American University of Sharjah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| American University of Sharjah | |
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| Established: | 1997 |
| Type: | Private |
| Chancellor: | Dr. Winfred L. Thompson |
| Faculty: | 337 |
| Staff: | 435 |
| Undergraduates: | 4,870 |
| Postgraduates: | 310 |
| Location: | Sharjah, United Arab Emirates |
| Campus: | Urban 316 acres |
| Colors: | Burgundy |
| Mascot: | Leopard |
| Website: | http://www.aus.edu/ |
The American University of Sharjah (AUS) (in Arabic: الجامعة الأميركية في الشارقة) is a coeducational higher educational institution in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, founded in 1997. Its medium of instruction is English, and it is based on American-style universities. Although, like most other "American Universities," it is not a branch of the American University in Washington, DC, USA, it does have a close affiliation with that school. Both institutions are linked by a five year contract recently renewed until 2009. The campus is located in Sharjah's university city, which incorporates a number of other universities amongst which is the University of Sharjah.
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[edit] Location
The AUS sits on the southern edge of Sharjah and is approximately fifteen kilometres from the center of the city. It therefore offers a full range of amenities: a mini mart, barbershop, full gym, a large selection of food and restaurants, and full-facility dormitories. There is a new and large student center with a number of coffee shops, restaurants, and other facilities. Its library, completed in 2006, includes a new collection of very recent books from around the world, approximately 95% of which are in English. The library is maintained with a modern digital system, with which students can have access to books from the web and borrow books with a serve-yourself system.
[edit] Undergraduate Programs at AUS
AUS is organized into four different schools with each one having several majors to choose from:
College of Arts and Sciences
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in:
- o English Language and Literature (BAELL)
- o International Studies (BAIS)
- o Mass Communication (BAMC)
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in:
- o Chemistry (BSCH)
- o Environmental Science (BSES)
- o Mathematics (BSM)
College of Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS)
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSChE)
- Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE)
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCoE)
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE)
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME)
School of Architecture and Design
- Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)
- Bachelor of Interior Design (BID)
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in:
- o Design Management (BSDM)
- o Multimedia Design (BSMD)
- o Visual Communication (BSVC)
School of Business and Management
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics (BAE)
- Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration (BAPA)
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)
- o Accounting
- o Finance
- o Management
- o Management Information Systems
- o Marketing
- Bachelor of Science in Finance (BSFIN)
- Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems (BSMIS)
[edit] Graduate Studies at AUS
AUS currently offers seven programs of graduate study leading to the master’s degree:
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- Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
- Master of Arts in English/Arabic/English Translation and Interpreting
- Master of Public Administration
- Gulf Executive Master of Public Administration (GEMPA)
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Science in Engineering Systems Management
- Master of Science in Mechatronics
- Master of Urban Planning
- Graduate Certificate in Urban Planning (GCUP)
[edit] Structure and demographics
It is organized into four main schools: Engineering, Arts and Sciences, Architecture and Design, and Business and Management. All of these schools have their own majors and studies. The American University of Sharjah aspires to be one of the best universities in the Persian Gulf region and annually receives hundreds of foreign students. Its student body consists of around 20% Emirati, another 20% from other GCC countries, around 30% from the rest of the Arab world including Jordan, Palestine, Egypt and Sudan, and the rest come from everywhere else, with significant numbers of Iranians, Indians, and Pakistanis. Its full enrollment just over 5,000 students.
[edit] Accreditation
On July 3, 2004, The American University of Sharjah (AUS) has been granted accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in the United States of America, In its final report granting the university accreditation, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, one of nine regional U.S. accrediting agencies, congratulated AUS on its excellent roster of undergraduate and graduate programs, its state-of-the-art campus facilities, its highly qualified faculty and staff, and its dynamic student body.
AUS was successful in completing the accreditation process in a relatively short period of time, a fact that was recognized and appreciated by the Commission in its report. The university began its journey toward accreditation a few years ago, becoming a candidate for accreditation in 2002 and subsequently embarking on an in-depth self-study as part of its application.
An evaluation team from the Commission visited the university in March that year. The team, which included administrators and faculty from the United States, reviewed the self-study completed by the university, visited the campus and met with faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni and employers of AUS graduates. Upon its return to the United States, the team submitted a report as well as its recommendation to the Commission for deliberation in its June meeting the campus and met with faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni and employers of AUS graduates.
On September 17th 2006, all six of the bachelor of science programs in the School of Engineering (now College of Engineering) at American University of Sharjah have been granted accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), of the United States of America. With this prestigious international accreditation, AUS has become the first university in the region and the second outside the United States to receive ABET accreditation. The other is the American University in Cairo, which offers two engineering degrees.
[edit] Chancellor Search
Dr. Winfred L. Thompson has announced his intention to resign from AUS at the end of the 2007-2008 academic year. Four chancellor candidates were short-listed to interview at AUS, and Dr. Peter Heath (formerly of Washington University and the American University of Beirut) was selected to begin serving as chancellor on August 1, 2008.
