Graduate Studies

Director
Judith Killen

The American University of Sharjah is a center for high-quality graduate education and research as well as a resource for sustainable development and advancement for the Gulf region and internationally. Students in AUS graduate programs find career advancement opportunities and personal enrichment. These programs foster a stimulating intellectual environment of collaborative research and intellectual exchange. The university’s cross disciplinary graduate courses and specialized degree programs attract excellent students who pursue creative and original work under the guidance of highly qualified, dedicated faculty members recruited from the most prestigious universities in the United States, Canada and internationally. Facilities and laboratories are state-of-the-art.

Programs of Graduate Studies

The Office of Graduate Studies and Research oversees the development and implementation of graduate academic policies and of graduaterelated activities on campus. AUS currently offers six programs of graduate studies leading to the master’s degree. These are:

College of Arts and Sciences

• Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• Master of Arts in English/Arabic/English Translation and Interpreting

School of Architecture and Design

• Master of Urban Planning

School of Business and Management

• Master of Business Administration

College of Engineering

• Master of Science in Engineering Systems Management
• Master of Science in Mechatronics Engineering

Graduate Admission Policies and Procedures

Admission to all AUS graduate programs is processed through the Office of Enrollment Management. Applicants should address all inquiries, requests for application forms and correspondence to:

To apply to a graduate program at AUS, applicants must:

• complete the official graduate application form available from the Office of Enrollment Management or through the AUS website
• pay application fees (UAE Dirhams 200)
• submit official transcripts to the Office of Enrollment Management
• submit official TOEFL scores to the Office of Enrollment Management
• meet all program-specific requirements as listed on the application form

Incomplete applications are not processed.

Upon receiving a complete application, the Office of Enrollment Management determines if the applicant meets the minimum university requirements. If the applicant meets such requirements, graduate admission committees within each program will review applications and make recommendations for admission. Applicants must satisfy both general university requirements and program-specific admission criteria for graduate study. The Office of Enrollment Management will notify the applicant of the university’s final decision.

Application Deadlines

Applicants must submit completed application forms and all supporting documents to the Office of Enrollment Management by the following dates:

Applications received after these deadlines will be considered based on seat availability. Admission is only valid for the semester a candidate has applied. If applicants do not enroll in the semester for which they have been accepted, applicants may request that their admission be deferred to the following semester. This request should be in writing and submitted to the Office of Enrollment Management.

University Requirements for Graduate Admission

Eligibility

To be considered for admission, all applicants must meet general university requirements for graduate admission. Some graduate programs have additional requirements. For program-specific requirements, consult the pertinent degree program listing in this catalog.

Full Admission

For full admission to a graduate degree program at AUS, an applicant must:

• hold a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited university recognized by AUS
• have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.75 (on a scale of 4.00) or its equivalent, and 3.00 or its equivalent in 300- and 400- level courses in discipline(s) relevant to the graduate program
• have attained a minimum International TOEFL score of 197 (530). Translation and TESOL programs require an International TOEFL score of 213 (550). The TESOL program also requires a TWE (Test of Written English) score of 5.

Some programs may require satisfactory performance on specific entry examinations. Please refer to the program descriptions in this catalog for particular requirements.

Special Admission

Special admission to a graduate program is granted to applicants who meet the following minimum requirements:

• four-year bachelor’s degree from an independently accredited university recognized by AUS
• minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 (on a scale of 4.00) or its equivalent and a 2.75 or its equivalent in 300- and 400- level courses in discipline(s) relevant to the graduate program
• International TOEFL score of 180 (510) or 197 (530) depending on degree program

To be accorded full admission into a graduate program, a special admission student must:

• achieve before the beginning of the second semester a minimum International TOEFL score of 197 (530) or 213 (550) depending on major
• have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in their first five graduate courses. Special admission may also be granted to applicants for the TESOL and translation graduate degrees. Please refer to the program descriptions in this catalog for particular requirements

Note: Each graduate program may assign undergraduate prerequisite courses and/or specially tailored courses for special admission students. Credits from these courses do not satisfy credit requirements for completing the graduate degree and are not used to calculate the graduate cumulative GPA.

