American University of Beirut

​​​​​​Officers of the Faculty

Faculty Administrative Support

​
Coordinator of Graduate Programs

Historical Background

The MS graduate program at FAFS was initiated in 1956. The program aims to offer specialized training in a variety of fields in food and agriculture and to prepare students for further studies in Europe and North America. The first MS degree in Horticulture was granted in 1958 and the first MS in Food Technology in 1959. Since then, FAFS has continued to adapt its graduate programs to meet the needs of an evolving regional demand. An MS in Nutrition was introduced in 1963, and the first degree was granted in 1965. An MS in Ecosystem Management, a major of the interfaculty MS in Environmental Sciences, has been offered since 1997. FAFS currently offers MS specialization in animal science, poultry science, agricultural economics, irrigation, plant protection, plant science, nutrition, public health nutrition, food technology, food safety, ecosystem management, rural community development, and food security. FAFS also offers a non-degree Food Security Graduate Diploma - Online.

Mission

The mission of FAFS is to foster the sustainable enhancement of the health and well-being of people and nature throughout Lebanon and the region. To achieve its goals, the faculty uses basic and applied research as well as student-centered learning to prepare leaders and agents of change to address issues of local and global relevance at the nexus of human nutrition, food security, and the sustainable use of resources.

Vision

FAFS is a reference academic center specialized in issues of agriculture, food, nutrition, and the environment for the enhancement of livelihoods, human health, and well-being, as related to the Middle East.

Graduate Study

The faculty offers the MS degree, with or without a thesis, in the following majors which include animal science, poultry science, agricultural economics, irrigation, plant protection, plant science, nutrition, food safety, and food technology. The faculty offers an MS in Environmental Sciences (MSES), major: Ecosystem Management (ECOM) as part of an Interfaculty Graduate Environmental Sciences Program (IGESP) and an Interfaculty Graduate Nutrition Program (GNP). The faculty also offers two interdepartmental graduate programs: an MS in Rural Community Development (RCOD) and an MS in Food Security. MS in Public Health Nutrition is a new graduate program offered jointly by the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS) and the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS).

Students following a thesis program are required to take a minimum of 21 graduate-level course credits plus a thesis (equivalent to 9 credits). Exceptionally, students pursuing an MS in Ecosystem Management or Food Security are required to take a minimum of 24 graduate-level course credits plus a thesis (equivalent to 6 credits); students pursuing an MS in Rural Community Development are required to take a minimum of 27 graduate-level course credits plus a thesis (equivalent to 6 credits); students pursuing the MS in Public Health Nutrition are required to take a minimum of 34 graduate-level course credits plus a thesis. The thesis program may include a maximum of 3 tutorial course credits. Core regular courses should constitute a minimum of 12 credits excluding seminars and tutorials and a minimum of 15 credits in the case of Ecosystem Management, with graduate elective courses to be determined under the supervision of an advisor. A student following a non-thesis program is required to take a minimum of 27 graduate-level course credits. The program should include a minimum of 3 credits and a maximum of 6 tutorial credits with at least 12 credits being from core courses in the major. In the case of Ecosystem Management, a minimum of 27 graduate-level course credits are required in addition to a 3-credit project

By the end of the 1st year, the student would have had ample time to know the various specialties within his or her program and to become familiar with the professors and their concentrations. In addition, the student would have taken the needed foundational courses necessary to make an informed decision about his/her research focus. Rules and regulations for graduate programs are given in the Admissions section of this catalogue and include details about the Environmental Sciences Program. Information is also available in the FAFS Graduate Study Manual. Changes made after the publication of this catalogue will be made available through academic advisors. FAFS also offers a non-degree Food Security Graduate Diploma - Online. Details of this program are provided below​.

Graduate Research Requirements

Research Plan

• Every graduate student is expected to present his/her research plan and to have a thesis committee meeting by the end of the first year of joining FAFS.
• Thesis students will have to register for FAFS 300 (0 cr.) in the second semester. This course will guide them in their research proposal write-up and plan.
• The proposal defense will allow the student (by the start of the third semester at the latest):​
  • To have a clear plan for his/her research journey.
  • To vet the research objectives and methodology with his/her committee members.
  • To take the Proposal Review exam. The grade of a successful exam will be a Pass (P/F).

Thesis Committee Meeting (before the Thesis Defense)

A thesis committee meeting is to be held one semester before graduation. This meeting will outline the up-to-date progress and challenges and the expected outcome of the thesis. This meeting can be combined with the comprehensive exam.​

Thesis/Non-Thesis Data Handling

It is expected that the student delivers a data notebook, with an electronic version of the thesis data, to the major professor before graduation. A data notebook is to be examined by the major professor for proper research conduct. The above applies to the project/tutorial data of non-thesis students.​

Thesis Format/Manuscript Submission

Every thesis-track graduate student is expected to prepare a manuscript/paper for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Accordingly, students are expected to prepare their thesis in a manuscript format.

