American Univesity of Beirut

​Officers of the Faculty

Faculty Administrative Support

Historical Background

The first programs leading to a master’s degree in MSFEA were introduced in 1962. Since then other programs have been added to help meet the growing demand for advanced engineering education. Between October 1990 and October 1994, six new master’s degree programs were introduced: the Master of Engineering Management (1990), four programs leading to the degree of Master of Engineering with majors in computer and communications engineering, electric power engineering, electronics, devices and systems, and environmental and water resources engineering (1991- 1993), and the Master of Mechanical Engineering (1994) with majors in applied energy, materials and manufacturing, or thermal and fluid sciences. In 1998, two programs were added: the Master of Urban Design and the Master of Urban Planning and Policy. In 2014, two master’s degree programs were introduced in chemical engineering: the Master of Science degree program and the Master of Engineering degree program. In 2016, a Master of Science degree program in biomedical engineering was introduced.

In 2007, PhD programs started accepting students in three departments of MSFEA: the Civil and Environmental Engineering department (PhD in civil engineering and PhD in environmental and water resources engineering), the Electrical and Computer Engineering department (PhD in electrical and computer engineering), and the Mechanical Engineering department (PhD in mechanical engineering). In 2016, a new PhD program in biomedical engineering was established.

Mission    

We offer world-class educational programs that prepare students for the engineering, architecture and design professions. Rooted in the liberal education model, our programs also prepare students to be engaged citizens and leaders, entrepreneurs and researchers who deploy their skills with ingenuity, integrity and a sense of responsibility towards future generations. Our faculty produces transformative knowledge and technology through internationally-recognized research and design, and seeks to leverage the special contexts of Lebanon and the region to define highly novel and relevant research programs. We impact policy and practice through our alumni and by directly engaging industry, government and the public at large.

Master’s Degree Programs    

The Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture offers graduate programs leading to the degree of Master of Engineering (ME) with majors in civil engineering, environmental and water resources engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering and chemical engineering. The faculty also offers the degrees of Master of Engineering Management (MEM), Master of Urban Design (MUD), Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP), Master of Mechanical Engineering with a major in applied energy, and Master of Science (MS) with majors in chemical engineering, biomedical engineering and energy studies. MSFEA also offers a Master of Science program in environmental technology as part of the Interfaculty Graduate Environmental Sciences Program.

In addition, a professional diploma in green technologies with majors in energy, buildings and water is offered in the faculty for professionals who wish to enhance their knowledge in the field.

The requirements for admission to the master’s programs are those specified for the master’s degree in the Admissions section of this catalogue with the following interpretations and additions.

Waiving of Credits    

The department or program of the intended major may recommend waiving up to 9 credits of coursework for students who have completed a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree and are applying for admissions to a Master of Engineering (ME) program, which is subject to approval by the advisor, chairperson and the MSFEA Graduate Studies Committee. To apply, the student must have completed advanced engineering courses (normally at the 600-level and above) that meet the program requirements with a grade of at least B+ or 80. In addition, the total number of transferable credits from BE to ME should not exceed 12. This means that if a student has taken a credit overload during his/her undergraduate BE studies, s/he can waive a maximum of 12 credits.

For the Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) and the Master of Urban Design (MUD) programs, the Architecture and Design (ArD) Department may recommend waiving up to nine credits of coursework for students who have completed a Bachelor of Architecture degree, and up to six credits of coursework for students who have completed a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree.

The ArD Department may also recommend waiving up to six credits of coursework for students who have completed a Bachelor of Engineering degree and are applying for admission to the MUPP program.

Waiving of credits is subject to approval by the program coordinator, the chairperson, and the MSFEA Graduate Studies Committee. To apply, the student must have completed the advanced course(s) with a grade of at least B+ or 80 or equivalent. An advanced course is a course taken during the senior (third) or later year(s) of undergraduate study and deemed equivalent, by program coordinator, chairperson, and MSFEA Graduate Studies Committee, to a course listed under Mandatory Courses or Elective Courses in the MUD/MUPP section of the Graduate Catalogue.

Regulations for Master’s Students Taking Undergraduate Courses

Master’s level students who are required to take undergraduate courses must obtain a grade of at least C+ or 70 in each undergraduate course taken. If a student fails to obtain a grade of C+ or 70 in any of these undergraduate courses, the student is allowed to repeat that course only once. Failure to meet the requirements will result in the student being dropped from the graduate program.

Curricula and Courses

The curricula and courses offered in each department are presented in the appropriate sections of this catalogue.

