Department Head's Message

We began this academic year (2006-2007) with the announcement of our accreditation by ABET. This is the culmination of several years’ work to define our program by the high standards expected by both ABET and our faculty. These high standards are also demanded by our students and their families. We have already seen the results of these efforts; AUS chemical engineering alumni are even now establishing a solid reputation for our program worldwide.

This year is also marked by the continued growth of the Department of Chemical Engineering. To keep up with increasing student numbers, we have added three top-notch faculty to our department. Each brings a unique perspective on applying chemical engineering skills to real-world problems.

One happy circumstance that is occurring along with our growing enrollment is a corresponding increase in the caliber of our students. In line with their expectations, we have implemented a few changes to our program, such as the early integration of modern computational tools into the curriculum. Students will be introduced to chemical engineering software in the sophomore year, and will use it in tandem with hand-calculations throughout their junior and senior years. This will provide the students with a solid foundation in theory and classical methods, as well as in modern solution techniques. Our faculty continue to monitor trends in the field of chemical engineering, and to evaluate our curriculum. The result is a program tailored to the requirements of students at the American University of Sharjah.

Dana Stevenson-Abouelnasr, PhD
Department Head