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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-05-005106.txt : 20050127
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-05-005106.hdr.sgml : 20050127
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050127143219
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-05-005106
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050125
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050127
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050127

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KARMAN JAMES A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001224022

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07459
		FILM NUMBER:		05553369

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2628 PEARL ROAD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 777
		CITY:			MEDINA
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44258
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3302735090

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHULMAN A INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000087565
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS, MATERIALS, SYNTH RESINS & NONVULCAN ELASTOMERS [2821]
		IRS NUMBER:				340514850
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3550 W MARKET ST
		CITY:			AKRON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44333
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3306663751

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3550 W MARKET STREET
		CITY:			AKRON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44333
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000087565</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCHULMAN A INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SHLM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224022</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KARMAN JAMES A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>110 SEASPRAY AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALM BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33480</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.625</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.625</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.625</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This field is not applicable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 4,000 shares of restricted stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Pursuant to the A. Schulman, Inc. 1992 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (a Rule 16b-3 Plan)(the &quot;1992 Plan&quot;), 25% of these options became exercisable on February 1, of each of the years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James A. Karman, by Laura D. Nemeth as attorney-in-fact.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----