The American University of Beirut (AUB) is a private, independent, non-sectarian institution of higher learning founded in 1866. It functions under a charter from the State of New York and is governed by a private, autonomous Board of Trustees.
The university has seven faculties: Agricultural and Food Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Health Sciences, Medicine, the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing, and the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business. At present, AUB offers programs leading to Bachelor, Master, MD, and PhD degrees.
The university became co-educational in 1921. The language of instruction is English.
Accreditation and Quality Assurance
Degrees awarded by the American University of Beirut (AUB) are officially registered with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) in Lebanon and with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in the United States (US). AUB is accredited as an institution by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) www.msche.org, 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801, +1 267 284 5011. MSCHE is an institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Secretary of Education. The university was first accredited in June 2004. This accreditation was reaffirmed in 2009, 2014, and 2019. The American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) in Pafos, Cyprus, is approved by MSCHE as a branch campus in 2022. The university’s full and updated Statement of Accreditation Status is maintained on the MSCHE website.
Six of AUB’s faculties/schools have earned accreditation from professional accrediting agencies as listed below. In many cases, AUB’s faculties/schools are the first or the only ones of their kind outside of the US to have programs accredited by US agencies:
The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences’ undergraduate Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program (NDCP) was the first and only nutrition and dietetics program in the Middle East to receive US accreditation, in 2013, under the International Dietitian Education program standards by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), which is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ accrediting agency of nutrition education programs. The program secured full reaccreditation, for the maximum allowable time of seven years, in 2017, renewable subject to an upcoming review in 2024.
The Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture’s Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Civil Engineering, BE in Computer and Communications Engineering, BE in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and BE in Mechanical Engineering were accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in 2010, retroactive to 2008; renewed in 2016 and in 2023. MSFEA’s undergraduate programs in Chemical Engineering, Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemical Engineering and BE in Chemical Engineering, were also accredited by ABET in 2016 retroactive to 2012 and 2013 respectively. This accreditation was renewed in 2023. MSFEA’s BE in Industrial Engineering was accredited by ABET in 2023 retroactive to 2020. The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) program was accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) in 2021.
The Public Health Program (PHP) at
the Faculty of Health Sciences received its initial accreditation in 2006 from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), an independent agency recognized by the US Department of Education that accredits schools of public health and public health programs. In 2012, the program was reaccredited for a seven-year term. In December 2019, the CEPH Board voted to renew the accreditation of the program for another seven-year term, ending in 2026. The accredited PHP includes the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health, Bachelor of Arts in Health Communication, Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Epidemiology, Master of Science in Environmental Sciences— major Environmental Health, and the PhD in Epidemiology. The PHP at FHS was the first to be accredited by CEPH outside the Americas and remains the only CEPH-accredited program in the Arab region. Internationally, it is one of only three non-US PHPs to hold CEPH accreditation. This has allowed FHS to become a full member of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and to join the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, which are recognitions of academic excellence limited to CEPH-accredited schools and programs.
The Faculty of Medicine was granted full accreditation effective January 1, 2019, for a period of six years by the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Medical Education Programs (TEPDAD) International Medical Education Accreditation Council, the authorized medical school accrediting body of the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) based in Turkey. This accreditation places FM in compliance with the requirements of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. The Faculty of Medicine received institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International (ACGME-I) in 2015. Currently, 18 residency programs are ACGME-I accredited: Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Diagnostic Radiology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology, Pediatrics, Plastic Surgery, Psychiatry, Radiation Oncology, and Urology.
The Rafic Hariri School of Nursing became the first nursing school outside American territories to have its baccalaureate and master’s degree programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, +1 202 887 6791 initially in 2007 (reaccredited in 2012). The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs were reaccredited for 10 years effective March 7, 2022.
