This module is in collaboration with the AUB Writing Center. It aims to orient students towards practices of writing and working with texts that are essential in liberal arts education. It is structured around intensive writing, reading, and small group discussions, to support the acquisition of research, analytic, and communication skills needed for a university education.
2. Freshman Interest Group Modules:
Modules offered by Freshman Interest Groups are optional short intense (two-week) online courses offered during Winter and Summer Semesters. The FIGS modules facilitate the applications of academic subjects in the 'real world'. Students can only sign up for one FIG during each semester.
Coding with applications to Visual Arts—Entrepreneurship -- Math in the Real world-- Robotics
Freshman Courses
Students are recommended to take electives from the following list of courses. Most of these courses have been specifically designed for and are open only to freshman students. Students who wish to take courses numbered 200 and above (not listed below) may do so exceptionally with the approval of their advisers. Freshman level courses listed below are arranged according to the different areas of study:
| Humanities | AHIS 150, ARAB 101, ARAB 102, AROL 101, CVSP 110, CVSP 111, CVSP 112, ENGL 101, ENGL 103, ENGL 104, ENGL 105, ENGL 106, ENGL 107, ENGL 108, HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 103, HIST 104, HIST 200, MUSC 150, PHIL 101, PHIL 102, SART 150, SOAN 103, THTR 100, and AGSC 105, LDEM 107 and LDEM 108 (from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences). |
| Mathematics | MATH 101, MATH 101I, MATH 102 and MATH 203.
Note: If you are placed in MATH 101I you must register for MATH 101. |
| Natural Sciences | BIOL 101, BIOL 102, BIOL 104, BIOL 105, BIOL 106, CHEM 101, CHEM 101L, CHEM 102, CHEM 102L, CHEM 200, GEOL 101, GEOL 102, GEOL 103, GEOL 104, GEOL 106, PHYS 101, PHYS 101L or PHYS 103, PHYS 103L, PHYS 200, ENHL 200 (from the Faculty of Health Sciences), and NFSC 123 (from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences). |
| Social Sciences | ECON 101, ECON 102, PSPA 101, SOAN 101 and PSYC 101. |
| Electives | As necessary to add up to 30 credits in total (e.g.: CMPS 101). See Table 2 and Table 3 below for requirements to transfer into a major. |
Courses Numbered 200 and Above
Some courses numbered 200 and above are suitable for freshman students. Note, however, that these courses are also open to sophomores, juniors and seniors and therefore may be more competitive than courses offered at the 100 level. Such courses include those that are freshman requirements (see above) and those that are listed in Table 1 and Table 2.
Transfer to a Major in FAS
Freshman students wishing to select a prospective major in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences may do so after they have completed at least 24 credits as Freshman and satisfied the “requirements for selection of a prospective major" as listed in Table 2 and provided they are not on academic probation.
Qualified students should submit a “change of major" petition available on the FAS Online Petition and Forms System (OPFS): https://epetitions.aub.edu.lb/ords/f?p=101:101 after the semester grades are issued. If the petition is approved, the selected major becomes effective at the beginning of the semester for which the request is made.
Transfer to Other Faculties
Any freshman student who wishes to transfer to another faculty must complete the freshman program (30 credits), including faculty requirements as shown in Table 3.
Premedical Students
The minimal premedical requirements include biology with laboratory (7 credits), chemistry with laboratory (15 credits including 8 credits of organic chemistry), physics and basic electronics with laboratory (8 credits), English (6 credits at AUB or exemption), social sciences and/or humanities (6 credits). To facilitate applications by non-science majors and from diverse fields of study, some courses taken in the Lebanese Baccalaureate Program may count towards fulfillment of the premedical core course requirements. Table 4 presents the recommended courses depending on the major of study at AUB.
