American Univesity of Beirut

​Officers of the School

Faculty

School Administrative Support

Historical Background

The School of Nursing, founded in 1905, was the first nursing school in the Middle East. The five–year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, established in 1936, was replaced in 1964 by a four–year program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Students entering the school as sophomores graduate in three calendar years. The RN- BSN program was reactivated and launched in 2003. The Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) program was launched in 2003. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BSN) and the MSN program are registered by the Department of Education of New York State, HEGIS codes 1203.00 and 1203.10, respectively. The BSN and MSN programs are accredited by CCNE, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, in the USA. The AUB School of Nursing is the first School of Nursing outside the US territories to be accredited by CCNE. The PhD program, HEGIS code 1203.12, was launched in the academic year 2018-2019. Effective September 2018, Hariri School of Nursing became the seventh independent faculty at AUB. The Rafic Hariri School of Nursing became the seventh independent Faculty at AUB on September 1, 2018.

Mission

The mission of the School of Nursing is to promote and maintain the highest educational standards of excellence, integrity, and professionalism in nursing, following the American model of nursing education and practice. The school aims to provide learning opportunities that will enable students to develop into competent nurses who, guided by ethical principles, respect cultural diversity while coordinating and delivering high–quality, compassionate nursing care in Lebanon and the region. The faculty believes education is an interactive process between faculty and students with both taking responsibility for active learning. The baccalaureate program, drawn primarily from the humanities, sciences, and caring disciplines, focuses on the use of nursing theory and research as a basis for practice. The master’s program focuses on preparing nurses for advanced nursing practice roles and is based on the use and generation of research–based knowledge to guide practice. The PhD program in Nursing Science aims to provide rigorous training for research careers in nursing and healthcare. The program is intended to produce research scientists who will make significant and original contributions to nursing practice and healthcare delivery. Nursing students at AUB learn to think critically, develop professional attitudes and leadership skills, and appreciate the value of life–long learning and freedom of speech.

Vision    

The Rafic Hariri School of Nursing aspires to become the leading school of nursing in Lebanon and the region and nationally and internationally recognized for excellence in education, research, and service.

The school is committed to offering cutting-edge, culturally-relevant and internationally recognized graduate and undergraduate education, fostering life-long learning and scholarship, developing leaders in nursing and health care, and attracting a competent and culturally diverse student body.

Undergraduate Program Outline    

Admission

Students holding diplomas from a 12–year secondary school may gain admission to the School of Nursing as first year nursing students (see required courses at the freshman level). Freshman students wishing to transfer to the School of Nursing from AUB or another institution may gain admission provided they complete the required freshman courses.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

The School of Nursing follows the admission policies and criteria of the university. For further details, see the section on Admissions of this catalogue.

RN–BSN Program

The curriculum is designed to permit the graduates of a technical program in nursing to pursue the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing the university entrance requirements are met. The time limit for completion of the program should not exceed six calendar years. A selected number of nursing courses may be validated if applicable.

Preferred requirement for admission to the program is one yearworth of experience in addition to the English Entrance Exam. The applicant should provide BT governmental exam certificate similar to BACC II and license to practice nursing from Ministry of Public health. The candidate may be asked to have an interview with the school’s Dean and/or program convener.

According to the decree no. 855 dated 01/07/2015, issued by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, holders of the technical baccalaureate (BT) are eligible for admission to similar fields as that of BT. In this case, holders of BT nursing may apply to any health-related major. Those applying to the BSN program should complete the following remedial/pre-requisite freshman level courses prior to the BSN II year:

• 3 credits in Mathematics (MATH 101 or 102)
  
• 3 credits in Chemistry (CHEM 101)
  
• 3 credits in Biology (BIOL 101)
  
• 3 credits in Physics (PHYS 101, 103 or 200)

BS/BA-BSN Accelerated Program

The School of Nursing accelerated program is designed for individuals who have a BS/ BA in fields other than nursing. The streamlined curriculum permits students to earn a BSN in 24 months. Students who graduate from this program are entitled to sit for the National Colloquium Exam to become registered nurses. The admission to the BS/BA- BSN program requires the following:

• BS/BA degree in a field other than nursing
• A minimum GPA of 75 (GPA: 2.7) including prerequisite courses and general education requirements
• Completion of the following prerequisite courses prior to admission: ENGL 204, PSYC 201, Biostatistics course, PSYC 210, SOAN 201, and four elective courses in humanities
• For admission to Fall term 2022-23, the deadline for applications is April 30,2022Applications are available online through the AUB website.
• Students are urged to submit course syllabi and course descriptions for courses requiring equivalence.

