American University of Beirut

BA in Political Studies
BA in Public Administration

The Department of Political Studies and Public Administration (PSPA) offers two major programs: one leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies and one leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration. Students wishing to transfer to PSPA must secure and maintain the approval of the department and must satisfy the conditions detailed below. Acceptance to the department is subject to the availability of places.

Mission Statements

The mission of the BA program in Political Studies at AUB is to provide students with an understanding of the political ideas, institutions and processes that inform, shape, and regulate domestic and international politics. The core curriculum is designed to engage students in the critical analysis and assessment of the political world, and help them acquire the intellectual, practical and moral skills that are necessary for their development as future academics, civil servants, and responsible citizens. The program is committed to serving the university’s liberal arts model of higher education, and provides students with the intellectual means to understand and reflect on major political issues that define their individual and communal life.

The mission of the BA program in Public Administration is to educate students, and help them develop knowledge, skills and abilities in the discipline of public administration. This includes teaching students to become innovative leaders by developing their managerial and analytic skills, thereby preparing them for professional success. The program is designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge and training geared towards the building of a generalist, academic, professional, and ethical background, and to enhance students’ decision-making, analytical and interpersonal skills. We aim to increase our students’ understanding of the political, constitutional, legal, economic, social, cultural, and organizational environments within which they will work.

Graduation Requirements

University Requirements

Language requirements: 6 credits of English and 3 credits of Arabic.

General Education requirements: Understanding Communication - English (6 credits), Understanding Communication - Arabic (3 credits), Cultures and Histories (9 credits), Human Values (3 credits), Societies and Individuals (6 credits), Understanding the World and Quantitative Reasoning (9 credits with at least 3 credits from each), and Community Engaged Learning (3 credits). At least one of the courses from Cultures and Histories or Human Values should be from the History of Ideas: CHLA. At least one course from your degree requirements (except Understanding Communication) should cover the theme of Social Inequalities (3 credits).​

Major Courses: 39 credits of PSPA courses, both for PS and PA majors.

Students majoring in Political Studies are required to complete 39 credits in the department, which must include PSPA 201, PSPA 202, PSPA 203, PSPA 210, PSPA 211, PSPA 213, and either PSPA 253 or PSPA 256. Six additional Political Studies courses, including one senior seminar, are required. These six courses can be selected from PSPA 256-214, PSPA 286, PSPA 288, PSPA 293-290, and PSPA 299. Students are expected to choose, after consultation with their advisor, four courses that count as free electives. Students majoring in Public Administration are required to complete 39 credits in the department, which must include PSPA 201, PSPA 202, PSPA 203, PSPA 212, PSPA 273, PSPA 276, and PSPA 277. Six additional courses are required. Four courses should be taken in one of the sub-fields (Public Management or Public Policy) and the remaining two courses in the other sub-field. The Public Management courses are PSPA 222, PSPA 257, PSPA 258, PSPA 259, PSPA 272, PSPA 275, PSPA 278, PSPA 287, PSPA 289, PSPA 297 and PSPA 299. The Public Policy courses are PSPA 260, PSPA 261, PSPA 262, PSPA 263, PSPA 287, PSPA 289, PSPA 298, and PSPA 299. One of these courses should be a senior seminar (PSPA 297 or PSPA 298). PA majors are also required to take the following courses outside the department which are one economics course from the General Elective list, one course related to information technology (CMPS 206 or CMPS 209), one course related to statistical analysis (STAT 201, STAT 210, EDUC 227 or PSYC 213) and either SOAN 201 or PSYC 201. Students are expected to choose, after consultation with their advisor, three courses that count as free electives. All PSPA majors are recommended to complete PSPA 201, PSPA 202, and PSPA 203 by the end of their second term in the program. All PSPA majors must take ENGL 203 and ENGL 204 by the end of their third term in the program. PSPA majors whose PSPA average falls below 2.3 will be dropped from the program.​

Transfer of Major

Transfer of Major within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences:  Transfers to the PSPA major require a grade of C+ in PSPA 201 and PSPA 202 plus a minimum combined grade average of 2.3 in ENGL 203 and ENGL 204.

Transfer from one Faculty to Another within the University: Students who wish to transfer from one faculty to another must complete the application for transfer form available on AUBsis. Students must apply within the deadlines specified in the university calendar.

Minor in PSPA

Minors for PS​​​PA Majors

Political Studies majors choosing to minor in Public Administration are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements are PSPA 212 plus four upper-level courses from the following list: PSPA 222, PSPA 257, PSPA 258, PSPA 259, PSPA 272, PSPA 273, PSPA 275, PSPA 277, PSPA 278, PSPA 289, PSPA 297, PSPA 299. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.

