American Univesity of Beirut

Professional Administrators

Program Directors and Coordinators

Center Directors

Middle East Advisory Board

The Finance, Accounting and Managerial Economics Track

The Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Track

The Business Information and Decision Systems Track

History and Overview

Business Education at AUB started in 1900 and was provided either by a department or by a semi-autonomous school under the university’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences for approximately one hundred years. In celebration of the hundred-year anniversary of offering business programs, AUB established an independent school of business (later named the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, OSB) in September 2000 as the sixth faculty of the university.

To date, AUB has graduated over 8,000 students from its undergraduate business programs and over 1,750 from its graduate business programs. Since its formal establishment as a distinct school, OSB has grown its full-time faculty complement from 13 members in the academic year 2000-2001 to 57 members today. It now graduates approximately 350 students from its undergraduate program and more than 60 students from its graduate programs every year.

OSB currently offers five degree programs which include an Executive Master of Business Administration (herein referred to as the Executive MBA), a Master of Business Administration (herein referred to as the MBA), a Master’s in Finance (herein referred to as the MFIN), a Master’s in Human Resource Management (herein referred to as the MHRM), a Master’s in Business Analytics (herein referred to as the MS-BA) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (herein referred to as the BBA).

The First AUB Faculty to be Named

In June 2003, the AUB School of Business was named the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (herein referred to as OSB) in honor of the late international Saudi businessman and AUB trustee whose family has always been a major supporter of AUB.

This watershed event triggered a series of major developments intended to broaden and deepen the delivery of quality undergraduate and graduate business programs at AUB. An entirely new curriculum was introduced for the BBA and MBA degrees in Fall 2001. Both degrees were redesigned to follow leading trends in international business education. In Spring 2004, OSB launched the Executive MBA program in response to the professional development needs of senior corporate leaders in the region. In 2012, OSB introduced a Specialized Master’s in Finance and a Specialized Master’s in Human Resource Management, and in 2017 introduced a Master of Science in Business Analytics to its suite of graduate degree program offerings as part of its strategy to better serve the region, increase its graduate enrollment and further enhance AUB’s global brand as the regional business education leader.

Accreditation

The degree programs of OSB are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

Requiring rigorous quality audits and adherence to best academic practices, AACSB accreditation, which is attained by fewer than 5 percent of business schools worldwide, is the international quality assurance standard for business education programs. Initial accreditation was achieved in 2009, and as per AACSB re-accreditation guidelines, OSB was re-accredited in 2014 and more recently in 2019, marking 10 years of AACSB accreditation.

Vision

The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business’ vision is to transform business thinking in the MENA region.

Mission

The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business’ mission is to enable world-class business research, learning and knowledge transfer from our authoritative anchor point within the MENA region.

RADICAL Values

Resilience: We work at continuous improvement and excellence with determination and resolve. We proudly embody at OSB a trait often attributed to our larger region. Giving up is simply not part of our vocabulary.

Agility: Success at OSB requires that we move quickly and nimbly at opportunities, all while maintaining rigor and attention to detail. We work to remove all things that deter us from an agility that keeps us competitive.

Daring: We allow ourselves to work differently, experiment where others might caution, and explore as a means to keep ourselves fresh and relevant. Daring is a mindset that allows us to be innovative, entrepreneurial and creative in our way.

Impact: We are at AUB to have impact through our research, teaching and transfer of knowledge. That service is multifaceted and involves a large number of stakeholders relevant to our spheres of influence.

Commitment to good: We are professionals committed to fulfilling our roles and responsibilities with integrity. We represent, in our roles, the highest standards, compassion and empathy that others will learn to emulate, and we will remain steadfast at expecting this of each and every one.

Anchored in our community: We are deeply rooted in the Lebanese community and the greater MENA region, and we interpret this fact as a definitive strength that is hard to replicate. It is the community that we are from, that we understand and that we are committed to building from our developing position of international strength.

Legacy: Our history is rich and inspirational, and thinking of it invigorates us daily when we recognize what people have accomplished through AUB. We draw entrepreneurial courage from Suliman S. Olayan’s business acumen and success, a great perspective on community service from AUB’s many impactful alumni, and resilience from an institution that has withstood a century and a half of tumultuous societal challenges with great distinction.