The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). It was the first school of business in Lebanon to earn this accreditation in 2009 (reaffirmed in 2014 and 2019). OSB boasts a portfolio of AACSB accredited programs that include the following: Bachelor in Business Administration, Master in Business Administration, Online Master in Business Administration, Executive Master in Business Administration, Master in Finance, Master in Human Resource Management, and Master in Business Analytics (MSBA). In September 2022, the programs offered at the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (Bachelor in Business Administration–Management and Master in Business Analytics) were included among the accredited programs.
Mission Statement
The American University of Beirut (AUB) is an institution of higher learning founded to pro vide excellence in education, to participate in the advancement of knowledge through re search, and to serve the peoples of the Middle East and beyond. Chartered in New York State in 1863, the university bases its educational philosophy, standards and practices on the American liberal arts model of higher education. The university believes deeply in and encourages freedom of thought and expression and seeks to foster tolerance and respect for diversity and dialogue. Graduates will be individuals committed to creative and critical thinking, lifelong learning, personal integrity, civic responsibility and leadership.
History
The American University of Beirut was established as the Syrian Protestant College in 1866. The college opened with its first class of 16 students on December 3, 1866. Throughout its history, the university has expanded and developed new faculties and programs. In 1867, the university started the School of Medicine. Four years later, in 1871, it added both a school of pharmacy and a preparatory school. The latter became independent in 1960 and is now known as International College. The opening of the hospital (currently the American University of Beirut Medical Center) in 1905 was followed by the establishment of a school of nursing (named the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing in 2008). In the early 1950s several new programs were introduced. The Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (named the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture in 2017) was established in 1951; the Faculty of Agriculture (now the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences) opened its doors in 1952; and the School of Public Health (now the Faculty of Health Sciences) was started in 1954. In 2000, the university, which had been offering business education since 1900, established an independent school of business (named the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business in 2003) as its sixth faculty. AUB celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2016. The Rafic Hariri School of Nursing became AUB’s seventh faculty in 2018. On September 6, 2023, AUB welcomed the f irst cohort of 53 students to the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) in Pafos, Cyprus, AUB’s first twin campus outside Lebanon.
The number of degrees and diplomas that AUB has awarded to date totaled 106,436.
FORMER PRESIDENTS
Peter F. Dorman 2008-15
John Waterbury 1997-2008
David S. Dodge 1996-97
Robert M. Haddad 1993-96
Frederic P. Herter 1987-93
Calvin Plimpton 1984-87
Malcolm H. Kerr 1981-84
Harold E. Hoelscher 1977-81
Samuel B. Kirkwood 1965-76
Norman Burns 1961-65
J. Paul Leonard 1957-61
Stephen B.L. Penrose, Jr. 1948-54
Bayard Dodge 1923-48
Howard S. Bliss 1902-20
Daniel Bliss 1866-1902
Also Served: Makhlouf Haddadin (acting) 2015
George Tomey (deputy) 2006
Samir Makdisi (acting deputy and
then deputy) 1993-98
Makhlouf Haddadin (acting deputy) 1992-93
Ibrahim Salti (deputy) 1987-93
Lutfi Diab (acting) 1986-87
Raja N. Khuri (acting) 1985-86
Samir K. Thabet (acting) 1984
David S. Dodge (acting) 1981-82
James Cowen (interim) 1976-77
Constantin K. Zurayk (acting) 1954-57
Edward F. Nickoley (acting) 1920-23
Non-Discrimination Notice
AUB encourages a diverse student body and workforce, and is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment. Consistent with this commitment and with Lebanese, U.S., and other applicable laws, it is the policy of AUB not to tolerate discrimination or discriminatory harassment including sexual harassment, and to provide those who feel they are victims of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and sexual harassment with mechanisms for seeking redress as described in AUB policies and procedures.
Inquiries or complaints regarding discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment may be addressed to the Title IX Coordinator titleix@aub.edu.lb, Office of the President, College Hall, telephone +961-1-350000 ext. 2514.
For AUB’s policies and procedures, visit https://www.aub.edu.lb/President/TitleIX/Pages/aubpoliciestitleix.aspx.