Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
About This Programme
An interdisciplinary degree combining political science, economics, history, sociology and a language sequence, with an internship and a two-part capstone, in one of three majors: International Relations, International Development or Middle Eastern Studies.
Course Highlights
- Taught at AUD, ranked #620 in the QS World University Rankings 2027
- US-accredited (SACSCOC) American credit degree taught in English
- AUD reports around 92% graduate employment
What You'll Study
Taught full time, in person, on an American credit-hour system, in English.
Summary of degree requirements
124 credit hours in total.
- International Studies Core39 credits
- International Studies Core Languages16 credits
- Track Electives24 credits
- Arts and Sciences Core36 credits
- General Electives9 credits
AUD publishes 3 variants of this degree in one table; each column reaches the same 124 credit hours, so they are alternatives, not additions. The credits shown are the first variant.
Foundation
18 credit hours required.
- HIST 252 World History since 1500 CE3 credits
- INST 201 Introduction to International Development3 credits
- POLS 200 Introduction to Political Science3 credits
- POLS 210 Introduction to International Relations3 credits
- SOCI 201 Introduction to Sociology3 credits
- SOCI 301 Globalization3 credits
Data Analysis & Research
6 credit hours required.
- INST 388 Research Methodology3 credits
- MATH 201 Fundamentals of Statistics3 credits
Economics
6 credit hours required.
- ECON 201 Principles of Micro-economics3 credits
- ECON 202 Principles of Macro-economics3 credits
Capstone
6 credit hours required.
- INST 498 International Studies Capstone I3 credits
- INST 499 International Studies Capstone II3 credits
Internship
3 credit hours required.
- INST 398 International Studies Internship3 credits
Language
16 credit hours required.
- MEST 101 Elementary Arabic I4 credits
- MEST 102 Elementary Arabic II4 credits
- MEST 201 Intermediate Arabic I4 credits
- MEST 202 Intermediate Arabic II4 credits
OR
- FREN 101 Elementary French I4 credits
- FREN 102 Elementary French II4 credits
- FREN 201 Intermediate French I4 credits
- FREN 202 Intermediate French II4 credits
OR
- SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish I4 credits
- SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II4 credits
- SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish I4 credits
- SPAN 202 Intermediate Spanish II4 credits
Political Development
3 credit hours required.
Choose 3 credit hours from:
- MEST 319 Politics in the Middle East3 credits
- MEST 352 Conflicts in the Middle East3 credits
- POLS 201 Comparative Political Systems3 credits
- POLS 330 Foreign Policy3 credits
- POLS 340 International Diplomacy3 credits
- POLS 401 Contemporary Political Issues3 credits
- POLS 415 Geopolitics3 credits
Socio-political Development
6 credit hours required.
Choose 6 credit hours from:
- ANTH 311 Culture and Society in Postcolonial Africa3 credits
- INST 325 History of Philanthropy and NGOs3 credits
- INST 360 Poverty and Inequality3 credits
- INST 361 Forced Migration and Refugees3 credits
- MEST 327 Islamic Politics3 credits
- POLS 325 International Organizations3 credits
- POLS 350 Political Violence: A Historical Perspective3 credits
Economic Development
3 credit hours required.
Choose 3 credit hours from:
- BUSI 321 Business in the International Environment3 credits
- CABR 275 Course Abroad3 credits
Public Finance
- ECON 442 Oil and Energy Economics3 credits
- MEST 343 Business in the Middle East3 credits
- MEST 380 Society and Economics in the Gulf3 credits
Environmental Sustainability
6 credit hours required.
Choose 6 credit hours from:
- SCIE 211 Water Sustainability3 credits
- SCIE 251 Environmental Health and Sustainability3 credits
- SCIE 311 Principles of Environmental Sciences3 credits
Public Health
- SCIE 351 Health Technology and Innovation in the 21st Century3 credits
Societal Development
3 credit hours required.
Choose 3 credit hours from:
- MEST 323 Islam: Historical and Societal Aspects3 credits
- MEST 353 Women and Gender in the Middle East3 credits
Gender and Society
- SOCI 350 Sociology of Violence3 credits
International Politics
9 credit hours required.
- INST 360 Poverty and Inequality3 credits
- INST 361 Forced Migration and Refugees3 credits
- MEST 327 Islamic Politics3 credits
International Organizations
- POLS 330 Foreign Policy3 credits
- POLS 350 Political Violence: A Historical Perspective3 credits
- POLS 340 International Diplomacy3 credits
- POLS 401 Contemporary Political Issues3 credits
- POLS 415 Geopolitics3 credits
Business and Economics
6 credit hours required.
