American University of Beirut

BA in Sociology and Anthropology

Mission Stat​ement

This combined BA degree is designed for students with interests in both sociology and anthropology. It offers a multi-disciplinary curriculum based on the social sciences and the humanities. It prepares students to understand and engage with the social and cultural worlds we inhabit. The joint specialization in Anthropology and Sociology allows students to observe and investigate life in diverse societies while acquiring training in social and cultural theories and methods. It explores what it means to be a person in the Arab region and around the world by examining the ways people organize activities, social structures, institutions and belief systems. Courses will develop students’ critical perspective on religion, family, class, medicine, art, displacement, war, social movements, human rights, gender, media, sexuality and colonialism. The BA prepares students to work in areas such as non-governmental and governmental organizations, think tanks, development agencies, research institutes and business and to pursue graduate work or teach in the social sciences and humanities.

Admissi​on

Admission to the sociology-anthropology program requires a minimum grade of C+ in ENGL 203 and ENGL 204, and a grade of C+ or more in one of the following: SOAN 101, SOAN 103, SOAN 201, or SOAN 203. If admission to SOAN is based on SOAN 101 or SOAN 103, any additional SOAN or any social science course is required.

Require​​ments

The requirements for a BA in Sociology-Anthropology are 90 credits for students entering the department at the sophomore level and 120 for those entering as freshmen, including 39 credits in the major. Required courses include: SOAN 101 or SOAN 103 or SOAN 201 or SOAN 203, and SOAN 210 or SOAN 216, and SOAN 212, SOAN 213, SOAN 237, a SOAN seminar (SOAN 240-290), and 21 additional SOAN credit hours (SOAN 200 and above). The distribution of university requirements is as follows:

University Gene​​ral Education Requirements

The General Education requirements are 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).​

Diploma in Development Studies

The Diploma in Development Studies offers a variety of disciplinary and thematic approaches to development-related issues from a critical perspective rooted in the Global South. The diploma academically prepares students for careers in the development, humanitarian and aid sectors, as well as for careers in research centers or the policy world. It also prepares students for graduate or post-graduate studies in the field of development studies (or other related social science disciplines)

Coursework

The Diploma in Development Studies requires eight courses, including six courses from predetermined subject areas and two elective courses. Please note that the diploma is at the undergraduate level. For graduate level courses to be taken, students must be of senior standing, not on probation, and must secure the consent of the department. ​

Required Courses

A total of 24 credits (eight courses) are required for the diploma.

1. SOAN 219 Introduction to Development Studies
2. SOAN 210 Research Methods
3. Globalization, Inequality and Development. Pick one of the following (or equivalent as approved by the adviser): SOAN 223 Social Inequality: Conflict and Consensus, ECON 237 Economic Development I, PSPA 238 International Political Economy: From Imperialism to Globalization, PPIA 306 Political Economy
4. Labor, Migration and Development. Pick one of the following (or equivalent as approved by the adviser): SOAN 290AX Economy and Society, SOAN 323AE Making and Unmaking Markets, ECON 222 Labor Economic
5. Humanitarianism, Forced Migration and Development. Pick one of the following (or equivalent as approved by the adviser): SOAN 242 Seminar in Globalization and Migration, SOAN 245 Seminar in Transitional Justice, SOAN 318 Human Migration
6. Gender and Development. Pick one of the following (or equivalent as approved by the adviser): SOAN 225 Gender and Culture, SOAN 290(TBA): Gender and Development​
7. Two electives chosen with the approval of the adviser.

Admission Requirements

For Non-AUB: New students should obtain an application from the Office of Admissions and apply as new students. Applications are reviewed by the department and, when accepted, students are classified as special students working for a diploma. Completion of the bachelor’s degree is a requirement for admission of new students to the development studies diploma, in addition to proof of efficiency in English. Relevant work experience is favorable.

For AUB students: AUB students working for their bachelor’s degree at AUB have to apply to the department directly after completion of their sophomore year with an overall average higher than 3.3.

Course Descrip​​tions

• ​ Sociology and Anthropology Courses
  

39 Cred​​its in SOAN

BA in Media and Communication

Mission S​​tatement

The BA in Media and Communication offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum based in both the liberal arts and social sciences, and prepares students to engage with the complexity of contemporary media. The program offers a regional and global perspective, focusing on the role of media in Arab society. Students learn systematic and critical modes of inquiry into the nature, processes and consequences of media in both historical and emerging contexts. Students also develop relevant practical skills, coupled with critical, ethical and political perspectives on contemporary social and cultural landscapes.