Political Studies majors choosing to minor in Public Policy are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements are PSPA 260 and PSPA 276 plus three upper-level courses from the following list: PSPA 223, PSPA 225, PSPA 238, PSPA 250, PSPA 251, PSPA 252, PSPA 259, PSPA 261, PSPA 262, PSPA 263, PSPA 277, PSPA 278, PSPA 297 or PSPA 298. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.

PSPA students choosing to minor in Civil Society, Citizenship and the Nonprofit sector are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements PSPA 222 and PSPA 272 and three electives from the following list of courses: PSPA 202, PSPA 203, PSPA 233, PSPA 235, PSPA 254, PSPA 257, PSPA 260, PSPA 263, PSPA 289G, PSPA 299, ECON 232, ECON 237, MCOM 217, MCOM 252, SOAN 225, SOAN 226, SOAN 240, and SOAN 245.SOAN 245. No more than 12 credits can be taken from the same department. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.

Political Studies majors choosing to minor in International Law are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements are PSPA 225, and four upper-level courses from the following list: PSPA 223, PSPA 226, PSPA 228, PSPA 232, PSPA 233, PSPA 235, PSPA 239, PSPA 288 (if related to the minor’s emphasis and approved by the PSPA Department), PSPA 293B, 293C, 293F, PSPA 299 (if approved by the PSPA Department) and SOAN 245. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.

Political Studies majors choosing to minor in International Law are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements are PSPA 225, and four upper-level courses from the following list: PSPA 223, PSPA 226, PSPA 228, PSPA 232, PSPA 233, PSPA 235, PSPA 239, PSPA 288 (if related to the minor’s emphasis and approved by the PSPA Department), PSPA 293B, 293C, 293F, PSPA 299 (if approved by the PSPA Department) and SOAN 245. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.

Public Administration majors choosing to minor in Political Studies are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements are one of the following: PSPA 210, PSPA 211 or PSPA 213; and any four upper-level courses from the following list: PSPA 214-256, PSPA 286, PSPA 288, PSPA 290-293, and PSPA 299. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.​

Minors for​​ Non-PSPA Majors

Non-PSPA majors choosing to minor in Political Studies are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements are PSPA 201, one of the following: PSPA 210, PSPA 211 or PSPA 213, and any three upper-level courses from the following list: PSPA 214-256, PSPA 286, PSPA 288, PSPA 290-293, and PSPA 299. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.

Non-PSPA majors choosing to minor in Public Administration are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements are PSPA 202 and PSPA 212 plus three upper-level courses from the following list: PSPA 222, PSPA 257, PSPA 258, PSPA 259, PSPA 272, PSPA 273, PSPA 275, PSPA 277, PSPA 278, PSPA 297, PSPA 289, PSPA 298, PSPA 299. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.

Non-PSPA majors choosing to minor in Public Policy are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements are PSPA 202, PSPA 260 and PSPA 276 plus two upper-level courses from the following list: PSPA 223, PSPA 225, PSPA 238, PSPA 250, PSPA 251, PSPA 252, PSPA 259, PSPA 261, PSPA 262, PSPA 263, PSPA 277, PSPA 278, PSPA 297 or PSPA 298. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.

Non-PS majors choosing to minor in International Law are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements are: PSPA 213 and PSPA 225, plus three upper-level courses from the following list: PSPA 223, PSPA 226, PSPA 228, PSPA 232, PSPA 233, PSPA 235, PSPA 239, PSPA 288 (if related to the minor’s emphasis and approved by the PSPA Department), PSPA 293B, 293C, 293F, PSPA 299 (if approved by the PSPA Department) and SOAN 245. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.

Non- PSPA students choosing to minor in Civil Society, Citizenship and the Nonprofit sector are required to take a minimum of 15 credits. The requirements are: PSPA 222 and PSPA 272 and three elective courses from the following list of courses: PSPA 202, PSPA 203, PSPA 233, PSPA 235, PSPA 254, PSPA 257, PSPA 260, PSPA 263, PSPA 289G, PSPA 299, ECON 232, ECON 237, MCOM 217, MCOM 252, SOAN 225, SOAN 226, SOAN 240, and SOAN 245. No more than 12 credits can be taken from the same department. No more than 9 credits may be used to satisfy a requirement for another major or minor.​

Course Descriptions

• Political Studies and Public Administration (PSPA) ​Courses​
  

Major in Politica​​​l Studies: 39 Credits in Political Studies

Major in Public​ Administration: 39 Credits in Public Administration