Transfer from the Freshman Class

Transfer students from the freshman class of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences may apply to the sophomore year at the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing. To be eligible for admission, the applicant must have:

• completed at least 24 credits prior to their registration in the fall or spring term and achieved a minimum cumulative average of 70 (GPA: 2.2).

Transfer from Other Faculties at AUB

Transfer students from other faculties at AUB may apply to the BSN program. To be eligible for admission, the applicant must have:

• completed at least 24 credits prior to their registration in the fall or spring term and achieved a minimum cumulative average of 70 (GPA: 2.2).

Transfer from Other Universities

Transfer students from other universities in Lebanon or abroad may apply to the junior year. To be eligible for admission, the applicant must have:

• completed 30 sophomore credits (1 year) or more prior to their registration in the fall or spring term,
• achieved a minimum cumulative average equivalent to the AUB average of 70 (GPA: 2.2),
• submitted the most recent transcript of their grades,
• and met the Readiness for University Studies in English.

Once a student is accepted, the assigned academic adviser follows up with the student on credit transfer and course equivalences. The student should submit course syllabi and course descriptions for courses requiring equivalence. A grade of 70 (C+) or above is required in the major courses for transfer. Furthermore, accepted students must complete at least 45 credits at AUB.

Dual Degree

The School of Nursing follows the requirements set by AUB to allow students to pursue a dual degree. For further details, see the section on General University Academic Information on page 50 of this catalogue.

Courses

Numbers Preceding Course Titles

Nursing courses are numbered according to level and they normally follow a sequence. See curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and course descriptions on page 647-657.

Numbers Following Course Titles

• The first number following the title of a course indicates the number of class hours per week.
• The second number indicates the clinical hours required each week.
• The last number indicates the number of credit hours applied toward graduation. The credit assigned to each course is stated for the term.

Frequency of Courses

Courses marked fall/spring/summer are offered accordingly during each academic year.

Graduation Requirements

All recommendations for graduation are made by vote of the faculty upon the recommendation of the academic committee.

To be eligible for graduation with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the following requirements must be met:

• completion of the prescribed program of study with a minimum of 103 credits after the freshman class or equivalent, 100 credits for those entering at English 204, 91 credits for those entering as registered nurses (excluding the remedial courses mentioned under section RN-BSN program on page 546)
• and an overall average of 70 (GPA: 2.2), excluding freshman courses.
• The maximum time allowed for the completion of the degree program should be within the following specified periods: BSN II six calendar, BSN III four calendar years, BSN IV two calendar years.
• Students must petition the academic committee for an extension of time if needed.

All undergraduate transfer students from AUB or from other recognized institutions of higher learning to the School of Nursing need to complete the required prerequisites and all required nursing courses. A minimum residency period of one year or 30 credits for within AUB transfers and 45 credits for transfers from outside must be completed at AUB.

Course credits pertinent to the nursing curriculum may be transferred according to criteria set by the admission and academic committees.

Licensing

Graduates are qualified for the licensing examination in Lebanon (Colloquium). Non Lebanese graduates cannot practice Nursing in Lebanon, unless permitted by the Order of Nurses in Lebanon in exceptional situations.

Academic Rules and Regulations    

For information on Academic Advisers, Categories of Students, Correct Use of Language, and Graduation with Distinction and High Distinction, see General University Academic Information in this catalogue.

Attendance

Classes and Laboratories

• Students are expected to attend all classes, laboratories, and any other required activities. Absence by students, whether excused or not, from any class or laboratory session does not excuse them from their responsibility for the work done or from any announcements made during their absence.
• Students who are absent from more than one fifth of the number of lectures of any course during a term lose all credit for the course.
• Students may not be excused from laboratory and field requirements. All missed clinical and field requirements must be made up for. In case of repeated absences from clinical courses, over one fifth of the total hours, the student may be asked to drop the course.

Examinations and Quizzes

Students are not allowed to be absent from announced final examinations and quizzes unless they present an excuse considered valid by the coordinator of the course. The course coordinator may then require the student to take a makeup examination.

Students taking non–nursing courses from the Faculty of Medicine and other faculties of the university are required to follow the attendance regulations of that faculty.

Grading System

Refer to the grading system, under “General University Academic Information” section in the catalogue.

The passing grade for all nursing major courses is C+, except for NURS-203 (passing grade is D).

