<PAGE>
 
________________________________________________________________________________

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                          ___________________________

                                   FORM S-8
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          ___________________________

                  AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS,  INCORPORATED
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
                          ___________________________

Delaware                                                     54-0856778
(State or Other Jurisdiction                                 (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Organization)                            Identification No.)
 
                 4050 Legato Road, Fairfax, Virginia  22033   
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
     
                          ___________________________
 
                   AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
                              STOCK OPTION PLAN F
                           ( Full Title of the Plan)

                          ___________________________
                          

                              Philip M. Giuntini
                                   President
                   American Management Systems, Incorporated
                               4000 Legato Road
                           Fairfax, Virginia  22033
                    (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                (703) 267-5405
         (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                                  Copies to:
                             Denise R. Cade, Esq.
                       Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge
                              2300 N Street, N.W.
                            Washington, D.C.  20037
 

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Proposed Maximum        Proposed Maximum
Title of Securities             Amount to be             Offering Price          Aggregate Offering         Amount of
to be Registered                Registered (1)           Per Share (2)           Price (2)                  Registration Fee
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>                      <C>                     <C>                       <C>
Common Stock,                   3,800,000 shares         $26.81                  $101,878,000.00           $35,130.34
$.01 par value per share
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1)  This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
Common Stock which become issuable under Stock Option Plan F by reason of any
stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction
effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in
the number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee.
Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the calculation of the registration fee is based on the
average of the high and low sales prices of the Registrant's Common Stock on
July 15, 1996, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM  3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

        The following documents, which are on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, are incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof:

        (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") on April 1, 1996;

        (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 1996, as filed with the Commission on May 15, 1996;

        (c)  The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in its
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed under Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendment
or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

        In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.


ITEM  4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

        Not applicable.

ITEM  5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

        Not applicable.

ITEM  6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

        Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a Delaware
corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision
eliminating or limiting a director's personal liability to the corporation or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty, including
conduct which could be characterized as negligence or gross negligence. The
Delaware General Corporation Law expressly provides, however, that the liability
for breaches of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or
involving intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law, the unlawful
purchase or redemption of stock or payment of unlawful dividends or the receipt
of improper personal benefits cannot be eliminated or limited in this manner.
The Delaware General Corporation Law further provides that no such provision
shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any act or omission
occurring prior to the date when such provision becomes effective. Article Nine
of the Registrant's certificate of incorporation provides that a director shall
not be liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for 

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
monetary damages forbreach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

        Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law makes provision for
the indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents against
expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts incurred in connection
with any proceeding arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation. Article VIII of the
Registrant's by-laws provides that the Registrant shall have the power to
indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents to the fullest extent
permitted by any applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

ITEM  7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

        None.

ITEM  8.  EXHIBITS.

        Item Number as per Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

        5   Opinion of Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge (including consent)
with respect to legality of the Common Stock registered hereunder (filed
herewith).

        23  Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP (filed herewith).

ITEM  9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

       (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:


            (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

                  (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
            of the Securities Act of 1933;

                  (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
            arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or
            the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
            individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in
            the information set forth in the registration statement;

                  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
            plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
            statement or any material change to such information in the
            registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs a(1)(i) and a(1)(ii) do not apply if the
- --------  -------                                                          
registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
            (2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

       (b)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

       (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City or Fairfax, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, on this
18th day of July, 1996.

                                 AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS,
                                   INCORPORATED
                                 a Delaware corporation
                                 (Registrant)
 
  
                                By: /s/ Philip M. Giuntini
                                    ----------------------
                                    Philip M. Giuntini
                                    President

 
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

 
    Signature                         Title                       Date
    ---------                         -----                       ----     
 
 
/s/ Paul A. Brands           Chief Executive Officer             7/18/96
- ---------------------     (Principal Executive Officer) 
Paul A. Brands                           
                                                                          
 
/s/ Frank A. Nicolai         Secretary and Treasurer             7/18/96
- --------------------      (Principal Financial Officer)
Frank A. Nicolai                         

   
/s/ James E. Marshall              Controller
- ---------------------     (Principal Accounting Officer)         7/18/96
James E. Marshall                             
 
 
/s/ Daniel J. Altobello              Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Daniel J. Altobello                           

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
    Signature                         Title                       Date
    ---------                         -----                       ----     
 
 
 
/s/ Paul A. Brands                   Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Paul A. Brands
 
 
/s/ James J. Forese                  Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------        
James J. Forese
 

/s/ Philip M. Giuntini               Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Philip M. Giuntini                             
 

/s/ Patrick W. Gross                 Director                    7/18/96 
- -----------------------------        
Patrick W. Gross
 
 
/s/ Dorothy Leonard-Barton           Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Dorothy Leonard-Barton
 
 
/s/ W. Walker Lewis
- -----------------------------        Director                    7/18/96
W. Walker Lewis


/s/ Frederic V. Malek                Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Frederic V. Malek

 
/s/ Frank A. Nicolai                 Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Frank A. Nicolai                               
 
 
/s/ Charles O. Rossotti              Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Charles O. Rossotti        

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



              Exhibit                                 
              Number              Description
              ------              -----------

                5              Opinion of Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge
                               (including consent) with respect to legality


                23             Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP

                                      -7-
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15515}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0000310624", "assigned-sic": "7370", "irs-number": "540856778", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-08371", "film-number": "96596380"}, "business-address": {"street1": "4050 LEGATO RD", "city": "FAIRFAX", "state": "VA", "zip": "22033", "phone": "7032678000"}}
________________________________________________________________________________

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                          ___________________________

                                   FORM S-8
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          ___________________________

                  AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS,  INCORPORATED
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
                          ___________________________

Delaware                                                     54-0856778
(State or Other Jurisdiction                                 (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Organization)                            Identification No.)
 
