We in the Key programs have an extraordinary respect for the men and women of our uniformed services. To simply say 'thank you' for the sacrifices of you and your families seems shallow - but it comes from the bottom of our hearts. As a retired Naval officer, I've known and admired many uniformed service members over the years. And sadly, like many of you, I've lost a few friends as well. Your sacrifice is one we honor and your presence in our Key programs is one we relish, for you bring a valuable and unique perspective on leadership, values and mission. Thank you all for your service.

Patrick S. Malone
CAPT, MSC, USN (ret.)
Director, Key Executive Leadership Program

Available Programs

The Key Programs offer two open-enrollment programs to expand the contemporary public management knowledge, values and skills of government executives.

• The Key Executive Leadership Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a 36-credit hour graduate course of study in the skills, knowledge, and values needed for effective performance as a high-level executive.
• The Key Executive Leadership Graduate Certificate focuses on developing skills, knowledge, and values needed by public and nonprofit leaders. This certificate is open to students with a bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution. A successful applicant typically holds a GS-12 (or above) level or equivalent NGO, private sector, or leadership/management experience.  

Educational Resources

Questions about your educational benefits? Try the information below.

Veterans Affairs provides several benefits for veterans, service members and their qualified family members to pursue higher education. Each benefit varies in the type of assistance provided. To find the VA benefit that can best support you at American University, please review the chart provided by Veterans Affairs. Once you have determined which VA Benefit you may be eligible for, please follow our New Student Checklist to apply your VA Education Benefits towards your chosen program.

AU is a proud Yellow Ribbon program participant. The Yellow Ribbon Program was created to help bridge the gap between the VA GI Bill® Cap (average state tuition) and the tuition costs at American University. This agreement allows for additional funding to be processed, half by the VA and half by AU, to help with these costs. For more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program including eligibility requirements please visit the AU Veterans Services website.

Additional Information

If you have additional questions or need assistance please contact the Veterans Services Team or you can schedule an appointment.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website: Education and Training Home (va.gov)