Department of architecture

Architecture

Architecture encompasses designing, creating and developing forms and spaces for buildings that inspire, cultivate and satisfy human needs and aspirations. It is concerned with inquiry into principles and applications of technology, art, humanities, engineering, physical and social sciences, business and management.

The Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) degree is intended for the student seeking a professional career in architecture. The program entails five years of university studies plus professional training.

The curriculum is designed to meet the requirements for licensure that prevail in the United Arab Emirates, and to prepare the graduate for professional practice throughout the region.

The curriculum also aims to meet or exceed established international accreditation criteria.

Curriculum and Courses

Detailed information on the program and course descriptions can be found in the online version of the university catalog.

Accreditation

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit US professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its ability to meet the NAAB Conditions for Accreditation. American University of Sharjah officially announced its intention to seek accreditation for its professional degree program in architecture in November 2007.

Institutions seeking initial accreditation for a degree program must first be granted candidacy status by the NAAB. In order to achieve candidacy, the program must submit an Architecture Program Report (APR), a copy of the most recent decision from the recognized regional accrediting body for the institution (in this case, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools) and be visited by a team appointed by the NAAB. The NAAB team visited the university to review the Bachelor of Architecture program in May 2008 and the NAAB Board of Directors granted the Bachelor of Architecture program candidacy status in November 2008.
The APR for initial accreditation was submitted in September 2009 and the NAAB board approved the initial accreditation visit in November 2009. The visit will take place in February 2010.