City Information
Population 890,669
Adjacent to Dubai, Sharjah is the third largest of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Formed in 1971, the federation comprises the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. The UAE is located on the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered to the south and west by Saudi Arabia and to the east by the Sultanate of Oman. Like its neighbor Qatar, the UAE has one of the strongest economies in the region and the world. The Emirates of the UAE have made great strides in reinvesting their wealth with an eye toward economic and environmental sustainability.
Sharjah is known as the “Cultural Capital of the UAE,” and has quite a lively history itself. Uniquely located on world trade routes and the only Emirate with direct access to both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, Sharjah has developed from a small trading town, relying on fishing and pearl diving, to one of the most modern, dynamic commercial and trade centers in the region.
Program Information
Students may study an unfamiliar culture in a familiar setting through API at the American University of Sharjah (AUS). AUS was founded in 1997 and is consciously based upon the American system of higher education. The beautiful campus has been described by many as the “jewel of Sharjah” and is itself a must-see destination for tourists and dignitaries alike. Thoroughly grounded in Arab culture, AUS is a leading comprehensive coeducational university in the Gulf, serving students from the region and around the world.
AUS is accredited in the U.S. by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and is licensed in the United States by the Department of Education of the State of Delaware. The university is also licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and all undergraduate and graduate programs have been awarded either full or initial accreditation. The School of Business is AACSB accredited, and all six of the bachelor’s degree programs in the AUS College of Engineering are ABET accredited.
The official language of instruction is English, and students will have the opportunity to choose from courses in Arabic language and culture, art, architecture and design, business, engineering, natural sciences, mass communications, and more.
Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about a critical language and culture in one of the most dynamic nations in the world!
Program Highlights
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Courses in English and Arabic
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Courses with UAE and international students
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Housing: student dorms
Requirements
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Minimum 2.75 G.P.A.
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Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors only
Academic Program
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS SEMESTER
12-16 Semester Credits
Additional courses may be taken for an additional fee.
API students at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) choose from a range of undergraduate classes open to Emirati and international students.
AUS awards credit in similar fashion to most U.S. universities. Students generally take 4-5 classes in order to receive 12-16 credit hours per semester. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they are enrolled in the required amount of semester credits to meet requirements of the home university. In all departments, entrance to specific courses is subject to the approval of AUS and the completion of certain prerequisites.