United Arab Emirates: Business, Engineering, Arts and Sciences (CIEE)

Discover the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with CIEE study abroad. Skirting the edge of the Arabian Peninsula, the UAE allows you to study abroad where the faces of the population still reflect the ancient trade routes running east. The UAE is a true melting pot of cultures, and the CIEE program enables you to explore the concept of 'local' in a UAE context as you live alongside Emirati and other nationalities who call the country home.

The UAE is the perfect place to learn about engineering, business, the Arab world, and the global economy. Spend a semester or a year improving your Arabic language skills while exploring UAE's role as a global hub for trade, business and cultural exchange. Ponder French masterpieces at a local art museum, buy spices and dates from a vendor in the old market, take camel rides through the desert or try indoor skiing. And by enrolling at a university with students from over 80 countries, volunteering with local organizations, and interning with local companies, you'll embrace a truly immersive international experience in the UAE.

With this program, you will visit one of the tallest man-made structures on the planet, the incredible engineering feat that is the Burj Khalifa, as well as the artificial, palm-tree-shaped archipelago, the Palm Jumeirah. You'll hone your Arabic language skills, and witness the daily intersection of traditional values and modern commerce.

Study abroad on the CIEE program in Sharjah and you'll:

• Study alongside students form 80 nations at a cutting-edge university that combines traditional Gulf culture with a U.S.-style education
• Improve your Arabic language skills while exploring the UAE's role as a global hub for trade, business and cultural exchange
• Take innovative courses in social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, business, engineering, architecture, and Middle Eastern studies
• Explore the UAE through excursions to Dubai, al-Ain, and Abu Dhabi, and participate in various clubs and organizations

You will enroll directly in the American University of Sharjah (AUS), which gives you access to an extensive selection of courses in the humanities and social and natural sciences, all of which are offered in English. Interested in business and management? Enjoy a variety of specialized courses in finance, marketing, economics and accounting. From civil and chemical to computer and electrical engineering - whatever your interest, you'll find courses to suit at Sharjah. AUS is the first university overseas to secure professional accreditation in architecture by NAAB. AUS also has professional accreditation from ABET for engineering and AACSB for business.

Every semester, you'll go on excursions that illuminate your understanding of the UAE. You will alter your perspective of the world when you view the city from the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa. You may go on a trip to Al Ain Oasis, known for its underground irrigation system. Day trips around Dubai and Abu Dhabi reveal the old and the new - you'll visit the largest mosque in the UAE (Sheikh Zayed Mosque) and tour Masdar City, which will soon rely solely on solar energy and other renewable sources for power. You may travel to a neighboring country like Oman, taking boat rides in the Gulf of Oman and spending a night counting the stars in the desert after riding a camel.

CIEE helps you integrate into the local and university communities in this truly immersive study abroad experience. You will learn firsthand about Emirati culture. You will live in a residence hall with local and international students and will have many opportunities to join student clubs and organizations, and to volunteer in the area.

Credits - 4.5 for a semester (fall or spring) or 9 Knox credits for the year

Learn more about the CIEE United Arab Emirates: Business, Engineering, Arts and Sciences program.

Advisor: Professor John Spittell

Click here to apply for off-campus study.