Choose 6 credit hours from:
- BUSI 321 Business in the International Environment3 credits
- CABR 275 Course Abroad3 credits
- ECON 402 International Economics3 credits
- ECON 441 Public Finance3 credits
- ECON 442 Oil and Energy Economics3 credits
- MEST 343 Business in the Modern Middle East3 credits
- MEST 380 Society and Economics in the Gulf3 credits
History
3 credit hours required.
Choose 3 credit hours from:
- HIST 202 The United States in the Civil War3 credits
- HIST 212 Modern Europe3 credits
- HIST 251 World History to 1500 CE3 credits
- HIST 310 The U.S. in World Affairs3 credits
- HIST 350 Revolution and Reaction in the Global Cold War3 credits
- HIST 401 Contemporary Historical Issues3 credits
- INST 325 History of Philanthropy and Non-Profit Organizations3 credits
International Relations and the Middle East
3 credit hours required.
Choose 3 credit hours from:
- MEST 210 Introduction to Middle East History3 credits
- MEST 315 History of the Modern Middle East3 credits
- MEST 319 Politics in the Middle East3 credits
- MEST 352 Conflicts in the Middle East3 credits
- MEST 383 Iraq: Reinventing the Nation3 credits
Sociology
3 credit hours required.
Choose 3 credit hours from:
- ANTH 311 Culture and Society in Postcolonial Africa3 credits
- MEST 323 Islam: Historical and Societal Aspects3 credits
- MEST 353 Women and Gender in the Middle East3 credits
- SOCI 332 Culture and Society in South Asia3 credits
- SOCI 340 Technology and Society3 credits
- SOCI 344 Gender and Society3 credits
- SOCI 350 Sociology of Violence3 credits
Politics
6 credit hours required.
Choose 6 credit hours from:
- INST 360 Poverty and Inequality3 credits
- INST 361 Forced Migration and Refugees3 credits
- MEST 319 Politics in the Middle East3 credits
- MEST 327 Islamic Politics3 credits
- POLS 350 Political Violence: A Historical Perspective3 credits
Business
3 credit hours required.
- BUSI 251 Startup: Entrepreneurship Project3 credits
Business in the Modern Middle East
- MEST 380 Society and Economics in the Gulf3 credits
History
6 credit hours required.
Choose 6 credit hours from:
- INST 325 History of Philanthropy and Non-Profit Organizations3 credits
- MEST 315 History of the Modern Middle East3 credits
- MEST 352 Conflicts in the Middle East3 credits
- MEST 383 Iraq: Reinventing the Nation3 credits
Culture in the Middle East
6 credit hours required.
Choose 6 credit hours from:
- MEST 310 Islamic Civilization3 credits
- MEST 317 Arabic Literature in Translation3 credits
- MEST 318 Culture in the Middle East3 credits
- MEST 329 Islamic Art and Architecture3 credits
- MEST 353 Women and Gender in the Middle East3 credits
- MEST 381 North Africa: Nation, Society, and Culture3 credits
- MEST 382 The Levant: Arab Lands of the Eastern Mediterranean3 credits
- MEST 384 Egypt: Literature since 19523 credits
Islam: Historical and Societal Aspects
- MEST 350 Religions of the Middle East3 credits
Entry Requirements
US-style credit system; non-UAE curricula require Ministry of Education equivalency. Architecture requires a portfolio.
Careers
Graduates pursue careers in government, diplomacy, international organisations, development and the private sector, or continue to postgraduate study.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
AUD is institutionally accredited in the United States by SACSCOC and licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Programme Details
Award
Bachelor of Arts
Start Date
September (Fall intake)
Typical Offer
An official attested high-school transcript covering the last three years in good academic standing, with UAE Ministry of Education equivalency for non-UAE curricula. SAT Mathematics 560 or a pass in the AUD mathematics placement test.
Duration
4 years
Qualification
Bachelors
Subject Area
International Studies
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Bachelor of Arts
Study Pattern
Full time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 106,050/yr
Undergraduate applicants apply online at aud.edu, submit attested transcripts with a UAE Ministry of Education Certificate of Equivalency for non-UAE curricula, and provide an English score (IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 or TOEFL ITP 550) and an SAT Mathematics score, or sit AUD's English and mathematics placement tests. A non-refundable AED 420 application fee applies, with an AED 5,000 reservation deposit on acceptance that is credited to tuition.