Department of International Studies

Sharjah’s history as an important trading center and meeting place of many cultures, and the UAE's cosmopolitan life make American University of Sharjah an especially appropriate place for international studies. The interdisciplinary program in international studies offers students a unique opportunity to prepare for an increasingly complex global political and business environment or to solidify their academic training and mental agility for graduate school.

Like the ancient fishing net makers of the Gulf, we weave together strands from all the social sciences and many of the humanities, as well as from professional fields like international law. These form a coherent program, rooting students in their time and place and empowering them to handle the nuanced society of life in the contemporary world. More than anything, we form global citizens who are faithful to people and sensitive to culture's benefits.

The international studies curriculum assists students in acquiring a broad understanding of world cultures and events. We have specialized study in the international relations, international economics, Arab studies and Western studies concentrations, and minors in international relations, governmental studies, psychology, American studies and philosophy.

Why is an IS course of study useful?

We live in a world where much professional information is outdated quickly. Companies increasingly teach you on the job how they want you to be. What few companies can teach if you don't already have it, and what is always useful even when information fades, are the abilities to problem solve creatively and to understand the historical depth and social complexity of life. This is why graduates from international studies—whether majors or minors—do well upon leaving AUS. They can think on their feet, and they understand the big picture and the oblique angles of society. They have vision and a sense of social conscience (or dhameer). In the Department of International Studies, we understand that without these, no profession is either sustainable or worthwhile as a legacy. With these, a graduate can steadily become a leader in almost any walk of life. 

In our time so far, we have produced students who have gone on to work in the governmental sector, international business, and in international agencies. Our placement record is strong and is available from the Department on request. Increasingly, many of our graduates go on to graduate studies at some of the most prestigious institutions in the United States, Canada, France and England.