Deadlines for receiving applications for admission to other faculties
For AY 2023-24 admission: April 02, 2024 – April 30, 2024. See online application on Registrar's website for specific deadline - http://www.aub.edu.lb/registrar/Pages/index.aspx[DA1]
| Inter-faculty transfer Fall 2023-24 second intake applications | 17 July - 14 August |
| Inter-faculty transfer Fall 2023-24 second intake faculty decisions | 17 August - 23 August |
| Inter-faculty transfer Fall 2023-24 second intake Student confirmation | 25 August – 29 August
|
Important Dates to Remember
(Please refer to the University Calendar for possible changes in dates)
| Drop and Add for the Fall semester 2023-24 | August 29 - September 01 |
| Advising for Spring 2023-24 | November 06 – November 10 |
| Last day for withdrawal from courses for the Fall semester | November 17 |
| Spring 2023-24 on-line course registration | November 14 - December 08 |
| Advising and on-line course registration for Winter session 2024 | November 09 – November 13
|
| Drop and Add for the Winter session 2023 - 24 | December 19 |
| Last day for withdrawal from courses for the Winter session | January 12 |
Drop and Add period for the Spring Semester 2023-24
| January 19 - January 26
|
| Advising for continuing students for the Summer 2023-24 and Fall 2024-25 | April 16 - April 18 |
| Last day for withdrawal for Spring Semester | April 11 |
| Fall 2024-25 online course registration for continuing students | April 29 - August 09
|
Table 1: Credit requirements for completion of the freshman program as per majors offered at AUB
| Major | English Level 200 | Arabic | Humanities | Math | Natural Sciences | Social Sciences | Electives |
| Applied Mathematics | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Arabic | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Archaeology | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Biology | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 2 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Computer Science | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Economics | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Education | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| English Language | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| English- Literature | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Geology | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| History | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Mathematics | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Petroleum Geosciences | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
| Philosophy | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Physics | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Political Studies | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Public Administration | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Sociology-Anthropology-Media Studies | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Studio Arts | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Agribusiness | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| Agriculture | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 4 |
| Architecture | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Business | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Chemical Engineering | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Engineering | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Environmental Health | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| Food Science and Management | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 4 |
| Landscape Architecture | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| Health Communication | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Graphic Design | 3 | 3
| 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Medical Audiology Sciences frozen as of Fall 2021-22 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
| Medical Imaging Sciences | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
| Medical Laboratory Sciences | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Nursing | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Nutrition and Dietetics | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 4 |
Table 2: Requirements to join a major in the FAS from the freshman class
Department/ Major | Requirements1 | Some useful electives2 |
Applied Mathematics
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in MATH 101 and 102, and a minimum grade of C+ (or 2.3) in MATH 102
| MATH 201
|
Arabic
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in ARAB 101 (and 102 if taken)
|
|
Archaeology
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year | AROL 101 and 201 |
| Art History | a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year | AHIS 150 and SART 150 |
Biology | a minimum grade of B in each of the following: BIOL 101 and BIOL 102, CHEM 101, CHEM 101L, PHYS101 or PHYS 103, and completion of MATH 101; and a minimum overall average of 2.3 (or C+) in the freshman year | STAT 210 and CMPS 209
|
| Chemistry | a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in CHEM 101, CHEM 101L, CHEM 102, and CHEM 102L; and a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in MATH 101 and 102; and the completion of PHYS 101 and PHYS 101L | |
Computer Science
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in MATH 101 and 102
| CMPS 201 and MATH 211
|
| Economics | a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in MATH 101 and MATH 102, and a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year | ECON 101, 102, 211, 212, and CMPS 209 |
| Education | a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in the freshman year | |
| English Language | a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English Language courses taken in the freshman year | ENGL 107, ENGL 108 |
| English Literature | a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English Literature courses taken in freshman year | ENGL 101, 103, 104, 105, and 106
|
| Geology | completion of MATH 101, 102, CHEM 101, CHEM 101L, GEOL 101, a third science course, and a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in the freshman year | GEOL 101, 102, 201, or 203 |
| History | a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year | HIST 101, 102, 103, or 104 |
| Mathematics | a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in MATH 101 and 102, and a minimum grade of C+ in MATH 102 | MATH 201 |
| Media and Communication | a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in the freshman year, a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year | MCOM 203
|
Petroleum Geosciences
| completion of MATH 101, 102, CHEM 101, 101L, 102, 102L, GEOL 101, and a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in the freshman year
| GEOL 101, 102, 201, 203, ECON 101, 102, 203, and SOAN 201
|
Philosophy
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year
| PHIL 101 or 102
|
Physics
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year
| PHIL 101 or 102
|
Physics
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in PHYS 101 and 101L, and a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in MATH 101 and 102
| CMPS 201
|
Political Studies
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in the freshman year, and a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year
| PSPA 101 and PSYC 101
|
Psychology
| a minimum grade of B in PSYC 101 or 201, a minimum grade of B in ENGL 203, a minimum grade of B in ENGL 204 (if taken) and an overall average of 3.0
| PSYC 101, PSPA 101, 201, 202, PHIL 201, CMPS 206, ECON 203, and one of STAT 201 or EDUC 227
|
Public Administration
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in the freshman year, and a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year
| PSPA 101 and PSYC 101
|
Sociology & Anthropology
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year
| SOAN 101, 103, PSPA 101, HIST 101-104, ARAB 101, 102, ENGL 101-109 and PHIL 101,102
|
Statistics
| a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in MATH 101 and 102, and a minimum grade of C+ in MATH 102
| MATH 201
|
- Overall average takes into consideration the highest grade of a repeated course.
- It is recommended that elective courses numbered 200 and above be taken in the third semester.
