History
In 1991, retired Marine Corps officer James P. Etter founded American Military University (AMU).
In 2002, AMU was reorganized into the American Public University System (APUS), and American Public University (APU) was founded to provide the same quality, affordable, and flexible education to a broader audience of motivated working adults.
Education
The University provides educational access to a diverse community of traditional and non-traditional learners in an environment that supports a lifetime of learning and freedom of inquiry and expression.
The University System fosters an environment of knowledge and understanding that promotes a life of learning.The University is committed to high standards of distinction, excellence and continuous improvement in all aspects of its evolving operations.Research
APUS faculty and students participate in research designed to marry intellectual ambition with the practical application of knowledge attained through scientific inquiry in order to address real world problems. This page lists a summary or faculty research abstracts as well as webinars and conferences of interest to the APUS academic community.
Career
Our Career Exploration Team is here to guide you toward finding your career fit. Get started using Focus 2, our online career assessment tool. Connect with a career coach to receive personalized career assistance.
Distance Learning Courses
- B.Sc. Accounting
- Associate Degree Accounting
- M.Sc. Accounting
- Associate Degree Administration
- Postgraduate Certificate Athletic Administration
- B.A. Business
- Associate Degree Business Administration
- M.B.A. Business Administration
- B.B.A. Business Administration
- B.Sc. Business Analytics
- Postgraduate Certificate Business Essentials for the Security Executive
- B.A. Communication
- M.A. Entrepreneurship
- B.A. Entrepreneurship
- Postgraduate Certificate Executive Law Enforcement Leadership
- Associate Degree Fire Science
- B.Sc. Fire Science Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Human Capital Leadership
- Postgraduate Certificate IT Project Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Leadership and Logistics
- Postgraduate Certificate Logistics Management
- M.A. Management
- Associate Degree Management
- B.A. Management
- B.A. Marketing
- Postgraduate Certificate Nonprofit Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Organizational Management
- Associate Degree Real Estate Studies
- B.A. Retail Management
- B.A. Security Management
- UG Certificate Security Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Security Management
- M.A. Security Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Strategic Leadership
- Associate Degree Supply Chain Management
- B.Sc. Technical Management
- Associate Degree Technical Management
- Postgraduate Certificate American History
- Postgraduate Certificate American Revolution
- Associate Degree Communication
- B.A. Communication
- Associate Degree Counter Terrorism Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate European History
- Postgraduate Certificate Homeland Security
- B.A. Homeland Security
- M.A. Homeland Security
- Postgraduate Certificate Intelligence Analysis
- M.A. Intelligence Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate Intelligence Studies
- B.A. Intelligence Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate Logistics Management
- B.A. Political Science
- M.A. Political Science
- M.A. Psychology
- B.A. Psychology
- MPP Public Policy
- B.A. Security Management
- M.A. Security Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Security Management
- UG Certificate Security Management
- M.A. Sociology
- B.A. Sociology
- Postgraduate Certificate Terrorism Studies
- Associate Degree Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness
- Postgraduate Certificate Business Essentials for the Security Executive
- Postgraduate Certificate Civil War Studies
- Associate Degree Counter Terrorism Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate Counterintelligence
- Associate Degree Culinary and Foodservice Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Emergency and Disaster Management
- Associate Degree Fire Science
- B.Sc. Fire Science Management
- M.Sc. Information Technology
- Associate Degree Military History
- M.A. Military Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate National Security Studies
- Associate Degree Real Estate Studies
- Associate Degree Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness
- Associate Degree Culinary and Foodservice Management
- Associate Degree Early Childhood Care and Education
- Postgraduate Certificate Emergency and Disaster Management
- B.Sc. Health Sciences
- Associate Degree Health Sciences
- B.Sc. Nursing
- M.Sc. Nursing
- B.A. Philosophy
- B.Sc. Public Health
- MPH Public Health
- Associate Degree Public Health
- M.Sc. RN to MSN
- B.Sc. Computer Technology
- Associate Degree Computer Technology
- Postgraduate Certificate Cybercrime
- B.Sc. Cybersecurity
- M.Sc. Cybersecurity Studies
- Associate Degree Data Science
- B.Sc. Data Science
- Postgraduate Certificate Digital Forensics
- Postgraduate Certificate Information Assurance
- Postgraduate Certificate Information Systems Security
- B.Sc. Information Technology
- M.Sc. Information Technology
- Postgraduate Certificate Intelligence Studies
- M.A. Intelligence Studies
- M.Sc. RN to MSN
- M.A. Security Management
- Postgraduate Certificate American History
- Postgraduate Certificate Ancient and Classical History
- Associate Degree Counter Terrorism Studies
- B.A. English
- Postgraduate Certificate European History
- B.A. History
- M.A. History
- Associate Degree History
- M.A. Humanities
- Associate Degree Military History
- B.A. Military History
- M.A. Military History
- B.A. Philosophy
- B.A. Religion
- Postgraduate Certificate World War II Studies
- Associate Degree Criminal Justice
- B.A. Criminal Justice
- B.Sc. Criminal Justice
- M.A. Criminal Justice
- Postgraduate Certificate Cybercrime
- B.Sc. Cybersecurity
- M.Sc. Cybersecurity Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate Emergency and Disaster Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Executive Law Enforcement Leadership
- B.Sc. Legal Studies
- M.A. Legal Studies
- Associate Degree Legal Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate Athletic Administration
- Associate Degree Culinary and Foodservice Management
- B.Sc. Esports
- Associate Degree Hospitality
- B.Sc. Sports Management
- M.Sc. Sports Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Sports Management
- Postgraduate Certificate Environmental Planning and Design
- B.Sc. Environmental Science
- Postgraduate Certificate Environmental Sustainability
- Postgraduate Certificate Fish and Wildlife Management
- B.A. Philosophy
- M.Sc. Space Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate Space Studies
- Associate Degree Space Studies
- Associate Degree Early Childhood Care and Education
- M.Ed. Educational Leadership
- M.Ed. Online Teaching
- M.Ed. Teaching
- B.Sc. Mathematics
- B.Sc. Natural Sciences
- B.Sc. Space Studies
- M.Sc. Space Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate Space Studies
- Associate Degree Space Studies
- B.Eng. Electrical Engineering
- B.Sc. Information Technology
- Postgraduate Certificate Fish and Wildlife Management
- B.A. Communication
Student services
Career Services and the university’s academic departments created program-specific career guides to help students explore relevant career options and learn important information about their field.
Library services
The mission of the Richard G. Trefry Library is to provide quality resources to support learning across all disciplines. Our goal is to assist students in the development of information literacy skills relevant to the digital era in order to promote research, discovery, and critical thinking.
Campus life
American Public University System is working on plans to expand its campus in Charles Town and Ranson, with the intention of constructing two new buildings and a parking garage in the near future. The university is also considering building two more facilities in the longer term. American Public University System CEO Wallace Boston will oversee a major expansion of American Public University’s campus. APUS officials unveiled their plan at the Charles Town Council’s meeting Monday night, where they requested that a small road and a notional, unconstructed alley be vacated.
Student clubs
Discover the many benefits of getting involved in a student organization. Participation can enrich your college experience while helping you expand your community and explore shared interests. These clubs, professional organizations, and honor societies also provide opportunities to further develop your collaboration and leadership skills within a structured organization. Start exploring now! We have Clubs, Professional Organizations and Honor Societies.
American Public University is part of the American Public University System (APUS), which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. HLC accredits degree-granting institutions located in a 19-state region, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Universities such as The Ohio State, University of Chicago and the U.S. Air Force Academy are also accredited by HLC.