Academic Calendar 2027-2028 Dates are subject to change
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. For the full WCL academic calendar, please go to: http://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.
Note: The refund, add/drop/withdrawal, grade change, and final grades schedule applies to all courses with a standard schedule during a regular semester (fall/spring). Refunds, adds/drops/withdrawals, and grade changes for courses on nonstandard schedules (including MBA modules), as well as all summer session courses, are calculated proportionately, based on the percentage of the course completed. Final grades are always due 72 hours after the official end date of the course. For more information, please go to: www.american.edu/finance/studentaccounts/Refunds-for-Course-Drops-andWithdrawals.cfm. For Summer Registration and Refund Dates please go to: https://www.american.edu/summer/calendar.cfm
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 08/01/2027 | Sun | Payment due for fall classes |
| 08/21/2027 - 08/29/2027 | Sat - Sun | Welcome Week |
| 08/30/2027 | Mon | Classes Begin (Semester Begin) |
| 09/06/2027 | Mon | Labor Day; no classes; university closed |
| 09/13/2027 | Mon | Last day to add a fall course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project |
| 09/13/2027 | Mon | Last day to drop a fall course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded |
| 09/14/2027 | Tue | Withdrawal period begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 09/20/2027 | Mon | Last day to withdraw from a fall course for a 50% refund |
| 09/27/2027 | Mon | Last day to withdraw from a fall course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date) |
| 10/04/2027 | Mon | Schedule of Classes for Spring published |
| 10/08/2027 - 10/10/2027 | Fri - Sun | Family Weekend |
| 10/15/2027 | Fri | Fall Break; no classes, university offices open |
| 10/25/2027 | Mon | Spring priority registration for graduate students begins |
| 10/25/2027 | Mon | Winter Intersession registration begins |
| 10/28/2027 | Thu | Spring priority registration for undergraduate students begins |
| 10/31/2027 | Sun | Last day to apply for fall graduation |
| 11/05/2027 | Fri | Last day to withdraw from a fall course or change a grade option |
| 11/12/2027 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for fall degree candidates |
| 11/23/2027 | Tue | Tuesday classes cancelled; Friday classes meet. |
| 11/24/2027 - 11/28/2027 | Wed - Sun | Thanksgiving holiday; no classes; university offices closed Thursday and Friday |
| 12/10/2027 | Fri | Fall classes end |
| 12/10/2027 | Fri | Theses and Dissertations Due in Registrar's Office for Fall Degree Candidate |
| 12/11/2027 - 12/12/2027 | Sat - Sun | Fall Study Days; no classes |
| 12/13/2027 - 12/18/2027 | Mon - Sat | Fall final examinations |
| 12/19/2027 | Sun | Fall Commencement Ceremony for August and December Graduates |
| 12/21/2027 | Tue | Fall Final Grades Deadline |
| 12/23/2027 | Thu | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December Diplomas; no events associated with this date) |
| 12/24/2027 - 01/02/2028 | Fri - Sun | Winter break; university offices closed |
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 12/19/2027 | Sun | Winter Intersession classes begin |
| 1/17/2028 | Mon | Winter Intersession classes end |
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | TBD | Payment Due |
| 01/13/2028 - 01/16/2028 | Thu - Sun | Winter Welcome |
| 01/17/2028 | Mon | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 01/18/2028 | Tue | Spring classes begin |
| 01/31/2028 | Mon | Last day to add a spring course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project |
| 01/31/2028 | Mon | Last day to drop a spring course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded |
| 02/01/2028 | Tue | Withdrawal period begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 02/01/2028 | Tue | Last day to apply for Spring Graduation |
| 02/08/2028 | Tue | Last Day to Withdraw from Spring courses for 50% refund |
| 02/15/2028 | Tue | Last Day to Withdraw from Spring courses for 25% refund |
| 03/06/2028 | Mon | Schedule of Classes for Summer and Fall published |
| 03/12/2028 - 03/19/2028 | Sun - Sun | Spring break; no classes, university offices open Monday through Friday |
| 03/24/2028 | Fri | Last day to withdraw from a spring course or change a grade option |
| 03/27/2028 | Mon | Summer registration begins |
| 03/27/2028 | Mon | Fall priority registration for graduate students begins |
| 03/30/2028 | Thu | Fall priority registration for undergraduate students begins |
| 03/31/2028 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for spring degree candidates |
| 05/01/2028 | Mon | Spring classes end |
| 05/01/2028 | Mon | Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for spring degree candidates |
| 05/01/2028 | Mon | Payment due for summer classes |
| 05/02/2028 - 05/03/2028 | Tue - Wed | Spring Study Days; no classes |
| 05/04/2028 - 05/10/2028 | Thu - Wed | Spring final examinations |
| 05/12/2028 - 05/14/2028 | Fri - Sun | Commencement Weekend Activities (WCL excluded) |
| 05/13/2028 | Sat | Spring Final Grades Deadline |
| 05/14/2028 | Sun | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on May Diplomas; no events associated with this date) |
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 05/01/2028 | Mon | Payment due for summer classes |
| 05/15/2028 | Mon | Summer classes begin; 7-week (A) and Online Learning I (E) sessions begin |
| 05/22/2028 | Mon | First 6-week (B) and 3-week (C) sessions begin |
| 05/28/2028 | Sun | Last day to add a summer internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project |
| 05/29/2028 | Mon | Memorial Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 06/01/2028 | Thu | Last day to apply for Summer Graduation |
| 06/10/2028 | Sat | 3-week (C) session ends |
| 06/19/2028 | Mon | Juneteenth; no classes, university offices closed |
| 07/01/2028 | Sat | 7-week (A), first 6-week (B), and Online Learning I (E) sessions end |
| 07/03/2028 | Mon | Second 6-week (D) and Online Learning II (F) session begin |
| 07/04/2028 | Tue | Independence Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 07/16/2028 | Sun | Last day to withdraw from Summer courses |
| 07/16/2028 | Sun | Last day to change grade option |
| 07/21/2028 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans' offices for summer degree candidates |
| 08/01/2028 | Tue | Payment due for fall classes |
| 08/10/2028 | Thu | Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for summer degree candidates |
| 08/12/2028 | Sat | Second 6-week (D) session ends |
| 08/19/2028 | Sat | Summer classes end; Online Learning II (F) session ends |
| 08/19/2028 | Sat | End of summer sessions |
| 08/27/2028 | Sun | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August diplomas; no event associated with this date) |