BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DESIGN MANAGEMENT

The Bachelor of Science in Design Management at American University of Sharjah (AUS) is a four-year interdisciplinary degree that combines creative design practice with business strategy, preparing students to lead design-led innovation and manage creative projects across industries. It suits students who are both creatively inclined and strategically minded, offering a blend of design, management, marketing, and innovation subjects so learners understand both the creative process and how to align it with organisational goals.

Curriculum structure

Year 1:
In the first year, students begin with the Foundations Year Program, which introduces essential design principles, visual language, and critical thinking skills while easing the transition from high school to university-level creative study. Units such as Fundamentals of Design, History of Design, and Communication Design build visual literacy, creative exploration, and an understanding of how design works in cultural and practical contexts, establishing a strong base for advanced study. Students also begin exploring the broader creative ecosystem through introductory business modules that frame design within organisational and entrepreneurial contexts.

Year 2:
In the second year, learners start integrating management and design with courses like Fundamentals of Design Management, Design Project, and Design Thinking, where they explore project planning, creative strategy, and problem-solving methodologies. These modules help students analyse how design decisions influence business outcomes and user experience, and how to manage creative teams and workflows effectively. Concurrently, units such as Digital Media in Communication Design provide hands-on practice with digital tools and communication technologies that support design implementation.

Year 3:
The third year deepens students’ strategic and professional capabilities with subjects such as Service Design, Critical Discourse in Design, and The Design Profession, where learners analyse complex real-world briefs and reflect on contemporary design practice. Complementary business modules like Introduction to Business, Principles of Marketing, and Consumer Behaviour allow design students to understand market dynamics, branding, and how stakeholders interact with creative processes in organisations. This blend of creative and commercial coursework strengthens graduates’ ability to lead cross-disciplinary design efforts.

Year 4:
In the final year, students cap their learning with advanced courses such as Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Arts Management alongside a Senior Capstone Project and a 5-week Professional Internship, where they apply design management skills to real-world challenges. The capstone synthesises creative strategy, organisational insight, and project execution, culminating in student presentations and portfolio growth that signal professional readiness. Electives and optional minors further allow personalisation, enabling students to specialising in areas such as digital media, visual communication, or creative business.

Focus areas (in a string):
Design practice, creative strategy, design thinking, service design, design project planning, digital media in design, consumer behaviour, marketing principles, innovation and entrepreneurship, arts management.

Learning outcomes (in a string):
Apply design and management principles to lead creative projects; integrate design thinking with organisational strategy; manage design processes and teams; communicate creative concepts effectively; analyse market and consumer insights; and produce professional portfolios demonstrating strategic and creative competence.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
The programme aligns with international quality frameworks and is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education’s Commission for Academic Accreditation, and its curriculum is designed to meet established international accreditation criteria for design management education, preparing graduates to work in design leadership, creative business, branding, and entrepreneurial roles across global markets.

Reputation (employability rankings):
American University of Sharjah is ranked among the Top 50 Under 50 universities globally in QS World University Rankings, bolstering the value of its degrees; design management graduates have found roles as design directors, brand strategists, creative project managers, and consultants in agencies, corporations, cultural institutions, and entrepreneurial ventures across the UAE and region.