Program Overview

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Architecture program at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in architecture, preparing them for successful careers in the field. The program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and is recognized by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates.

Program Mission

The Bachelor of Architecture program at AURAK is focused on sustainability challenges and prepares graduates who are critical thinkers, problem solvers, and capable of facing professional and global challenges. The program aims to equip students with highly refined aesthetic and technical knowledge, enabling them to respect professional ethics and work in multidisciplinary teams.

Program Goals

The program has several goals, including:

• Producing graduates who are industrious architects who create healthy and safe spaces of different scales (buildings, cities) responsive to the environment and users.
• Preparing practitioners who value professional ethics and architecture business as influencing the built environment and human wellness.
• Developing professionals capable of continuous learning to meet the requirements of altering the built environment and complying with regional
  ational laws and regulations.
• Creating designers experienced in evaluating solutions as it relates to building systems design, materials, and technologies against project objectives, cost, and building performance.
• Preparing team leaders capable of making decisions within architectural projects for universal design with minimal environmental impact.
• Fostering active contributors to the local community and the world through an integrative design process with a multidisciplinary team.

Program Structure

The Bachelor of Architecture program at AURAK is a five-year program that consists of 161 credit hours. The program is divided into several components, including:

• University General Education Requirements (32 credit hours)
• School of Engineering and Computing Requirements (13 credit hours)
• Department of Architecture Requirements (9 credit hours)
• Architecture Major Requirements (101 credit hours)
• Architecture Major Electives (6 credit hours)

Program Requirements

The program requires students to complete a range of courses, including:

• ARCH 121: Basic Design I
• ARCH 122: Basic Design 2
• ARCH 223: Computer Architectural Drawing
• ARCH 221: Architectural Design Studio 1
• ARCH 222: Architectural Design Studio 2
• ARCH 231: Building Construction 1
• ARCH 232: Building Construction 2
• ARCH 241: History and Theory of Architecture 1
• ARCH 242: History and Theory of Architecture 2
• ARCH 321: Architectural Design Studio 3
• ARCH 322: Architectural Design Studio 4
• ARCH 331: Building Construction 3
• ARCH 336: Construction Drawings
• ARCH 341: History and Theory of Architecture 3
• ARCH 342: History and Theory of Contemporary Architecture
• ARCH 372: Sustainable Architecture
• ARCH 421: Architectural Design Studio 5
• ARCH 422: Architectural Design Studio 6
• ARCH 454: Urban Planning
• ARCH 457: Urban Design
• ARCH 463: Landscape Architecture
• ARCH 485: Professional Practice
• ARCH 487: Project Management
• ARCH 521: Architectural Design Studio 7
• ARCH 591: Graduation Project Thesis Research
• ARCH 592: Graduation Project Design

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Bachelor of Architecture program at AURAK, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• High School Requirements: UAE Curriculum Elite Track 70%, UAE Curriculum Advanced (Scientific) 70%, UAE Curriculum General (Literary) 70%, or equivalent.
• English Proficiency: Academic IELTS 5.0, TOEFL (Paper-based) 500, TOEFL (Internet-based) 61, or Oxford Online Placement Test (OOPT) completed at AURAK Campus.
• Program Requirements: Placement in the appropriate Mathematics course will be determined based on the student's high school results in Math or Accuplacer test results.
• Other Personal Documents: Passport copy, copy of health card, copy of valid Emirates ID (UAE residents only), Health History Form, four recent passport-size photographs, exemption letter from the National and Reserve Service Authority (UAE male applicants between the ages of 18 and 30 only), birth certificate, family book (UAE nationals only), and army exemption/completion letter (UAE nationals only).

Faculty Members

The Bachelor of Architecture program at AURAK has a team of experienced faculty members, including:

• Dr. Liudmila Cazacova: Associate Professor, LEED AP ID+C Architecture, Interior Design
• Mr. Tawfiq Abu Hantash: Associate Professor of Architecture Design, History and Theory
• Dr. Eman Assi: Associate Professor Urban Design
• Dr. Anis Semlali: Associate Professor Interior Design
• Dr. Fathia Elmenghawi: Assistant Professor Architecture Design, Urban Planning and Urban Design
• Engr. Abeer Abu-Raed: Assistant Professor Architecture
• Ms. Inshirah Shublaq: Instructor Architecture
• Mr. Arnold Uaje: Lab Engineer - Fabrication Lab

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Architecture program at AURAK can pursue a range of career opportunities, including:

• Building Architect
• Landscape Architect
• Building Surveyor
• Architectural Technologist
• Town Planner
• Urban Designer

Related Programs

AURAK also offers other programs related to architecture, including:

• Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Architecture program at AURAK is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and is recognized by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates.