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Academic Calendar 2021-2022

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 

2021 Fall Semester Calendar
Date Day Event
8/1/2021 Sun Payment due for fall classes
8/21/2021 - 8/29/2021 Sat-Sun All-American Welcome (Events begin with new student move-in and continue through the first two weeks of classes)
8/30/2021 Mon Fall classes begin
9/6/2021 Mon Labor Day; no classes, university offices closed
9/13/2021 Mon Last day to add a fall course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
9/13/2021 Mon Last day to drop a fall course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
9/20/2021 Mon Last day to withdraw from a fall course for a 50% refund
9/27/2021 Mon Last day to withdraw from a fall course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
10/1/2021 - 10/3/2021 Fri-Sun All-American Weekend
10/4/2021 Mon Schedule of Classes for Spring published
10/4/2021 Mon Academic alerts due in Registrar's Office
10/15/2021 Fri Fall Break; no classes, university offices open
10/25/2021 Mon Spring priority registration for graduate students begins
10/31/2021 Sun Last day to apply for fall graduation
11/1/2021 Mon Spring priority registration for undergraduate students begins
11/5/2021 Fri Last day to withdraw from a fall course or change a grade option (end of the 10th week)
11/12/2021 Fri Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for fall degree candidates
11/23/2021 Tue Tuesday classes cancelled; Friday classes meet
11/24/2021 - 11/28/2021 Wed-Sun Thanksgiving holiday; no classes; university offices closed Thursday and Friday
12/10/2021 Fri Fall classes end. Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for fall degree candidates
12/11/2021 - 12/12/2021 Sat-Sun Fall Study Days
12/13/2021 - 12/18/2021 Mon-Sat Fall final examinations
12/19/2021 Sun Fall Commencement Ceremony for August and December graduates
12/23/2021 Thu All full-term fall classes final grades due.
12/23/2021 Thu Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December diplomas; no event associated with this date)
12/24/2021 - 1/2/2022 Fri-Sun Winter break; university offices closed
2021 Fall Intersession Calendar
Date Day Event
12/19/2021 Sun Winter Intersession classes begin
1/9/2022 Sun Winter Intersession classes end
2022 Spring Semester Calendar
Date Day Event
1/10/2022 Mon Spring classes begin
1/17/2022 Mon Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes, university offices closed
1/24/2022 Mon Last day to add a spring course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
1/24/2022 Mon Last day to drop a spring course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
1/31/2022 Mon Last day to withdraw from a spring course for a 50% refund
2/7/2022 Mon Last day to withdraw from a spring course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
2/14/2022 Mon Academic alerts due in Registrar’s Office
2/28/2022 Mon Schedule of Classes for Summer and Fall published
3/6/2022 - 3/13/2022 Sun-Sun Spring break; no classes, university offices open Monday through Friday
3/18/2022 Fri Last day to withdraw from a spring class or change a grade option (end of 10th week)
3/21/2022 Mon Last day to apply for spring graduation
3/21/2022 Mon Summer registration begins
3/21/2022 Mon Fall priority registration for graduate students begins
3/24/2022 Thu Fall priority registration for undergraduate students begins
3/25/2022 Fri Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for spring degree candidates
4/25/2022 Mon Spring classes end
4/25/2022 Mon Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for spring degree candidates
4/26/2022 - 4/27/2022 Tue-Wed Spring study days; no classes
5/1/2022 Sun Payment due for summer classes
4/28/2022 - 5/4/2022 Thur-Wed Spring final examinations
5/6/2022 Fri All full-term spring classes final grades due
5/6/2022 - 5/8/2022 Fri-Sun Commencement Weekend Activities
5/8/2022 Sun Official Degree Award Date
2022 Summer Sessions Calendar
Date Day Event
5/1/2022 Sun Payment due for summer classes
5/9/2022 Mon 7-week (A) and Online Learning I (E) sessions begin
5/16/2022 Mon First 6-week (B) and 3-week (C) sessions begin
5/20/2022 Fri Last day to add a summer internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
5/30/2022 Mon Memorial Day; no classes, university offices closed
6/4/2022 Sat 3-week (C) session ends
6/20/2022 Mon Juneteenth; no classes, university offices closed
6/25/2022 Sat 7-week (A), first 6-week (B), and Online Learning I (E) sessions end
6/27/2022 Mon Second 6-week (D) and Online Learning II (F) session begin
7/4/2022 Mon Independence Day; no classes, university offices closed
7/15/2022 Fri Theses and dissertations due in deans' offices for summer degree candidates
8/1/2022 Mon Last day to apply for summer graduation
8/1/2022 Mon Payment due for fall classes
8/4/2022 Thu Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for summer degree candidates
8/6/2022 Sat Second 6-week (D) session ends
8/13/2022 Sat Online Learning II (F) session ends
8/13/2022 Sat End of summer sessions
8/28/2022 Sun Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August diplomas; no event associated with this date)