Visiting Students Admission

Students may enroll as visiting graduate students at AUS for credit transfer to their home universities. To be admitted as a visiting graduate student, a student must be enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited institution, be in good academic standing in his/her current institution and meet the admission requirements of the program she/he intends to join. Requests for visiting student admission are submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Students are admitted as visiting students for a maximum of one academic year only, and are responsible for determining that AUS credits are transferable to their home institutions. Standard graduate tuition rates apply.

Non-degree Admissions

Non-degree graduate students are those who wish to take AUS courses for academic credit but who do not seek a master’s degree. Students are admitted to AUS with non degree status if they meet requirements for full or special graduate admission. Complete applications should be submitted to the Office of Enrollment Management. Standard graduate tuition rates apply.

Change of Status

Students may request a change of status (from non-degree to degree status, or from visiting to degree status) by submitting a complete application to the Office of Enrollment Management. Credits taken while under non-degree status may be accepted with the approval of the graduate program director. All academic regulations applicable to degree students apply retroactively, and standard graduate tuition rates apply.

Transfer Credit Policy

A graduate student may transfer up to nine graduate credits from a recognized graduate school at an accredited university to his/her program of study at AUS, depending upon program specific rules and regulations. Such transfer credits must meet all of the following criteria:

1. The course work must:
   • be offered by an accredited institution
   • be applied toward a graduate degree at the host institution and taken for graduate credit
   • be approved by the graduate program director and in consultation with appropriate faculty
   • not have been used to earn another degree
   • not have been taken more than five years prior to entering a graduate program at AUS. (Some programs have more stringent time limitations on transfer credits. Consult individual program descriptions and the graduate program director for regulations.)
2. The student must have earned a grade of B or higher for 400-level or 500- level courses or other courses restricted to graduate students only.

Transfer credit will not be accepted for research and thesis/dissertation hours, travel experience or work/life experience. Applicants must request that credit transfers be reviewed at the time of application.

Course Auditing

Students wishing to attend a graduate course without receiving academic credit may apply to audit a course. However, audit students do not sit for final examinations and do not receive credit or any university certificate of completion. Permission to audit a course is granted as seats are available. Audit students do not register for courses until degree students have been enrolled. To audit a graduate course, students must meet the requirements for full admission. Registration for audits is done through the Office of the Registrar, given the approval of the course instructor and graduate program director. Regular graduate tuition rates apply.

Financial Assistance

Some work-study opportunities are available for qualified students. Refer to the director of graduate studies and the graduate program directors for details.

Graduate Academic Regulations and Policies

Student Responsibility

All official university communications are distributed through the AUS-issued e-mail address. These are considered official notifications. Students are responsible for checking their AUS email accounts and for responding to or acting upon messages accordingly. Students should keep their own records of all transactions with the university (e.g., registration schedules and forms, grade reports, payment records, etc.). It is also advisable to keep copies of all tests, digital files, papers and so forth submitted in fulfillment of course work.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity lies at the heart of intellectual life. The academic integrity code for the American University of Sharjah describes standards for academic conduct, students’ rights and responsibilities as members of an academic community, and procedures for handling allegations of academic dishonesty. As an institution of higher education, the American University of Sharjah views academic integrity as an educational and judicial issue. The full text of the AUS Student Academic Integrity Code is included in the Graduate Student Handbook.

Academic Load

The normal academic load for a fulltime graduate student is nine credit hours per semester. The graduate program director may register a student for up to 12 hours per semester. See descriptions of individual degrees for program-specific restrictions.