Incomplete Grades

• Incomplete course work will be reported as an “I” followed by a numerical grade reflecting the evaluation of the student available at the end of the term. This evaluation is based on a grade of zero on all missed work.
• To secure permission to complete the work for a course, a student must submit a valid excuse to the instructor of the course and the academic committee within two weeks from the date of the scheduled final exam for the course.
• Students permitted to complete work for a course must do so within four weeks of the start of the next regular term. After the incomplete work is done and evaluated by the faculty member, a grade change will be considered by the Dean of the school (upon the recommendation of the program convener) and a new grade reported to the Office of the Registrar.
  
• If no valid excuse is presented and the work, if permitted, is not completed within the time limits specified above, the “I” will be dropped and the numeric grade available becomes the final grade in the course.
  
• For the purposes of averaging, the numeric grade is used until it is changed in accordance with the grading system set above.
  

Withdrawal from a Program

To maintain student status, a student must register every term, excluding the summer session, unless required by the program. Students who do not register can be readmitted provided they can complete the requirements within the time limit of the program.

Promotion

Students shall be promoted at the end of the summer session after completion of 30 or more credits beyond the requirements from the previous level. However, students who register in September and who lack 6 or fewer credits for completion of a class will be registered in the next higher class at the discretion of the academic committee. In order to be promoted, students must attain a minimum average of 68 (GPA: 2.0) at the end of the second regular term (sophomore year) and 70 (GPA: 2.2) in the following years. Promotion of BSN students based on earned credits. Sophomore (N2) nursing students are promoted to N3 if they complete 30 earned credits Junior (N3) nursing students are promoted to N4 if they complete 67 earned credits.

Placement on the Dean’s Honor List

To be placed on the Dean’s Honor List at the end of a term, a student must carry at least 12 credits of courses other than those repeated, not be on probation, have passed all the courses of the term, attained in all courses an overall average of 85 (GPA: 3.7) or be ranked in the top 10 percent of the class and have an overall average of 80 (GPA: 3.2), and not have been subjected to any disciplinary action within the university.

Graduation with Distinction and High Distinction

The School of Nursing follows the academic rules and regulations set by AUB to recommend the graduation of students with Distinction and High Distinction. For further details, see the section on General University Academic Information on page 50 of this catalogue.

Failures and Deficiencies

Placement on Probation

A student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:

• If the student fails 6 or more credits at the end of a term
• and/or if the student does not attain the minimum required term average of 65 (GPA: 1.7) for the first regular term of BSN II or 68 (GPA: 2.0) for the second regular term of BSN II, or 70 (GPA: 2.2) for the following years.

These regulations do not apply to part-time students until they have completed at least 12 credits. For part-time students, a term is defined as consecutive courses totaling 12 credits.

Removal from Probation

Action to remove probation at the end of a term will be taken provided the full-time student meets the following requirements:

• passes all courses taken during the term,
• achieves the minimum required average (GPA) for that term,
• and achieves the minimum yearly average (GPA) required.

Repeating Courses

A student may repeat any course with the consent of the adviser and course coordinator.

• All required courses that a student fails must be repeated. No course may be taken more than three times.
• When a course is repeated, the highest grade obtained will be considered in the calculation of the Overall(GPA).
• A student who fails or withdraws from a course may be delayed from graduating.

Repeating the Year

The academic committee may allow a student to repeat the year if the student

• fails in one third or more of the credit load attempted during that year,
• fails to remove probation within two terms,
• or fails to attain the minimum yearly average (GPA).

A student repeating the year must register for a full load and repeat all courses in which the student has scored below the minimum requirement for that year.

Dismissal from the BSN Program

A student may be dismissed by vote of the faculty upon the recommendation of the academic committee in any of the following cases:

• failure to remove probation within two terms
• failure in one-third or more of the load attempted during that year and failure to attain the minimum yearly average (GPA)
• failure to satisfy the requirements of a repeated year
• not making satisfactory academic progress, having not shown sufficient professional promise, or having behaved in a manner below the norms expected by the school

Students who are dropped from the program will be placed as Majorless for two consecutive regular terms to secure a transfer to another major. Students who fail to transfer within the required time will be dismissed from the Hariri School of Nursing, i.e from the university.

• “failure to meet clinical requirements as stipulated in the nursing courses syllabi”
  
• “Dismissal from the BSN program”
  
• “Failure to satisfy the requirements of the repeated year”

References:

Reference:

1. One credit hour of laboratory is the equivalent of two clock hours weekly per term, one clinical hour is the equivalent of
   three clock hours.
   
2. Students can take EDUC 225 instead of PSYC 210. EDUC 225 does not require any prerequisite.
   
3. GE) Refer to List of Courses under General Education Section.