Ethics and Integrity at OSB    

OSB is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and expects its faculty and students to exhibit exemplary behavior in this regard. All business students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with and always abiding by the AUB policies, rules and regulations that define standards for academic integrity.

Organization and Governance    

The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) is managed by the dean, associate deans, track conveners, program directors and the professional administrators of the school. Track conveners report directly to the dean of the school. The school is guided by the Middle East Advisory Board, a board composed of accomplished regional thought leaders and trendsetters in business. It operates under a set of school bylaws available at the following web address: https://aub.policytech.eu/dotNet/documents/?docid=14 9&public=true

OSB is organized into the functional equivalent of multidisciplinary departments, referred to as tracks. While each track has its distinct identity and designated faculty members, a track is markedly different from a department; it allows for multiple faculty membership, offers fertile soil for cross-disciplinary synergy and facilitates faculty cooperation.

The school has three tracks, each encompassing a cluster of distinct academic business disciplines and headed by a track convener:

The tracks are:

• Finance, Accounting and Managerial Economics (FAME)
  
• Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (MME)
  
• Business Information and Decision Systems (BIDS)

Online learning periods occur between each on-campus module, ensuring continuous learning and interaction between participants throughout the program.

Academic Policies

University academic rules and regulations apply. The minimum passing grade in a course is 70 (C+). A participant who fails a course must retake it. An average of at least 80 (B) must be maintained throughout the program. Failure to do so will result in the participant being placed on academic probation, which can be lifted only upon completion of a timed development plan, mutually agreed upon by the Executive MBA Director. The OSB EMBA Oversight Committee may discontinue the participant from the Executive MBA program if the participant fails to remove the probation within the time period specified in the plan.

Course Descriptions

• Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) Graduate Courses
  

The MBA Program

Philosophy

The MBA program is designed for the professionals and future leaders that are looking to advance and transform their career. The MBA program will deliver a global world- class level of education that drives in the most influential, diversified, and innovative business thinkers from around the globe, leveraging on world-renowned faculty, robust theory that compliments practical learning, with a customized format that would fit individual needs of participants.

Program Highlights

• Flexible, innovative curriculum which fosters collaboration, community, teamwork and an entrepreneurial spirit
• World-class faculty research and a focus on experiential and analytical learning
• Rigorous academic theory is linked with real-world practice to build fundamental leadership and management skills
• Ongoing assessment of learning outcomes geared toward continuous improvement
• A global community of alumni worldwide create a powerful network that lasts a lifetime

Excellent teaching, executive connections and partnership opportunities are just some of the things you will experience at OSB. All our courses will provide students with opportunities to learn, practice and lead. Whether you are interested in consulting, strategy, innovation or other topics from health services to entrepreneurship, our MBA will provide you with the knowledge and recognition you are seeking from the business world.

Admission to the Program

Normally, there are two admission deadline in March, for enrollment in the Fall term and in November, for enrollment the following Spring. For more details, please refer to the Admissions section of the AUB graduate catalogue under Application Procedures.

Criteria for Admission

The MBA program is looking to attract and admit candidates with balanced competencies including excellent analytical skills and leadership potential.

The following requirements will be needed to consider your application:

• Average GPA of at least 80 (3.2) from a university recognized by AUB
• An applicant is considered for admission on probation if s/he has attained an average between 75 (2.7) and 80 (3.2).
• All students who do not have an undergraduate degree from AUB or any American, Canadian, British or Australian University, must meet the Readiness for University Studies in English (RUSE) of the university
• A GMAT test score. In lieu of GMAT, candidates may submit a GRE equivalence score (quantitative and verbal sections). Subject to filling a GMAT waiver request, an applicant may be exempted from submitting a test score , under the below conditions. The waiver request must be approved by the OSB Graduate Studies Committee.
• Strong candidates with quantitative undergraduate or graduate degrees from highly recognized and ranked universities
• Holders of internationally recognized certifications such as CFA
• Candidates with a significant professional number of years of progressive post- undergraduate, full-time work experience in an analytical or quantitative field
• Minimum 12 months of relevant work experience or equivalency judged on a case- by-case basis (outstanding applicants with less than 12 months of work experience may be considered)
• Two letters of recommendation preferably highlighting the applicant’s work experience
• Curriculum vitae
• Interview

To apply please submit an online application form at: https://graduateadmissions.aub.edu.lb/

As per AUB’s bylaws, the OSB Graduate Studies Committee shall act on admission to the MBA program of all applicants. Careful consideration will be given to each applicant’s file and a composite score will be used to decide on the applicant’s admission decision. For additional information on graduate admissions, refer to the Admissions section of this catalogue.

