American University 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+. 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 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+ in each undergraduate course taken. If a student fails to obtain a grade of C+ 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 GPA of 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 a GPA of 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 graduate 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+​.

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

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 GPA of 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.

Core graduate courses: 21 credits of core courses from biomedical sciences and engineering.

Students are required to take two PhD lab rotation courses where each lab rotation is 1 credit (one lab rotation in MSFEA and one lab rotation in FM).

EPHD 310 can be replaced by another advanced level statistics course based on JPCC’s approval.

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

Courses marked as “R” are required, and courses marked as “X” are possible elective options.​

Free elective graduate courses: 6 credits additional elective courses. These courses should be taken based on the student’s specific area of research as approved by the student’s advisor.

Course Descriptions​

• Biomedical Engineering Courses​
  

Diploma in Humanitarian and Public Health Innovations

The Diploma in Humanitarian Engineering and Public Health Innovations is a joint FHS/ MSFEA interdisciplinary diploma.​

The Diploma is open to professionals as well as AUB students currently enrolled in graduate programs from all majors wishing to gain academic knowledge and skills in the field of Humanitarian Engineering and Health Innovations. The program is a multidisciplinary offering that provides graduate students and professionals with the skills required to find innovative design solutions for challenges faced in humanitarian settings by taking into consideration two complementary perspectives, public health perspective and engineering perspective. 

​Learning Outcomes of the D​iploma

Students who complete the diploma will be able to:

1. Apply participatory needs assessment tools and analyze the different dimensions of a public health problem
2. Apply formal d​esign methods to develop practical, feasible, scalable, and sustainable humanitarian engineering and public health innovations and interventions
3. Apply skills required to manage complex projects while working in multidisciplinary teams
4. Demonstrate entrepreneurial skills to take a solution/intervention from prototype to product 
5. Articulate and adhere to ethical standards in the process followed and, in the intervention, designed
6. ​Present and document a problem and its solution to a diverse target audience

Requirements for the Diploma

It is composed of 15 credits of course work, that include:  

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Graduate Professional Diploma – Online

General Description

The Online Professional Graduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence & Data Science is the first of its kind in the MENA region, providing you with the skills needed to design and implement AI and Data Science applications. Unlike other online programs, this diploma uncovers AI and Data Science concepts in several contexts while focusing on regionally relevant applications and the integration of ethics as a core component. Students from all backgrounds interested in being part of this exciting field in tech can join this diploma.

The diploma is a joint program offered by the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA) and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) in collaboration with faculty members from Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) and the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS).​

Eligibility

The program is intended for fresh graduates and working professionals from all backgrounds interested in joining the fastest growing field in tech and seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in the fields of AI & Data Science. To be eligible for this program, applicants should have an undergraduate bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from AUB or other recognized institutions of higher learning. In addition, students must demonstrate basic proficiency in computer programming, statistics, linear algebra and calculus. Students who do not have this background can take three preparatory credits that do not count towards the degree requirements of the diploma prior to taking the required diploma courses.​

These 3 courses are:

• Introduction to Python Programming (1 credit)
• Statistics (1 credit)
• Mathematics of Machine Learning (1 credit)

Student admission recommendations require the approval of the faculty graduate studies committee (FGSC).

Admissions Requirements

Applicants should have an undergraduate bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from AUB or other recognized institutions of higher learning. Applicants to this diploma may provide evidence for RUSE by submitting a satisfactory and valid score for one of the following tests: AUB-EN, TOEFL, IELTS(Academic), or Duolingo.

Important Note: applicants who have graduated from a university where English is the primary language of instruction may be exempted from demonstrating RUSE (Readiness for University Study in English).​

Structure and Program Requirements

The AI & Data Science diploma will require the successful completion of 12 credits (7 courses) as follows:

• 4 mandatory (core) courses
• 3 elective courses, as offered by the program

Course Requirements

Core Courses

Students are required to complete the following 7.5 credits of core courses:

Elective Courses

Students are required to complete the following 4.5 credits by choosing 3 elective courses:

Course Descriptions​

Prerequisite Courses

• Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Prerequisite Courses​​​​

Core Courses

• ​Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Core Courses​​​

Elective Courses​

• ​Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Elective Courses​​​​

​​Project Management Graduate Professional Diploma – Online

General Description

The online Project Management diploma is a program that provides students with a complete understanding of managing complex projects and equips them with the needed skills to organize, plan, and execute projects within a set budget and timelines. The program establishes and/or further advances the know-how in resource management, finance, risk analysis and mitigation, and project delivery approaches.

Eligibility

The program is intended for professionals and individuals interested in and/or involved in project management. To be eligible for this program, applicants should have an undergraduate bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from AUB or other recognized institutions of higher learning. Student admission recommendations require the approval of the faculty graduate studies committee (FGSC).

Admissions Requirements

Applicants should have an undergraduate bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from AUB or other recognized institutions of higher learning. Applicants to this diploma may provide evidence for RUSE by submitting a satisfactory and valid score for one of the following tests: AUB-EN, TOEFL, IELTS(Academic), or Duolingo

Important Note: applicants who have graduated from a university where English is the primary language of instruction may be exempted from demonstrating RUSE.

Structure and Program Requirements

The PM diploma will require the successful completion of 12 credits (6 courses) as follows:

• 2 mandatory (core) courses
• 5 elective courses, as offered by the program

Course Requirements

Core Cour​​​ses

Students are required to complete the following 4 credits of core courses:

Electiv​e Courses

Students are required to complete the following 8 credits of elective courses:

Course Descriptions

Core Cours​es

• Project Management Graduate Professional Diploma – Online Core Courses

Elective Courses

• Project Management Graduate Professional Diploma – Online​​ Elective Courses​

UX/UI Graduate Professional Diploma – Online

General Description 

Step into the world of User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design through our comprehensive UX/UI Professional Diploma. This program is built on the solid foundation of ‘human centric design’ principles, offering skill-focused training that spans from in-depth user research to the crafting of sitemaps and wireframes.

​Benefit from an engaging program that combines self-paced online modules with interactive live sessions led by regional industry experts.

Eligibility

This program is intended for: 

• A professional working in tech and design agencies.
• A graphic/UI designer or instructional designer looking to enhance their expertise.
• An entrepreneur aiming to transform their concept(s) into concrete prototypes for investor presentations.
• A young professional seeking to gain a new highly in-demand skill.

To be eligible for this program, applicants should have an undergraduate bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from AUB or other recognized institutions of higher learning. Student admission recommendations require the approval of the faculty graduate studies committee (FGSC).

Admission Requirements 

Applicants should have an undergraduate bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from AUB or other recognized institutions of higher learning. Applicants to this diploma may provide evidence for RUSE (Readiness for University Study in English) by submitting a satisfactory and valid score for one of the following tests: AUB-EN, TOEFL, IELTS(Academic), or Duolingo.

Important Note: applicants who have graduated from a university where English is the primary language of instruction may be exempted from demonstrating RUSE (Readiness for University Study in English).​

Structure and Program Requirements

The UX/UI diploma will require the successful completion of 13 credits (7 courses) for nondesigners and 12 credits (6 courses) for designers:

Course Requirements ​

Course Descriptions

• ​UX/UI Graduate Professional Diploma – Online Courses
  

Entrepreneurship & Innovation Graduate Professional Diploma – Online

General Description

The Online Graduate Professional Diploma in Entrepreneurship & Innovation is a joint program between the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) and the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA) at AUB aiming to: