Program Overview

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University Programs Overview

The American University in Dubai offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. All programs have been formally accredited by regional and global independent bodies, allowing the university to offer recognized degrees.

Undergraduate Programs

• Architecture (B.Arch.)
• Biology (B.S.)
• Business Administration (B.B.A.)
• Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E.)
• Communication and Information Studies (B.C.I.S.)
• Computer Engineering (B.S.Comp.E.)
• Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.)
• Game Design and Development (B.S.)
• International Studies (B.A.I.S.)
• Interior Design (B.F.A.)
• Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.)
• MMU International Progression Path
• Psychology (B.A.)
• Visual Communication (B.F.A.)

Pre-University Programs

• Summer Camp

Graduate Programs

• Artificial Intelligence (M.S.)
• Business Administration (M.B.A.)
• Construction Management (M.S.C.M.)
• Education (M.Ed.)
• Innovation Management (M.S.)
• International Affairs (M.A.)
• Leadership and Innovation in Contemporary Media (M.A.)
• Urban Design and Digital Environments (M.U.D.D.E.)

Professional and Certificate Programs

• Center for Executive Programs and Professional Services (CEPPS)
• The English Bridge Program (Center For English Proficiency)
• Certificate Programs

Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA)

The MAIA program is a graduate-level, ten-course, 30 credit-hour program. It consists of four common core courses and six elective courses.

Program Overview

The MAIA program provides broad exposure to the field of international relations and public policy. The program includes a Master's thesis taken in the students' last semester. The remaining six courses are electives, and students have a choice to take two courses in each of the following three areas: International Law and Diplomacy, Global Governance and Sustainability, and Security Studies.

Program Mission

The mission of the MAIA program is to prepare the next generation of policymakers to serve in national, regional, or local government agencies; international or nongovernmental organizations; or multinational corporations while contributing to the advancement of Emirati and global society.

MAIA Program Goals

1. To provide students with a broad understanding of contemporary issues in international affairs while developing specialized knowledge in the focus areas.
2. To graduate analytical thinkers and future policymakers who are globally aware and qualified to address transnational challenges through innovative solutions.
3. To prepare students for global careers in governments, corporations, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations.
4. To prepare students to recognize the ethical and social implications of international affairs.

MAIA Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Create innovative solutions that apply analytical and critical thinking skills to understand and interpret local, regional, and global challenges while contributing to Emirati and global society.
2. Apply strong technology-based research skills to evaluate data from various sources.
3. Communicate research findings in an effective manner, both orally and in writing, to a wide audience.
4. Evaluate current international affairs while demonstrating advanced knowledge of the focus areas.
5. Analyze political, economic, historical, and social factors impacting international affairs.
6. Evaluate ethical and cultural dimensions of complex interdependencies influencing local, regional, and global actors.

Program Details

MAIA Summary of Degree Requirements

Course Classification	Credit Hours Required
Common Core	12
Advanced Electives	18
Total	30

Curriculum/Courses

MAIA Core

Course	Credit Hours
MAIA 600	Fundamentals of International Relations	3
MAIA 610	Research Methodology in Social Sciences	3
MAIA 620	International Policy Analysis	3
MAIA 690	Master Thesis	3
Total Core Requirements

MAIA Electives

International Law and Diplomacy (ILD)

Course	Credit Hours
MAIA 630	International Law	3
MAIA 635	International Law and Conflicts in the Middle East	3
MAIA 640	Theory and Practice of Diplomacy	3
MAIA 642	Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power	3
Total International Law and Diplomacy Requirements	6

Global Governance and Sustainability (GGS)

Course	Credit Hours
MAIA 650	Environmental Governance and Sustainability	3
MAIA 652	Migration Governance and Humanitarianism	3
MAIA 660	Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development	3
MAIA 665	Public Health and Sustainable Development	3
Total Global Governance and Sustainability Requirements	6

Security Studies (SEC)

Course	Credit Hours
MAIA 670	Conflict Resolution Strategies in Theory and Practice	3
MAIA 675	War and Technology in the 21st Century	3
MAIA 682	Transnational Trafficking	3
MAIA 685	Human Security and the Middle East	3
Total Security Studies Requirements	6

Faculty

• Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Associate Professor of English: Micah Robbins
• Chair of the Department of International and Middle Eastern Studies and Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies: Matthew Burtchaell Ingalls
• Program Director, Master of Arts in International Affairs and Associate Professor of Political Science: Omar Bortolazzi
• Associate Professor of Sociology: Deniz Gökalp
• Assistant Professor of Anthropology: Indrakshi Tandon
• Associate Professor of Political Science: Arda Gucler
• Assistant Professor of Political Science: Farid Guliyev

Admissions

Admission Requirements

• Undergraduate:
  • Requirements & Program Leaflet
  • Transfer Students
  • Forms
  • Undergraduate Catalog
• Graduate:
  • Requirements & Program Leaflet
  • Selection Criteria
  • Transfer Students
  • Forms
  • Graduate Catalog
• Certificate Program Requirements
• Visiting/Incoming Study Abroad Applications

Academic Calendar & Application Deadlines

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Academics

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Schools and Departments

• School of Business
• School of Engineering
• Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication (MBRSC)
• School of Arts & Sciences
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• Graduate School of Education

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Students

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