Program Components

Overview

The MBA program has been in existence at AUB since the mid-1940s and is committed to the highest standards of quality in graduate management education. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a general management program that encompasses the different areas of business and offers a robust knowledge platform comprised of a set of functional, cross-functional and skill-based core and elective courses. A variety of electives are available to choose from so students can tailor their learning experience to suit their individual needs.

Starting Fall 2020, OSB is delivering the MBA program in two modes: in-person on campus and online. At the time of applying to the MBA program, the applicant must specify whether the application is for the on-campus MBA or the online MBA program (OMBA). Applicants to either mode of delivery, i.e., MBA or OMBA, are subjected to the same admission criteria. The only difference is in the mode of delivering the program.

All our courses will provide students with opportunities to learn, practice and lead. Our graduates acquire the vital knowledge and skills to go on and build prosperous careers in various industries, including Management Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Banking, Marketing, Media and others.

Program Outline

The MBA curriculum is composed of eight (8) core courses and a choice of 4 electives from a list of courses covering important areas of interest to the students. The program is offered on a full-time and part-time basis to suit the needs of students. Completion period ranges between 10 and 20 months depending on student preferences. It is the only graduate program at OSB which starts every fall and spring of the academic year.

The Curriculum

Program Delivery

The program can either be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. As a full-time student, the program can be completed within one academic year as follows:

Part-time students have up to three years to complete the program as follows:

Academic Policies

Academic Rules and Regulations

University Academic Rules and Regulations on courses, grades, probation and dismissal apply. The minimum passing grade in a course is C+. Students in the MBA program are required to maintain a cumulative average of at least 3.2 in all courses taken for graduate credit.

Academic Advisors

Each student has an academic advisor who normally approves the student’s schedule each term. The General University Academic Information section of this catalogue provides further information on academic advisors.

MBA Courses and Course Descriptions

Our MBA courses are taught by professionals in the field who bring forth their dynamic experiences and diverse backgrounds. Through the program students will further their understanding of core management and business knowledge and practice while simultaneously enriching their perspective and practical knowledge on how to be innovative and entrepreneurial, and a responsible business professional with a global perspective and strong strategic foundation for success. Through class discussions, team learning and hands-on work, students will experience professional growth as well as personal development. In addition to the core and elective courses, professional leadership workshops will be offered to students. Each student must complete two prior to graduation.

MBA courses all have a prefix indicating the discipline: ACCT (Accounting), DCSN (Business Decision Systems), ENTM (Entrepreneurship), FINA (Finance), INFO (Business Information Systems), MKTG (Marketing) and MNGT (Management). Integrative and multi-disciplinary courses that do not belong to a particular discipline are labeled by the prefix BUSS. It is important to note that the successful completion of the pre-MBA integrative foundation module is a prerequisite for enrollment in all core and elective courses listed below. To deepen the learning of the student and to allow for program’s customizing, student can also select courses offered by other graduate programs within OSB and AUB, subject to the approval of the director.

Remedial Courses

The integrative pre-MBA foundation module is an intensive, level-setting, 0-credit suite of three short courses offering basics in Accounting, Finance and Statistics. It normally takes place over a period of one month prior to the start of each of the fall and spring terms. It is offered online in an adaptive format and should be completed prior to the start of the program. The modules are followed by an assessment test.

Core and Elective Courses

• Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) Graduate Courses
  

Academic Policies

Academic Rules and Regulations

University Academic Rules and Regulations on courses, grades, probation and dismissal apply. The minimum passing grade in a course is 70. Students in the MSBA program are required to maintain a cumulative average of at least 80 (3.2) in all courses taken for graduate credit.

Academic Advisors

Each student has an academic advisor who normally approves the student’s schedule each term. The General University Academic Information section of this catalogue provides further information on academic advisors.

MSBA Courses and Course Descriptions

• Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) Graduate Courses