With regards to its length, the whole thesis, excluding references, appendices, and all other supportive material for the thesis will include:

• A shorter literature review compared to the regular, non-manuscript format, thesis.
• A typical manuscript length for the materials and methods, and results and discussion sections.
• A formatting change would be needed to make the thesis/manuscript compatible with the relevant journal formatting requirements
• By the time of graduation, the student needs to ensure that the manuscript is at least submitted to a peer-reviewed journal of relevance to the research topic/field of studies.​

PhD Program

A PhD program in Biomedical Sciences/Nutrition is offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine. For more information, see Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center (FM/AUBMC) page 550.​

Food Security Program

Mission

The Food Security Program aims to promote food security through education, research, community action, and policy-oriented professional practice. The program pursues a holistic approach to the many aspects of food security, including nutritional health, agricultural production, economic development, environmental sustainability, and socio-cultural considerations. The program educates a new generation of leaders in the Middle East and North Africa and throughout the Arab world, preparing graduates to address the vital issue of food security in an interdisciplinary and hands-on fashion. Through its Food Security Program, the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences offers a Master of Science in Food Security as well as a nondegree Food Security Graduate Diploma - Online.​

Graduate Programs

The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences offers two graduate-level programs of study through the Food Security Program, leading to an MS in Food Security or the Food Security Graduate Diploma - Online. Both programs address the multiple dimensions of food security by drawing on key disciplines including agriculture, nutrition, and development economics.

MS in Food Sec​urity

Requirements

The MS in Food Security requires the completion of a total of 30 credits, including six required courses. Candidates for the MS in Food Security have the option of selecting a thesis or non-thesis program of study. Thesis students must complete 15 credits of required core courses, 9 credits from approved elective courses (at least 6 credits within FAFS), and 6 credits of thesis. Non-thesis students must complete 15 credits of required core courses, 12 credits from approved elective courses (at least 6 credits within FAFS), and 3 credits of project. In addition, all students must pass a comprehensive examination.

Students may opt to earn a further specialization in one of the following three areas: rural development; economics and policies; or food production and consumption. For thesis students, specialization is earned through the completion of two FAFS electives in the desired focus area of the thesis. For non-thesis students, specialization is earned through the completion of three FAFS electives in the desired focus area of the project.​

​Elective Courses:

The following list reflects suggested elective courses that have been offered in recent terms and is illustrative only. An updated list of suggested electives is provided to enrolled students on a term-by-term basis. The listing and availability of elective courses is subject to change based on course offerings.​

Course Descriptions

• Food Security Program Courses​

Food Security Graduate Diploma – Online

The Food Security Graduate Diploma – Online offers a multi-disciplinary perspective and area of study. This program is designed for working professionals and future leaders who are looking for a career-transforming opportunity that explores the areas of food security, agricultural production, nutrition security, and public policy and development programming. The Food Security Graduate Diploma – Online is delivered in a flexible, fully online format.

Those students who wish to extend their course of study can transfer up to 12 credits (four courses) that have been successfully completed under the Food Security Graduate Diploma towards the MS in Food Security degree program.​

Requirements

The Food Security Graduate Diploma – Online requires completion of a total of 12 credits, divided across four required courses.

Course Descriptions

• Food Security Graduate Diploma Courses​​
  

MS in Rural Community Development (RCODE)​​

The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences offers an interdepartmental graduate program hosted by the Environment and Sustainable Development Unit, that leads to the degree of Master of Science (MS) in Rural Community Development (RCODE, thesis or non-thesis).

Graduates of the program will gain knowledge to improve prospects of rural development and build their capacities in community development to better design, manage, follow up, evaluate and monitor projects either in the public or private sector, locally, regionally and internationally.

The program combines theoretical and experiential courses from the university at large. The MS in Rural Community Development focuses on the following:

• The major theoretical and conceptual approaches to Rural Development
• The elaboration and implementation of sound rural development policies and projects
• The capacity of conducting research in the social, economic, political and environmental dimensions of Rural Development
• The qualitative and quantitative instruments of social enquiry to effectively pursue studies in Rural Development

The core program emphasizes community and participatory development, sustainable livelihoods, rural and agricultural policies, agrarian change, gender issues, social analysis of communities, environmental transformations, design and planning, program development and non-profit management, and community action research and skills for community change. Elective courses provide the desirable flexibility to enhance the breadth of the program and its multi-disciplined approach from registered programs at the FAFS and other faculties. Such courses allow specialization in environmental and natural resource management, community nutrition and food security, project planning, sustainable agriculture, communication and development, and community health.

Requirements​

All relevant requirements and regulations of the University and the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences for the master’s degree apply to the MS in RCODE.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from AUB or its equivalent from a recognized institution of higher learning.

Eligibility for admission is the same for both the thesis MS and non-thesis MS options. The students, for reasons commensurate with specific interests and required training, may change from the non-thesis to the thesis track and vice versa, subject to approval by the department supervising the major chosen.

Thesis and Non-Thesis Options 

The degree offers both thesis and non-thesis options. The program has six core courses. These cover issues related to the theory, methods and practice of rural community development and offer the opportunity for practical experience as well as research in rural community development. Two or three specialization electives can be selected from a list of approved courses to provide further insight into specific issues in rural community development from registered programs at the FAFS and other AUB faculties.

The successful completion of the degree will require 33 credit hours. At least 27 of the total 33 credits must be earned within the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS); among these are 21 credits (for thesis students), and 18 credits (for non-thesis students). Additional 6 credits (for thesis students) and 9 credits (for non-thesis students) must be selected from the list of approved electives within FAFS. The remaining 6 credits are free electives which may be earned from courses in FAFS or AUB at large as per the below table:​

Core Courses

• ​Core C​ourses

Spec​​ialization Electives: 9 credits for non-thesis option and 6 credits for thesis option

• Specialization Elective  Courses​

Free Elec​​​tives: 6 credits

• ​Free Electives Courses​