Courses Open to Students from other Faculties

Students from other faculties are allowed to take any course for credit offered by the MSFEA, provided space is available, the prerequisites are satisfied and the student has prior approval of both his/her faculty and the department offering the course.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs

The Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture offers graduate programs leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) with specializations in biomedical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, environmental and water resources engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Criteria for Regular Admission to PhD Programs

Candidates for a doctoral degree program must hold a master’s degree or its equivalent and must demonstrate outstanding academic ability (minimum average of 85 (3.7) or its equivalent) at the master’s level as well as the potential to conduct scholarly research. Additional specific requirements for each program can be found in the departmental sections of this catalogue. Application to the doctoral program will follow the deadlines set by the Admissions Office. All applicants are required to take the General Exam part of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and submit their scores. Students other than AUB graduates and graduates of recognized colleges or universities in North America, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand must meet the English Readiness for University Study in English (RUSE) set for master’s students.

Admission to a PhD program requires the recommendation of the department offering the program and the approval of the MSFEA Graduate Studies Committee.

Criteria for Admission to the Accelerated PhD Programs    

To apply to the accelerated program, students must have an average of 85 (3.7) or above in their undergraduate work. This applies to the average in the major as well as the cumulative average.
In addition to meeting the requirements described in the General University Academic Information section of the catalogue, there may be specific requirements described in the departmental sections.

Financial Support Available to Graduate Students    

The MSFEA offers several types of graduate assistantships to the most qualified applicants to its graduate programs, which include fellowships, graduate research assistantships (GRA), graduate teaching assistantships (GTA), and graduatete administrative assistantships (GAA).

Students who receive financial support are expected to maintain a high level of academic performance, satisfactory progress toward a degree and satisfactory performance of the work assignments associated with the aid.

These fellowships, GRAs , GTAs, and GAAs covering tuition are available for students at the graduate level in return for assisting faculty members and departments in teaching and/or research for a specified number of hours per week. Applicants are selected on the basis of their academic record and the needs of the relevant department. For more information, refer to Full-Time Status for University Graduate Assistants and Graduate Research Assistants (page 54).

Applicants opting for the non-thesis track are normally not offered graduate assistantships.

Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program

Background

The Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program (BMEP) is a joint MSFEA and FM interdisciplinary program that offers two degrees: Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Engineering. The BMEP is housed in the MSFEA and administered by both MSFEA and FM via a joint program coordinating committee (JPCC).

The mission of the BMEP is to provide excellent education and promote innovative research enabling students to apply knowledge and approaches from the biomedical and clinical sciences in conjunction with design and quantitative principles, methods and tools from the engineering disciplines to address human health related challenges of high relevance to Lebanon, the Middle East and beyond. The program prepares its students to be leaders in their chosen areas of specialization committed to lifelong learning, critical thinking and intellectual integrity.

The curricula of the MS and PhD degrees are composed of core and elective courses balanced between biomedical sciences and engineering and between fundamental and applied knowledge.

The curricula include the following three research focus areas:

• Biomedical Systems: This focus area includes research directions such as devices, instrumentation, biomechanics, biomaterials, drug delivery systems and tissue engineering.
  
• Biomedical Cybernetics: This focus area includes research directions such as biomedical and health informatics, computational biology, biomedical signal/image processing and biomedical systems engineering.
  
• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Engineering: This focus area includes research directions such as fluid mechanics, modeling, simulation, imaging, devices, and implants related to both human cardiovascular and pulmonary systems.

A student may select his/her courses to satisfy the requirements of one of the three focus areas.

The MS and PhD degrees are open to students holding degrees from relevant fields of study including basic sciences, biomedical sciences, computer science, engineering, health sciences, and mathematics. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the program, eight remedial undergraduate courses in sciences, math and engineering have been identified to cover the needed prerequisite knowledge; the remedial courses required by each admitted students are customized on a case-by-case basis depending on the student’s undergraduate degree. Remedial undergraduate courses do not count as credit towards the MS or PhD degree completion. Grades on these remedial courses will appear on the transcript as Pass/Fail with a passing grade of C+ or 70/100.

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

The BMEP offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in Biomedical Engineering with two options: thesis option and non-thesis option.

Admission Requirements

The application procedures and admission requirements to the MS program follow AUB’s General University Academic Information as documented in the Graduate Catalogue. To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study from AUB or its equivalent, or from a recognized institution of higher learning.

Accepted students in the thesis option are eligible to apply to the Graduate Fellowship and Assistantship Program (GFAP).GFAP support cannot be used to cover the tuition for remedial undergraduate courses.

Course Requirements

The MS program consists of 30 credits. The curriculum design is divided into core courses and elective courses in addition to a master’s thesis for the thesis option. This program does not provide credit towards New York State licensure.

Core graduate courses: 18 credits of core courses from biomedical sciences and engineering.

