Department of Architecture | American University of Sharjah
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College of Architecture, Art and Design Department of Architecture

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This is an ideal time to study architecture and interior design. The 21st Century challenges us to look for new alternatives to shape our environment.
Jason Carlow

The Department of Architecture is home to a vibrant community of aspiring architecture and interior design students studying within the dynamic context of the UAE. Our distinguished faculty of accomplished architects, designers and scholars from around the world contribute to making the department a center for academic excellence in the heart of the Middle East. With a commitment to nurturing talent, fostering critical thinking and pushing the boundaries of design, the department provides a stimulating and rigorous learning environment in each of our two degree programs. 


The department has established a reputation as a leader in design education in the region, with AUS ranking number one in the UAE and among the top 200 universities globally for architecture and the built environment. Our architecture and interior design programs stand out for their integration of hands-on learning, enabling students to understand the foundations of design with the opportunity to explore through the act of making. Design-build studio projects and a host of elective courses focused on fabrication and craft allow architecture and interior design students to understand how materials are shaped and assembled into built form. Open studio spaces, state-of-the-art workshops, and cutting-edge technology form an ecosystem for experimentation and innovation.


Our design curricula are complemented by a liberal arts education. General education courses and electives offered by the four colleges across the university provide our architects and designers with important critical thinking skills. Several international study and travel opportunities form additional components of a comprehensive education that enable our students to broaden their interests and horizons beyond the design disciplines.


Students from AUS are sought after by the top firms in the region and are regularly admitted to top graduate programs around the globe.  The Department of Architecture is dedicated to producing highly skilled and critically thoughtful design leaders who are well equipped to positively impact the built environment and successfully navigate the challenges of the 21st century.


 

News

AUS Alumna Mariam Jacob earns multiple awards at Columbia University: Bridging academia, research and speculative practice

American University of Sharjah (AUS) alumna Mariam Jacob has been appointed Assistant Director of Academic Affairs at Columbia University's Graduate School of...
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AUS architecture student team honored at 2024 SARA NY Design Awards

Fifth-year architecture students Afreen Saheed, Asfar Ameer Deen and Ajay Sunil from American University of Sharjah (AUS) received recognition at the 2024 SARA...
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Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2024 winners announced

First published in The National : July 30, 2024 By Maan Jalal Image caption: Artists Sara Farha and Khaled Shalkha have won this year’s Christo and Jeanne-...
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American University of Sharjah: Shaping the future of design

With Sharjah’s vibrant cultural scene as a backdrop, the American University of Sharjah (AUS) College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) nurtures creative...
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Transcending mundanity: AUS alumni featured at Art Jameel’s talent development program 

Depicting personal experiences across times, locations and ideas, four American University of Sharjah (AUS) alumni were selected for Art Jameel’s fourth annual...
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Maryam Mudhaffar

Masters of Architectural History,from the Bartlett UCL

Ever since I joined AUS in 2007, architecture and design have become an integral part of my life both as an academic and a professional.  My undergraduate education has allowed me to explore and engage with the socio-cultural, political and economic factors that shape the contextual frameworks in which conceptual and tangible manifestations are materialized in the Gulf – it fundamentally developed my creativity as a designer and my curiosity as a researcher.

Bachelor of Architecture
College of Architecture, Art and Design

Khalda El Jack

There's so much I've learned from AUS that has helped facilitate my growth and set the stepping stones for everything I've learned after. Post graduation, I've learned that there's so much more to learn and experience outside of comfort zones and realms in which we are used to occupying. Make it a point to continuously search and experiment with experiences to find where it is your heart will settle.

Bachelor of Architecture
College of Architecture, Art and Design

Dunia Abu Shanab

MArch II - UC Berkeley

The architecture program at AUS gave me the opportunity to be mentored by successful professionals while developing my skill set and preparing me for the industry. Being at AUS has not only taught me how to excel at my career but also taught me to love what I do and discover myself through it. The contacts I have made and experiences I have had will serve as valuable resources throughout my professional and academic career.

Bachelor of Architecture
College of Architecture, Art and Design

Naji Mahmoud

The generous support from faculty, and the solid design foundation we were equipped with at AUS  prepared us to be global designers who are ready to work for the world's leading design practices. The confidence and determination I developed while studying at AUS helped me to get closer to my aspirations and led me to run my own architectural practice. Although I graduated a number of years ago, I know this will not be the last of my association with this outstanding school.

Bachelor of Architecture
College of Architecture, Art and Design

Amin Alsaden

PhD Candidate, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University

The lasting impact of AUS stems from the fact that, for me, it was a place and period of exploration, which perhaps reflected the early experience of the young institution. Guided while expected to go astray, we were inspired by instructors who combined the rigor of higher education and specificity of the discipline with the open-endedness and vast exposure afforded by liberal education. Aside from the theoretical and practical tools we acquired, this was a time of immense personal transformation and growth that impressed upon students the imperative of expecting more from ourselves, and from the world.

Bachelor of Architecture
College of Architecture, Art and Design

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