Grading System

Final grades are recorded on each student’s permanent record in the Office of the Registrar. Grades may not be removed from the record. A minimum passing grade of C is required for each course. Normally, graduate students who receive an F in a graduate course will not be allowed to continue in the program. AUS uses the following grading system for all graduate courses:

Grades not calculated in the grade point average are:

• I Incomplete
• IP In Progress
• AUD Audit
• EX Exempt; no credit
• TR Transfer; credit counted
• W Withdrawal
• N No Grade
• P Pass; credit counted
• AW Non-Academic Administrative Withdrawal

Incomplete Work

In emergency circumstances, a student may request permission from the course instructor and graduate program director to complete a course in the following semester. A grade of I (incomplete) is assigned for the course. Students must complete the course before the end of the following semester. Otherwise, a tentative grade estimated on the basis of work already completed may be recorded. Failure to complete the course within the following semester may result in the grade being recorded as F unless a tentative grade has been previously reported.

Graduate Probation Policy

Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 (B) grade point average in all course work taken for graduate credit at AUS and must meet any additional academic requirements imposed by their specific graduate program of study. Normally, graduate students who receive an F in a graduate course will not be allowed to continue in the program. If a graduate student’s cumulative GPA is below 3.0, the student is placed on academic probation. During probation status, the following conditions apply:

• A graduate student on probation who is not restored to good academic standing by the end of the regular semester following the term in which the cumulative GPA fell below 3.0 will be dismissed from the university.
• A graduate student on probation may not register for more than six credit hours.
• A graduate student on probation cannot register for thesis or final project credit hours until a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is achieved.

In the case of ineligibility to continue in the graduate program as a result of academic probation, a graduate student may petition for re-enrollment in the program to the director of the graduate program. Petitions will be reviewed by the director, who will make a written recommendation first to the appropriate dean and then to the Director of Graduate Studies and Research. The final decision will be made in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and Research.

Repeating Courses

With the recommendation of the program director and the approval of the approriate dean, a graduate student may be allowed to repeat any course in which a grade of B-, C+ or C is received. The original grade and the new grade will appear in the transcript, but only the new grade will be calculated into the GPA. No course may be repeated more then once.

Time Limits on Duration of Study and Degree Credit

Students must complete their program requirements within five years from first enrollment in their graduate programs at AUS. Students must register for at least three semesters to obtain a master’s degree from AUS. In addition, credit more than five years old at the time of graduation may not be counted toward the fulfillment of a graduate degree program.

Registration

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for overseeing the registration process and maintaining students’ records. Students must register in a course prior to attending classes. It is the responsibility of the individual student to monitor his/her registration status. This is possible by accessing his/her records through the AUS website. Registering after the designated date will require a late registration fee of Dhs. 400.

Add/Drop Procedures and Withdrawal Policies

The add/drop period for each term is announced by the Office of the Registrar and posted on the academic calendar. Students wishing to add or drop courses should first obtain the appropriate form from their graduate programs and have it approved by their advisors. Students must add and/or drop courses through the Office of the Registrar during the add/drop period. These changes in courses are not recorded in the student’s transcript. Students may withdraw from courses without academic penalty by a date established by the Office of the Registrar. A grade of W will be assigned to these courses. Students who withdraw from courses after this deadline receive a grade of WF for those courses.

Students may choose to withdraw from the university. Students unable to complete a semester should acquire a withdrawal form from the Office of the Registrar, obtain signatures as indicated on the form and return the completed form to the Office of the Registrar. Courses will be assigned the grade of W or WF. No academic credit is given for these courses.

Permanent Record

A permanent record reflecting each student’s academic achievement and history at AUS is maintained in the Office of the Registrar. All students have the right to:

• inspect and review information contained in their permanent educational records
• request changes or updates to their personal data
• consent to disclosure of, within the extent of UAE federal and local laws, personally identifiable information from education records

All student transcripts and other documents submitted to AUS by and on behalf of other institutions remain the property of AUS, and are maintained in the Office of the Registrar. Students may obtain transcripts of their AUS academic records by submitting a written request to the Office of the Registrar. AUS issues complete transcripts only.

Continuous Enrollment

Students are expected to maintain a continuous enrollment (fall and spring semesters) until they complete their program. If a student cannot attend a particular semester, it is expected that he/she will enroll in the matriculation course (XXX 693) to maintain an active status in the program. Tuition charged is equivalent to one graduate credit.

