Doctoral Programs

Doctoral graduates are asked to participate in the Graduation Census, but results are not included here because of a low number of responses. American University offers doctoral degrees in:

Success Stories

Fanta Aw

Fanta Aw, KSB/BSBA ’90, SPA/MPA ’94, CAS/PhD ’11

As the Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer in AU's School of International Service, Aw brings both personal experience and professional expertise to her teaching. A "global nomad" who grew up in several countries, Aw is a well-regarded expert in international education. She has provided training to the U.S. Department of State, Institute of International Education, and American Councils for International Education, among others, and she is the president and board chair of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a 10,000-member organization. After earning bachelor's and master's degrees from AU, she returned to her alma mater for a doctorate in sociology with concentrations in transnational migration, international education, and social stratification. Aw is AU’s vice president of campus life and inclusive excellence and the 2013 recipient of the University Award for Outstanding Teaching in an Adjunct Position.

Nick Reksten

NICK REKSTEN, SIS/BA '07, CAS/PhD '15

Nick Reksten had such a positive undergrad experience at AU that when it came time to choose a PhD program, his alma mater quickly rose to the top of the list. Reksten, who earned a bachelor’s in international studies and economics, praises AU’s faculty as “open-minded, engaged, and a joy to work with.” As an undergrad, he was a University Honors Program member and a Presidential Scholarship recipient, and he held internships in Washington, DC, and London. As a doctoral student, Reksten served as a Graduate Advising Fellow in AU’s Office of Merit Awards, an adjunct instructor, and a teaching assistant. He has won several honors, including the Weaver Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student, a Department of Economics Dissertation Fellowship, a Graduate Fellowship, and a CAS Mellon Travel Grant. Reksten served as a consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank before becoming a guest professor on the economics faculty at Sarah Lawrence College.