Department of Architecture | American University of Sharjah

Department head's message

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

CAAD professor’s collaborative research on 3D photogrammetry wins prize

By embarking on a journey into overlooked narratives and revealing concealed dimensions of historic structures, the collaborative research by Dr. Joseph Graham...
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Athath Fellowship: AUS x MAKE collaboration merging creativity with entrepreneurship

The third edition of the Athath Fellowship, offered collaboratively by American University of Sharjah (AUS) and MAKE, continues redefining traditional design...
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Crossing boundaries: AUS' Christianna Bonin curates Art Dubai Modern

American University of Sharjah’s Dr. Christianna Bonin, Assistant Professor of Art History and Theory in the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), is...
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AUS professor, NPUAE curator presents sustainable possibilities for architecture in arid environments

With the conclusion of the 18th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale in November 2023, Faysal Tabbarah, Associate Dean of the College...
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Studio 25 wins three international awards, transforming design education at AUS College of Architecture, Art, and Design

In the heart of the American University of Sharjah (AUS) College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), a cutting-edge renovation project took shape over the...
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Events

20
Mar

Exhibition: Proto-Pieces

CAAD Gallery (AD1-123)
March 20, 2024
17:00 - 17:00
Free
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17
Apr

Urban Interiorities & Interior Designing

CAAD AD1-102
April 17, 2024
17:00 - 17:00
Free
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23
Apr

AUS Ed Talks: An Author Talk with Dr. Kristen Highland and Bookends

IC1, library Classroom, Ground Floor
April 23, 2024
16:00 - 17:00
Free
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08
Jun

Spring 2024 Commencement

University City Hall
June 8, 2024
10:00 - 10:00
Invitation Only
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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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