Table 3: Requirements to apply for a major in another faculty
| Major/ Faculty | Requirements1 | Some useful electives |
| Agribusiness | completion of MATH 101 or MATH 203, any combination of Natural science courses totaling 9 credits | CHEM 2002 and courses in the humanities |
| Agriculture | completion of MATH 101 or MATH 203, CHEM 101, CHEM 101L, CHEM 102, CHEM 102L, and BIOL 101 | CHEM 2002 and courses in the humanities |
| Architecture3 | completion of MATH 101 and 102, any combination of science courses totaling 9 credits, and overall average of at least 3.3 in the freshman year | an elective in the humanities or social sciences4 |
| Business | a minimum cumulative average of 3.0 (or B) in at least 24 credits during the freshman year, and a minimum grade of B in any one of the following courses: MATH 101, MATH 102, MATH 203 (Refer to Mathematics Department for course requirements)
| ECON 101, 102 and ECON 211 or 212 and BUSS 101
|
| Chemical Engineering3 | completion of MATH 101 and 102, CHEM 101, 101L and 102, 102L, PHYS 101 and 101L, and a cumulative average of at least 3.3 in the freshman year | an elective in the social sciences |
| Engineering3 | completion of MATH 101 and 102, CHEM 101, 101L, PHYS 101, and PHYS 101 L, and a cumulative average of at least 3.3 in the freshman year | an elective in the humanities or social sciences4 |
Environmental Health
| completion of MATH 101, CHEM 101 and CHEM 101L
| ENHL 200, PHYS 101/1035 and BIOL 1015 |
| Food Science and Management | completion of MATH 101 or MATH 203, CHEM 101, 101L and 102, 102L and BIOL 101, and a cumulative average of at least 3.0 in the freshman year | CHEM 2002 and courses in the humanities. |
Graphic Design3 | completion of the freshman program and a cumulative average of at least 3.3 in the freshman year2 | ECON 203, EDUC 211, ENGL 213, PHIL 211, SOAN 201, and PSYC 202 |
| Health Communication | a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in the freshman year, a minimum cumulative average of 2.3 (or C+) in English courses taken in the freshman year | |
| Landscape Architecture | any combination of science courses totaling 9 credits, completion of MATH 101 or MATH 203 with a minimum grade of C+ in each and a cumulative average of at least 3.0 in the freshman year | An elective in each of geology, chemistry, and biology
|
Medical Audiology Sciences
| completion of PHYS 103 and 103L, MATH 101, MATH 102 and BIOL 101
| CHEM 1015 and CHEM 101L5
|
Medical Imaging Sciences
| completion of PHYS 103 and 103L, MATH 101, MATH 102 and BIOL 101
| CHEM 1015 and CHEM 101L5
|
Medical Laboratory Sciences
| completion of MATH 101 and 102, CHEM 101, CHEM 101L, CHEM 102, CHEM 102L and BIOL 101
| PHYS 1035 or PHYS 101
|
Nursing
| completion of one of the two following combinations: either MATH 101 and MATH 102, CHEM 101, CHEM 101L and BIOL 101 or MATH 203, MATH 204, CHEM 101, CHEM 101L, and BIOL 101
| Courses open to freshman students, except SOAN 201 and PSYC 201
|
- The overall average takes into consideration the highest grade of a repeated course.
- Students cannot receive credit for both CHEM 200 and CHEM 201.
- An average of 3.3 is required for your application to be considered for admission; however, an average of 3.3 does not guarantee acceptance. Acceptance to the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture is very competitive and the pool of applicants differs each term.
- Refer to Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture section of this catalogue.
- For students following premedical track
For students following premedical track, Table 4: Recommended premedical core courses according to field of study (GR Catalogue23-24 pp 555-556)
| Premedical Requirements | AUB Courses | Biology Major | Chemistry Major | Physics Major | Other Majors |
English
(6cr) | ENGL 203 (3cr)
ENGL 204 (3cr) | X
| X | X
| X |
| Humanities + Social Sciences (6cr) | Fulfilled by the general education requirements of the University which include 6 credits in the humanities/6 credits in CVSP courses and 6 social sciences credits | X
| X | X | X
|
Biology
(7cr) | BIOL 101 (3cr) or equivalent | X
| X | X
| X
|
| | BIOL 201 (4cr) | X | X | X | X |
Physics
(8cr) | PHYS 101 (4cr) + PHYS 101L (1cr) or equivalent | X
| X | X
| X |
| | PHYS 204 (3cr) + PHYS 204L (1cr) or PHYS 205 (3cr) + PHYS 205L (1cr) | X
| |
| X
|
| | PHYS 211 (3cr) + PHYS 211L (1cr) | | X | | |
| | PHYS 210 (3cr) + PHYS 210L (1cr) | | | X
| |
Chemistry
(15cr) | CHEM 101 (3cr) + CHEM 101L (1cr) or equivalent | X
| X | X | X |
| | CHEM 201 (3cr) | X
| X | X
| X |
| | CHEM 211 (3cr) | X | X | X | X |
| | CHEM 212 (3cr) | X | X
| X
| X |
| | CHEM 210 (2cr) | X | | X
| X |
| | CHEM 225 (4cr) | | X
| |
|
MCAT. A competitive score in the MCAT, which may be taken twice only, is required. If taken twice, the higher score is considered. The MCAT score must be available at the time the application is submitted. The MCAT has sections on the biological sciences, physical sciences, and a social and behavioral sciences. Students are encouraged to review the content of the new MCAT and plan their studies accordingly, e.g., by taking additional courses in biology, chemistry, and physics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology, and the humanities, in consultation with their advisors.
