar/Teacher of the Year welcomed new Eagles with a lesson in joy, curiosity, and the value of the unexpected

08/31/2026

Happy first day of fall classes, Eagles! 🦅

Campus is buzzing again, classrooms are full, and a new semester is officially underway. Whether you’re returning to AU or starting your very first semester, we’re so glad to have you here.

08/27/2026

From tracking ospreys across the Chesapeake Bay to building AI tools with NASA scientists, American University students spent the summer putting STEM research into action.

Meet 12 students whose work took them into labs, waterways, research facilities, and the field. Alongside faculty and research mentors, they studied coral resilience, water quality, environmental stress, radiation, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and more.

Their projects are tackling real world scientific and environmental challenges while giving students the hands on experience to become the next generation of scientists.

Read their stories: https://bit.ly/3SjfrYu

08/26/2026

📣📣Tickets for our fall performing arts events are now on sale, and they are FREE for American University students!

With 11 productions across theater, music, and dance, there's something for everyone. Watch the Class of 2030 take the stage for the first time, see a jury of twelve women decide whether a condemned woman lives or dies, help determine how a love story unfolds, or spend part of Halloween weekend with the AU Symphony Orchestra. Jazz, gospel, a ca****la, contemporary and classical music, and dance will also fill our stages.

Spring performances sold out quickly, so students are encouraged to reserve their tickets in advance. 🎟️ FREE for AU students with ID; $10 for alumni, staff, children, faculty, and senior citizens (55 and older); $15 for general admission.

All music, theatre, and dance performances are free for AU students

08/20/2026

From tracking NASA’s Artemis II mission to studying economics in the heart of Washington, DC, to bringing community stories to life through the Humanities Truck, CAS students are putting learning into action. 🚀📚

Support from NASA, the American Economic Association, Mellon Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, and other partners is expanding hands on research, mentorship, internships, and career opportunities across the College.

It’s R1 the AU way: consequential research, close faculty mentorship, and opportunities for students to make an impact in the lab, in the field, and throughout DC.

Read how grants and giving are transforming the CAS student experience:

FY26 support from NASA, leading foundations, and other partners expands hands-on research, learning, and career opportunities for students