Welcome to the Department of International Studies at American University of Sharjah. Located in Sharjah, the cultural capital of the Arab world, our department provides an ideal vantage point for students to engage in multidisciplinary approaches to understand the complex political, economic, social, and cultural conditions in the region and beyond. Our mission is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a rapidly-changing world and to become responsible, active global citizens.
Over the last two decades, our department has grown into one of the largest departments in the College of Arts and Sciences in terms of student enrollment and the size of the faculty. It is home to six disciplines—political science, history, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and psychology, and more than 20 highly qualified teacher-scholars with degrees from some of the worlds’ top universities. The growth of our department reflects the increasing popularity of the fields of international studies and psychology in the region and the success of our alumni.
Through our two undergraduate majors (BA in International Studies and BA in Psychology) and six minors (history, international studies, middle eastern studies, philosophy, psychology, and women’s studies), our students gain a deep understanding of international relations, politics, development, cultures, human behaviors, and history of the changing Middle East and beyond. We also train our students in a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods and help them understand the fundamentals of social theories.
Our department is well known for being a vibrant academic community that encourages interaction between students and faculty. Students have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of extracurricular activities. The International Studies Student Association (INSA) hosts a variety of engaging events throughout the year, including guest lectures, movie nights, field trips, annual conferences, and end-of-semester dinners for graduating seniors. A student journal, INSpire, publishes the best student work each year. The AUS Model United Nations (AUSMUN) is the department’s most well-known activity and has made a huge impact on the student organizers and attendees since it was founded in 2007. Our faculty has also supported student participation in the Jessup Moot Court competitions both regionally and globally.
We continue to expand our course offerings to allow students to explore the complex and dynamic social worlds. Students take a wide range of introductory courses and a challenging series of upper-division classes that include such topics as international security, international organizations, environmental sociology, disease and disaster, political economy of the Arab world, and fascism and the populist right.
Being part of a leading university in the Arab world, our department prepares students for different and exciting career paths, including graduate studies, positions in government and non-government organizations, the media industry, and innovative businesses. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, both our students and faculty have remained resilient. We continue to strengthen our globally-oriented programs and create an inclusive learning environment.
We invite you to explore our web page and get in touch with us to learn more about our programs.
Yuting Wang, PhD
Professor of Sociology and Head of Department