Readmission to the University

Students who withdraw from AUS can apply for readmission. A student who has withdrawn in good standing and after an absence of no more than one semester may apply for readmission through the Office of the Registrar. A re-instatement fee of Dhs. 1,000 applies. Students who have been absent from the university for more than one semester or who were not in good standing should re-apply for admission through the Office of Enrollment Management before the announced deadlines. The applicant must meet all current admission requirements. Readmission is not granted automatically.

Graduation

Candidates for degrees file an Application for Graduation form in the Office of the Registrar during the registration period of the last expected term of study. Only after an application for graduation has been filed can the Office of the Registrar begin processing the necessary information for final certification for graduation. Only students who have successfully completed degree requirements and have no holds by the end of the term for which they have applied to graduate are certified for conferral of a degree. Degrees are conferred at the end of the semester in which requirements have been met. Conferral of the degree is noted on the permanent record of the graduate with the date of graduation. Students who fail to complete all degree requirements by the end of the term for which they apply to graduate need not reapply for graduation. Their previous application will be automatically forwarded to the following semester.

Participation in the Commencement Exercises

Normally, the university holds commencement exercises at the end of the spring semester. Students who have been certified for conferral of a degree in a previous semester may participate in commencement. Students registered at the 11th week for courses necessary to complete their degrees may participate in commencement at the end of that semester if they have successfully defended their thesis/final project (if required).

Graduate Certificates

Graduate programs at AUS may award graduate certificates after students have achieved 15 graduate hours. Directors of the specific graduate programs can provide more information on graduate certificates.

Degree Requirements

Students are governed by the following minimum requirements for the master’s degree. Each specific degree program has further requirements that are detailed in the graduate program descriptions of this catalog. Caution: The course offerings and requirements of the American University of Sharjah are under continual examination and revision for improvement. This catalog is not a contract; it merely presents the offerings and requirements in effect at the time of publication and in no way guarantees that the offerings and requirements will not change. The university specifically reserves the right to change requirements for any graduate degree during any particular year. The student assumes full responsibility for compliance with all academic requirements. The graduation requirements for any individual student are determined either by the catalog that was effective when the student began graduate studies or the catalog effective for the academic year when the student graduates. In case of major changes in course offerings, equivalent graduation requirements are determined by the dean.

Thesis or Final Project

Some master’s degree programs have a thesis requirement, and some have a thesis or final project option. Master’s theses or final master’s project reports are the final reports on research conducted by AUS graduate students under the guidance and supervision of AUS faculty members. They are the culmination of the student’s program of study and are expected to reflect appropriate scholarly depth and rigor—in many cases resulting in new publications. Theses and final projects are defended publically. The Office of Graduate Studies and Research, in collaboration with the Graduate Program Council, establishes and oversees the regulations and requirements for theses and final projects at AUS. Degree candidates are responsible for familiarizing themselves with and adhering to the standards and regulations of the latest edition of the AUS Guide to Formatting Graduate Theses. This manual is available from the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.

It is AUS policy to preserve master’s theses in the AUS Archives and also to make theses available to other students and scholars. The AUS Library is responsible for the archiving and binding of the master’s thesis. A thesis processing and binding fee of Dhs. 500 applies. Detailed procedures and requirements for submitting master’s theses to the AUS Library and Archives for binding are outlined in the AUS Guide to Formatting Graduate Theses.

Advising

Each graduate student is assigned an academic advisor. Students are required to consult with their advisor on issues regarding degree requirements, policies and procedures. Some programs require that students have a graduate advisory committee, which has specific responsibilities identified by each graduate program in accordance with university policy.

Academic Petitions, Appeals and Grievances Graduate

students may petition the Director of Graduate Studies and Research for exceptions to academic policies of the university or in cases of academic grievances. Petitions are received by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research through the appropriate channels, which include an initial discussion with the involved faculty member. Then, if the issue or grievance is not resolved, the student should next contact the graduate program director and then the dean or dean’s designee. Students who wish to petition the Office of Graduate Studies and Research should first consult with the graduate director of their program of study to determine if a petition is actually required. A full description of the procedures is listed in the Graduate Student Handbook.

Graduate Programs