By Bissane El Sayed
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH — The Philosophy minor program at the American University of Sharjah grew almost sevenfold in the past two years, according to the program coordinator.
Professor Kurt Mertel added, “we are arguably the only minor to recruit students from every college and school at the AUS.”
The program began with only three students in 2022-23, but now has close to 20, he added.
Mertel said philosophy revolves around questioning fundamental beliefs about reality. Students will be critical thinkers outside established frameworks, he continued.
To obtain the Philosophy minor, students must complete 12 credit hours. One course must be from the History of Philosophy stream, another from Systematic Philosophy, and two remaining classes can be from approved 300-level subjects, said Mertel.