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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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 9aZdcIgS98EaGpnuA9OEEg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001390614-09-000011.txt : 20091209
<SEC-HEADER>0001390614-09-000011.hdr.sgml : 20091209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091209124236
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001390614-09-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091209
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091209

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FABIANO ANTHONY R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001263158

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06549
		FILM NUMBER:		091230531

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		829 MIDDLESEX TURNPIKE
		STREET 2:		C/O AS&E
		CITY:			BILLERICA
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01821

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN SCIENCE & ENGINEERING INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000005768
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	X-RAY APPARATUS & TUBES & RELATED IRRADIATION APPARATUS [3844]
		IRS NUMBER:				042240991
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AS&E
		STREET 2:		829 MIDDLESEX TURNPIKE
		CITY:			BILLERICA
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01821
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9782628700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AS&E
		STREET 2:		829 MIDDLESEX TURNPIKE
		CITY:			BILLERICA
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01821
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000005768</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN SCIENCE &amp; ENGINEERING INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASEI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001263158</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FABIANO ANTHONY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMERICAN SCIENCE &amp; ENGINEERING, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>829 MIDDLESEX TURNPIKE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BILLERICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01821</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16106</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.06</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>122704</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16106</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>70.3248</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>106598</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>39.06</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16106</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16106</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30184</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Form 4 filed on June 12, 2008 and subsequent Forms 4 inadvertently included an additional 481 shares in the Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) column (column 5), which error has been corrected in column 5 of this filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares of common stock were sold in multiple open market transactions at a price ranging from a low of $69.56 to a high of $71.05 for an average of $70.3248 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Form 4 filed on June 13, 2007 and subsequent Forms 4 inadvertently omitted 12,781 stock options in the Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (column 9), which error has been corrected in column 9 of this filing.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michelle Bielunis, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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