- Biology 200 is a very general course that does not prepare students well for the MCAT. Biology 201 and 202 provide better preparation, and students are advised to take both courses.
- Premed students applying to the MIS and MAS programs are advised to take CHEM 101 and 101L and those applying to the MLS program are advised to take PHYS 103 or PHYS 101.
Freshman Credits Equivalent to AP
| Subject* | AUB Equivalent Freshman Courses |
| AP – Biology | BIOL 101(3cr) or BIOL 105 (4cr) or BIOL 106 (3cr) |
| AP - Calculus (AB) | MATH 101 (3cr) |
| AP - Calculus (BC) | MATH 101 (3cr) & MATH 102 (3cr) |
| AP – Chemistry | CHEM 101 (3cr), CHEM 101L(1cr) & CHEM 102 (3cr), CHEM 102L (1cr) |
| AP - Economics (Mac) | ECON 102 (3cr) |
| AP - Economics (Mic) | ECON 101 (3cr) |
| AP - English Language & Composition | ENGL 203 (3cr) |
| AP - English Literature & Composition | ENGL 203 (3cr) |
| AP - English Literature & Composition AND English Language & Composition | ENGL 203 (3cr) & ENGL 204 (3cr) |
| AP - Environmental Science | GEOL 102 (3cr) |
| AP - History of Art (0319) | AHIS 150 (3cr) |
| AP - Physics 1 | PHYS 103 (3cr) |
| AP - Physics B | PHYS 103 (3cr) |
| AP - Physics C | PHYS 101 (4cr) |
| AP – Psychology | PSYC 101 (3cr) |
| AP - US History | HIST 200 (3cr) |
| AP - World History | HIST 101 (3cr)
|
*Equivalence of AP requires a grade of 4 or 5
A maximum of 15 Freshman credits may be granted for AP subjects
Useful Links
Online AUB Catalogue (AY 2022-23)FAS websiteFreshman Checklists (according to intended major)Online Petition and Forms System (OPFS)Forms on the Registrar's office website
Useful Centers and Offices
Freshman Program Office
The Freshman Program Office coordinates matters related to the freshman program and assists with general inquiries.
Fisk Hall, 2nd floor, Room 211
Ext: 3089
Email: freshman@aub.edu.lb
FAS Student Services Office
The FAS Student Services Office, part of the FAS Dean's office, provides students with academic guidance as well as career counseling and placement services.
Lee Observatory Building
Ext: 3810
Email: as-stds@aub.edu.lb
Counseling Center
Personal counseling is offered to AUB students to help them identify and address their issues and problems. These may include anxiety, depression, grief, substance abuse, sexual abuse, eating disorders, relationship, and family problems, learning disabilities, or any psychological difficulty students might experience. In fact, there are no restrictions as to what can be discussed in counseling.
West Hall, 2nd floor, Room 210
Tel: +9611374374, ext. 3196
Email: counselingcenter@aub.edu.lb
Accessible Education Office
AUB strives to make learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers due to a disability (including mental health, chronic or temporary medical conditions), you are encouraged to contact the Accessible Education Office in order to help establish reasonable accommodations and facilitate a smooth accommodations process.
West Hall, 3rd floor, Room 314
Ext: 3246
Email: accessibility@aub.edu.lb
The Writing Center
The Writing Center aims to enrich the culture of writing at AUB by conducting research and by supporting writers and teachers of writing. The center promotes writing as a tool for thinking, a way to demonstrate learning, and a means of expression. It offers free writing consultations to AUB undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.
Ada Dodge Hall, Room 214 (off the terrace)
Ext: 3157
Email: writingcenter@aub.edu.lb
The Math Clinic
With the help of graduate students, the Math Clinic serves as a tutoring center to students. Students could prepare for their courses through guided tutoring.
Bliss Hall 3rd floor
Ext: 4210
Email: la16@aub.edu.lb