                 4050 Legato Road, Fairfax, Virginia  22033   
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
     
                          ___________________________
 
                   AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
                              STOCK OPTION PLAN F
                           ( Full Title of the Plan)

                          ___________________________
                          

                              Philip M. Giuntini
                                   President
                   American Management Systems, Incorporated
                               4000 Legato Road
                           Fairfax, Virginia  22033
                    (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                (703) 267-5405
         (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                                  Copies to:
                             Denise R. Cade, Esq.
                       Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge
                              2300 N Street, N.W.
                            Washington, D.C.  20037
 

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Proposed Maximum        Proposed Maximum
Title of Securities             Amount to be             Offering Price          Aggregate Offering         Amount of
to be Registered                Registered (1)           Per Share (2)           Price (2)                  Registration Fee
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,                   3,800,000 shares         $26.81                  $101,878,000.00           $35,130.34
$.01 par value per share
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)  This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
Common Stock which become issuable under Stock Option Plan F by reason of any
stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction
effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in
the number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee.
Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the calculation of the registration fee is based on the
average of the high and low sales prices of the Registrant's Common Stock on
July 15, 1996, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM  3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

        The following documents, which are on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, are incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof:

        (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") on April 1, 1996;

        (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 1996, as filed with the Commission on May 15, 1996;

        (c)  The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in its
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed under Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendment
or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

        In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM  4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

        Not applicable.

ITEM  5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

        Not applicable.

ITEM  6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

        Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a Delaware
corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision
eliminating or limiting a director's personal liability to the corporation or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty, including
conduct which could be characterized as negligence or gross negligence. The
Delaware General Corporation Law expressly provides, however, that the liability
for breaches of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or
involving intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law, the unlawful
purchase or redemption of stock or payment of unlawful dividends or the receipt
of improper personal benefits cannot be eliminated or limited in this manner.
The Delaware General Corporation Law further provides that no such provision
shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any act or omission
occurring prior to the date when such provision becomes effective. Article Nine
of the Registrant's certificate of incorporation provides that a director shall
not be liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for 

                                      -2-
monetary damages forbreach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

        Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law makes provision for
the indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents against
expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts incurred in connection
with any proceeding arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation. Article VIII of the
Registrant's by-laws provides that the Registrant shall have the power to
indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents to the fullest extent
permitted by any applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

ITEM  7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

        None.

ITEM  8.  EXHIBITS.

        Item Number as per Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

        5   Opinion of Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge (including consent)
with respect to legality of the Common Stock registered hereunder (filed
herewith).

        23  Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP (filed herewith).

ITEM  9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

       (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

                  (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
            of the Securities Act of 1933;

                  (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
            arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or
            the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
            individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in
            the information set forth in the registration statement;

                  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
            plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
            statement or any material change to such information in the
            registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs a(1)(i) and a(1)(ii) do not apply if the
- --------  -------                                                          
registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

                                      -3-
(2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

       (b)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

       (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      -4-
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City or Fairfax, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, on this
18th day of July, 1996.

                                 AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS,
                                   INCORPORATED
                                 a Delaware corporation
                                 (Registrant)
 
  
                                By: /s/ Philip M. Giuntini
                                    ----------------------
                                    Philip M. Giuntini
                                    President

 
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

 
    Signature                         Title                       Date
    ---------                         -----                       ----     
 
 
/s/ Paul A. Brands           Chief Executive Officer             7/18/96
- ---------------------     (Principal Executive Officer) 
Paul A. Brands                           
                                                                          
 
/s/ Frank A. Nicolai         Secretary and Treasurer             7/18/96
- --------------------      (Principal Financial Officer)
Frank A. Nicolai                         

   
/s/ James E. Marshall              Controller
- ---------------------     (Principal Accounting Officer)         7/18/96
James E. Marshall                             
 
 
/s/ Daniel J. Altobello              Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Daniel J. Altobello                           

                                      -5-
Signature                         Title                       Date
    ---------                         -----                       ----     
 
 
 
/s/ Paul A. Brands                   Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Paul A. Brands
 
 
/s/ James J. Forese                  Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------        
James J. Forese
 

/s/ Philip M. Giuntini               Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Philip M. Giuntini                             
 

/s/ Patrick W. Gross                 Director                    7/18/96 
- -----------------------------        
Patrick W. Gross
 
 
/s/ Dorothy Leonard-Barton           Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Dorothy Leonard-Barton
 
 
/s/ W. Walker Lewis
- -----------------------------        Director                    7/18/96
W. Walker Lewis

/s/ Frederic V. Malek                Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Frederic V. Malek

 
/s/ Frank A. Nicolai                 Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Frank A. Nicolai                               
 
 
/s/ Charles O. Rossotti              Director                    7/18/96
- -----------------------------
Charles O. Rossotti        

                                      -6-
EXHIBIT INDEX

              Exhibit                                 
              Number              Description
              ------              -----------

                5              Opinion of Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge
                               (including consent) with respect to legality

                23             Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP

                                      -7-