Admissi​​​on

Students wishing to major in Media and Communication are accepted provisionally until they have achieved an average of 3.0 or more in MCOM 201 and MCOM 202 (within their first three semesters), and an average of 3.0 or more in ENGL 203 and ENGL 204. Students admitted as media and communication majors must maintain an average of 2.3 or more in their first three terms in major courses in order to remain in the program.

Transfer to Media and Communication from other departments within FAS is competitive and requires approval of the Media Studies Program. Students will be considered for transfer to Media and Communication if they obtain a minimum cumulative average of 3.0 in MCOM 201 and one List A Elective (of the student’s choice), a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 in all MCOM courses taken, a minimum grade of B in ENGL 203, and a minimum cumulative average of 3.0 in ENGL 203 and ENGL 204 (if ENGL 204 is taken).

Require​​ments

The requirements for a BA degree in Media and Communication are 90 credits for students entering the department at the sophomore level, including 43 credits in the major, and at least 36 credits of General Education courses, as required by the university.

Requirements for the BA program are MCOM 201, MCOM 202, MCOM 203, MCOM 204, MCOM 260, and MCOM 296, 15 credits of any List A elective (MCOM205, 206, 215-239, 261- 292, 294 (0 credit), 299), and 9 credits of any List B elective (MCOM 240-259, MCOM 293, or ARAB 223).

In addition, students must take CMPS 207, SOAN 237 and either MCOM 210, PSPA 203, STAT 203, or any research methods class approved by the advisor. MCOM students cannot receive credits for more than one of the following courses: MCOM 210, PSPA 203, STAT 203.

University General Educa​​​tion Requirements

The General Education requirements are 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).

Course Des​​criptions

• ​ Media and Communication Courses​​
  

45 Credits in MC​OM

Minors in Sociol​​​​​ogy, Anthropology, and Media Studies

Anthropology: One core course (SOAN 203 or SOAN 212) and 4 electives from the following: SOAN 203, SOAN 212, SOAN 215-218, SOAN 220–227, SOAN 236, SOAN 237, SOAN 250- 252, and SOAN 290 (if selected topic is in Anthropology).

Media and Communication:  Two requirements from the following: MCOM 201, MCOM 202, MCOM 203 or MCOM 204. Two List A electives from: MCOM 205, MCOM 206, MCOM 215 to MCOM 239, MCOM 290 - MCOM 292. One List B elective from MCOM 240 to MCOM 259, MCOM 293.

Film and Visual Culture: Two of the following core courses (ENGL 219, MCOM 206, MCOM 222), two electives from the following: ENGL 241A, ENGL257 (A….Z), MCOM219, MCOM220, MCOM221, MCOM 223, MCOM 225, MCOM 230, SOAN236, SOAN250, or other classes/ special topics courses approved by the coordinator of the minor program, and one elective from the following: ENGL 239, ENGL 254A, MCOM 245, MCOM 246 or special topics courses approved by the coordinator of the minor program.

Reporting in the Digital Age: Three core courses (MCOM 226, MCOM 240 and MCOM 246), and two additional electives from the following: MCOM 215, MCOM 225, MCOM 241, MCOM 244 (a to z), MCOM 245, MCOM 247, MCOM 250, MCOM 251 and any new or related special topics courses as approved by the program.

Sociology: SOAN 201, SOAN 213, SOAN 237, plus two electives from the following: SOAN 210, SOAN 220, SOAN 222, SOAN 223, SOAN 224, SOAN 225, SOAN 232, SOAN 240–242, SOAN 245 and SOAN 290 (if selected topic in Sociology). If a student has taken SOAN 101 and, therefore, cannot take SOAN 201, they should take SOAN 213, SOAN 237, and three of the electives listed above. 

Human Rights and Transitional Justice: The requirements are: SOAN 245, SOAN 240 or PSPA 235, and three electives from the following: SOAN 221, MCOM 250, MCOM 251, SOAN 232, PSYC 211, PHIL 216, PHIL 252, PSPA 222, PSPA 232, or any special topics course in SOAN, PSYC, PHIL, PSPA, which will fit with the minor topic, upon the approval of the respective department chair and the coordinator of the minor program. Students majoring in sociology-anthropology should take at least three courses other than SOAN courses.