Restricted elective graduate courses: 6 credits restricted elective courses customized per focus area and required by both thesis and non-thesis options.

Free elective graduate courses for the non-thesis option: 6 credits additional elective courses. These courses should be taken from engineering and should be approved by the student’s advisor and the coordinator of the joint program coordinating committee.

Master thesis for the thesis option: 6 credits master’s thesis in biomedical engineering. The thesis requirements follow AUB’s General University Academic Information as documented in the Graduate Catalogue.

PhD in Biomedical Engineering    

Admission Requirements

The application procedures and admission requirements to the PhD program follow AUB’s General University Academic Information as documented in the Graduate Catalogue. To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field of study from AUB or its equivalent, or from a recognized institution of higher learning.

Acceptance into the PhD program is determined by academic performance as well as an assessment of readiness, potential and ability to develop into independent researchers as judged by interviews by faculty members, a written statement, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and other means of assessment such as publications and industrial experience.

Accepted students are eligible to receive scholarships that fully cover their tuition fees and provide a monthly stipend.

Degree Requirements

General requirements for master’s degree holders: Based on AUB’s guidelines, a minimum of 48 credit hours beyond those required for the master’s degree, of which a minimum of 18 credit hours must be in graduate level course work and a minimum of 24 credit hours of thesis work, must be taken. Requirements also allow a maximum of 3 credit hours out of the 18 credits of coursework as tutorial course and include a 0-credit comprehensive examination preparation course and a 0-credit thesis proposal preparation course.

General requirements for bachelor’s degree holders: Based on AUB’s guidelines, a minimum of 78 credit hours beyond those required for the bachelor’s degree, of which a minimum of 36 credit hours must be in graduate level coursework and a minimum of 30 credit hours of thesis work, must be taken. Requirements also allow a maximum of 6 credit hours out of the 36 credits of coursework as tutorial courses and include a 0-credit comprehensive examination preparation course and a 0-credit thesis proposal preparation course.

To earn a PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering, the student must complete the following requirements:

• Satisfy the course and research credit requirements
  
• Satisfy the residence requirement and all other pertinent AUB regulations
  
• Have at least one international refereed journal article based on the PhD thesis
  
• Have at least one refereed conference paper based on the PhD thesis
  
• Have a cumulative average of 85 (3.7) or above
  
• Pass the comprehensive and oral qualifying examinations
  
• Successfully defend the PhD thesis

The following are the graduate level course requirements for students admitted with a bachelor’s degree. The total number of credits is at least 36 credits divided among core, restricted elective and free elective courses. Students admitted with a master’s degree can waive as many courses as possible without going below the minimum required 18 credits of coursework.

Restricted elective graduate courses: 9 credits restricted elective courses customized per focus area.

Course Descriptions

• Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA) Graduate Courses
  

Professional Post Graduate Diploma Program in Green Technologies (Pro-Green)

General Description

The Pro-Green Diploma Program is a unique and focused diploma program that caters to professionals aspiring to enhance or complement their technical and decision-making skills in green technologies or progress in green businesses in the areas of energy utilization, building design, construction and management systems, sustainable and safe water production, water management and waste water treatment.

The American University of Beirut, the Lebanese American University and the American University in Cairo are jointly offering the Professional Post Graduate Diploma in Green Technologies in three specializations:

• Professional Post Graduate Diploma Program in Green Technologies; Major: Energy
  
• Professional Post Graduate Diploma Program in Green Technologies; Major: Buildings
  
• Professional Post Graduate Diploma Program in Green Technologies; Major: Water

Objectives

The Green Technologies Diploma Program is designed to address the trend towards healthier and more socially responsible communities by training professionals on effective ways to develop and advance sustainable energy and water efficiency in production, utilization, storage and re-use.

The program objectives are:

• To foster problem-solving competencies among professionals pursuing careers in green industries,
• To develop lifelong learning skills among professionals from different disciplines,
• To assist professionals in acquiring the diverse and critical skills needed to advance in their green technology careers,
• To develop expertise in green technologies related to applications in energy, buildings and water.

Upon successful completion of the Green Technology Diploma Program in any area of specialization, students/trainees will be able to:

• Acquire in-depth understanding of green technologies relevant to jobs in planning, design and implementation methods for sustainable energy, buildings, and water technologies and industries,
  
• Build analysis and hands-on skills needed for development and implementation of green products and processes in the area of specialization (energy, buildings or water),
  
• Develop lifelong learning skills in the green technologies field. The pro-green diploma program emphasizes lifelong learning through the establishment of a community of practice and through problem/project-based learning, including case studies related to real life applications from the participants’ own fields of practice.
  
