Draft:American Military University

American Military University (AMU), along with its sister school American Public University (APU)—is part of American Public University System (APUS). APUS is a privately owned, for-profit online university system headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia.

APUS is a subsidiary of American Public Education, Inc., a publicly traded private-sector corporation listed on Nasdaq as APEI. APUS—as a whole—has more than 135,000 graduates as of June 30, 2023, with notable alumni having graduated into leadership roles within the armed forces and government sectors.

American Military University offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in a variety of fields. It also provides dual degrees, certificate programs, and microcredentials called NanoCerts available to both military and nonmilitary students. Additionally, a Preferred Military Rate is offered to active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and their families, including military parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.

History
The university was established in 1991 by Major James P. Etter (USMC, retired), commencing operations in January 1993 with an initial enrollment of 18 graduate students. American Military University was founded to address the unique educational requirements of military personnel, including active-duty servicemembers and National Guard members. Many of these individuals sought classes in specialized areas, such as counterterrorism and military intelligence, which were not commonly offered at traditional universities. During its early years, American Military University delivered instruction through conventional correspondence methods. The initial programs focused on national security and the intelligence community. Over the years, AMU has expanded to include courses in global security, disaster management, and space studies.

In June 1995, AMU received national accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The university launched its inaugural bachelor's degree programs in January 1996. The advent of online classes followed in 1998, with the completion of transitioning all undergraduate programs to a fully online format in 1999. Subsequently, all master’s programs went fully online in 2000.

In 2002, American Military University (AMU) expanded into American Public University System (APUS) and established American Public University. The latter was primarily designed to cater to civilians interested in public service programs. Together, they form American Public University System, providing a range of undergraduate and master's-level programs.

In 2016, the university ranked 58th place in U.S. News & World Report's assessment of online bachelor's degree programs.

In July 2016, long-serving President Wallace E. Boston Jr. was succeeded by former Executive Vice President and Provost Karan Powell as APUS president, while retaining his leadership role as CEO of APEI to offer strategic and leadership support to APUS and other APEI ventures. In September 2017, Boston was reappointed as APUS president. In September 2019, Angela Selden was appointed as the CEO of APEI, succeeding Boston. In August 2020, Wade Dyke assumed the presidency of APUS. In 2022, Nuno Fernandes was named president of APUS.

Accreditation
American Military University is part of American Public University System, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

From January 6, 1995, to April 30, 2012, APUS was accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. However, APUS terminated its accreditation through this organization as of April 30, 2012.

Many programs in the university's Dr. Wallace E. Boston School of Business hold accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

The sport management degree program at the American Public University System has received specialized accreditation through the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), located in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. The sport management program in the following degrees in accredited by COSMA: •	Bachelor of Science in Sports Management

•	Master of Science in Sports Management.

The baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in nursing at American Public University System are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Furthermore, the university's Master of Public Health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health through December 31, 2029.

The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress has accredited programs in fire science, emergency and disaster management, and the dual master’s in emergency and disaster management and homeland security.

The Bachelor Health Information Management program at American Public University System is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.

Professional recognition and affiliation
Select degree programs are also affiliated with and/or recognized by professional organizations: These include, but are not limited to:


 * The National Security Agency
 * Human Kinetics Coach Education
 * National Academy of Sports Medicine
 * National Council on Family Relations

Associate Degree Programs
At the foundational level, AMU offers online courses in associate degree programs across multiple disciplines. Programs range from communication to more technical fields such as counter terrorism studies, technical management, and computer technology.

Bachelor’s Programs
AMU's undergraduate programs offer a diverse range of classes. Students can pursue bachelor's degrees in business administration, criminal justice, electrical engineering, environmental science, human development and family studies, and public health, among others.

Master’s Programs
AMU offers master's-level programs that examine specialized areas such as national security, cybersecurity, homeland security, sports and health sciences, and management. Master's-level tuition is competitively priced, and credit hour transfer options are available. AMU’s master's degree programs emphasize research, advanced theoretical knowledge, and practical applications.

Doctoral Programs
AMU’s applied doctoral programs in global security and strategic intelligence are structured to bridge scholarship with practice.

Schools within American Military University
AMU houses distinct schools, each focusing on specialized areas of study. Each school offers relevant courses and support services aimed to help students graduate with the necessary skills to perform in their respective fields.

School of Arts, Humanities, & Education: This school fosters creativity and critical thinking through programs ranging from English and history to philosophy and education.

Dr. Wallace E. Boston School of Business: This school prepares students for roles in the global marketplace, covering core business disciplines like accounting, marketing, and human resource management.

School of Health Sciences: This school offers programs in public health, sports and health sciences, and nursing.

School of Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM): This school focuses on courses in environmental science, information technology, and space studies.

School of Security & Global Studies: This school offers programs in intelligence studies, homeland security, and international relations.

Alumni and Networking
AMU has a network of alumni spread across various sectors including the military, public service sectors, and private industries. Many graduates have gone on to assume leadership roles, making contributions to national security, public health, and global studies.

Notable faculty

 * Wendy B. Lawrence, retired Space Shuttle veteran and Navy aviator with 25 years of service; professor of Space Studies

Notable alumni

 * Monique Marie Chouraeshkenazi, scholar, chairwoman of the National Security Program.
 * Yasser Harrak, Canadian writer, columnist, and human rights activist.
 * Nicole Malachowski, United States Air Force Colonel and the first female pilot selected to fly as part of the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Thunderbirds. (Master of Arts (with honors), National Security Policy, 2009)
 * Cory Mills, businessman, defense contractor, and member of the United States House of Representatives.
 * John Wills, Iowa State Representative.
 * Brandon Wolff, mixed martial artist, former Welterweight fighter of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and former Navy SEAL.