• Identify how economic analysis, policy and regulatory frameworks can help in expanding the green technologies market.

Eligibility

The program is intended for professionals and individuals interested in and/or involved in the development and implementation of green technologies in their practice, including architects, engineers, facility managers and contractors. The courses are offered at the postgraduate level. Applicants should have a recognized and related bachelor’s degree in natural science, mathematics, engineering or architecture. Applicants who join the program may have to complete pre-requisites for courses offered in the diploma program or obtain the consent of the course instructor and program coordinator. The core courses are designed to include remedial preparation in areas related to social sciences.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the graduate program, other than AUB graduates and graduates of colleges or universities recognized and located in North America, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, must meet the Readiness for University Studies in English (RUSE) as explained in the next heading.

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering or science from recognized universities to be enrolled in the diploma program. Professional experience might be considered on a case by case basis where students may register for courses not working towards receiving the diploma and their performance is assessed towards their registered courses.

The only three documents required for enrollment in the Green Technologies Diploma Program are the following:

• A copy of the applicant’s bachelor’s degree (diploma): Bachelor of Architecture (BA), Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Bachelor of Science (BS).
  
• A photocopy of the front page of the applicant’s passport or national ID.
  
• Readiness for University Studies in English (RUSE) according to the distribution listed on http://www.aub.edu.lb/admissions/english.

Structure and Program Requirements

The Green Technologies Diploma Program shares a set of core courses that can be registered and followed at any of the joint universities. Each major specialization will also include a number of required specialization courses and one or two elective courses depending on the major. The admission procedures, teaching and examination regulations and academic calendars at universities are carefully coordinated. The program will include a major e-learning format through blended and online course offerings.

The required core courses of the program provide a solid foundation in both technical and economic aspects of green technologies in energy, buildings and water, allowing the student to simultaneously understand advances in selected green technologies and their interrelations with market economy, policy and energy laws. The specialization courses consist of more in-depth development of expertise in the selected major through a number of specialization courses selected in the major, elective courses and a graduation project.

The diploma program permits part-time enrollment. To obtain the professional diploma degree in green technologies in any of the offered specializations, the student must complete a minimum of 18 credits of coursework depending on the specialization, including a project in an area related to the selected specialization. The diploma program credit requirement is distributed as follows:

18 credits (or more) are required to complete the diploma:

• 6 credits of core courses
  
• 6 to 8 credits of courses in the area of specialization excluding the project in the area of specialization
  
• 2 to 4 credits for elective course as approved by project advisor/s from the list of elective courses as well as courses from other specializations outside the student’s declared specialization.
  
• 2-credit Project (equivalent to 2 credit hours)
  
• 0 credit Seminar/Webinar (to be registered twice)

26 credits are required to complete the diploma with a double specialization: A student must complete a minimum of 8 credit hours of graduate course work over and above the requirements for the first specialization.

• 6 credits in the second specialization
  
• 2 credits project in the second specialization

34 credits are required to complete the diploma with a triple specialization: A student must complete a minimum of 8 credit hours of graduate course work over and above the requirements for the two other specializations.

• 6 credits in the third specialization
  
• 2 credits project in the third specialization

The diploma program permits part-time and full-time enrollment.

The diploma can be completed in 12-18 months, but the student has up to 3 years to complete the diploma.

The core, specialization and elective courses are summarized in the following sections.

Course Requirements

Core Courses

Students are required to complete the following 6 credits of core courses that are common to the three specializations in Energy, Buildings and Water:

• Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA) Graduate Courses
  

Specialization Courses

Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 credits from their selected specialization. The courses in the various specializations are listed below.

Elective Courses

The elective courses can be selected from specialization courses outside the chosen area of specialization. In addition, a number of elective course modules can be selected from the following:

Course Loads, Credit Transfer and Sample Program

Course Loads

Typically the maximum number of credits for the diploma that may be taken in a regular term is up to 5 or 6 credits, yet the student can follow her/his own pace.

Requirements for Double Specialization

Students may enroll and earn a diploma in two specializations. To fulfill the basic requirement for the double specialization, a student must complete a minimum of 8 credit hours of graduate coursework over and above the requirements for the first specialization. This will include 6 credits in the second specialization as well as 2 credit hours for a project. The minimum total credit hours for a double specialization in the Green Technologies Diploma Program would be 26.

Requirements for Three Specializations

For a diploma in three specializations, a student must complete a minimum of 8 credit hours of graduate coursework over and above the requirements for the two other specializations. This will include 6 credits in the third specialization as well as 2 credit hours for a project. The minimum total credit hours for a triple specialization in the Green Technologies Diploma Program would be 34.

Course Descriptions

• Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA) Graduate Courses

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