The Department of Political Studies and Public Administration at the American University of Beirut offers BA and MA degrees in Political Studies and Public Administration. Our department is an inter-disciplinary unit committed to teaching skills in critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and information technology. Collectively, we offer students an opportunity to learn how societies organize, govern, and interact in local, national, regional, and global arenas. Our program's objectives are to address the complexity of human diversity and the important roles that politics and culture play in the wider quest for human development. Our aim is to give PSPA graduates the expertise they need to become effective and responsible leaders, scholars, policy analysts, administrators, and citizens.
The region's first Program in Public Administration was created at AUB during the 1951-52 academic year.
The Department of Political Studies and Public Administration was founded during the 1957-58 academic year. Prior to 1957, Political Studies was a stand alone entity called the Department of Political Science and Law.
The PSPA department is now directly linked to the library's website. For Political Science please click
here. For Public Administration please click
here.
The PSPA department collaborates and works with a number of institutes and centers at AUB and abroad. The department aims to maintain and develop its academic network with these institutes. In addition, the department engages with them to promote and to enhance its programs and to organize local and international activities. Through its networks, the department aspires to fulfill its mission in advancing scholarly knowledge both globally and in the MENA region.
- Erasmus Mobility Teaching
Erasmus supports transnational partnerships offers opportunities for cooperation across these areas and through funding from the EU programme Erasmus applicants have the opportunity to visit one of AUB's many partner universities in Europe to gain international experience and qualifications, and to develop existing contacts.
Teaching staff can receive funding for teaching, lecturing, seminars, supervision and examination at a partner university in Europe. The funding includes an amount based on the length of stay abroad, and a travel grant based on the distance between the home and host universities.
All full-time employees at AUB can receive funding for job shadowing, such as participating in the daily work at a partner university, business or organization. The funding includes an amount based on the length of the stay abroad, and a travel grant.
- Academic Exchange between AUB and BOBST center at Princeton University
The Bobst-AUB Collaborative Initiative is a joint initiative between the Mamdouha S. Bobst Center for Peace and Justice at Princeton University and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB). This initiative is supported by the generous funding of the Bobst Foundation, according to the wishes of philanthropist Mamdouha S. Bobst on projects designed to promote studies relating to the Middle East in order to advance the cause of peace, mutual understanding and justice. This unique collaboration seeks to leverage both institutions’ intellectual capital and mutual interests to raise awareness about the politics of transformation in MENA. This partnership takes on multiple forms, including research support, visiting Professorships, graduate student exchanges, joint workshops and conferences.
For more information on our activities, please visit: Bobst-AUB
- Middle East Partnership Initiative MEPI
The Tomorrow's Leaders Program (TL) is an initiative of the United States Department of State US-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) that supports capable and highly motivated young scholars from underserved backgrounds in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by providing a fully funded undergraduate (MEPI-TLU, MEPI-TLS and MEPI-TLP projects) and graduate (MEPI-TLG project) level academic matriculation, civic education, and leadership development.
For more information please visit: Mepi
The Asfari Institute has been conceived as a framework that will advance research and other initiatives to support the development of an informed citizenry engaged at all levels of Arab associational life and promote openness, transparency, and accountability in the region. Both the Foundation and AUB recognize that the Arab world is undergoing significant change, and they intend that the work of the Asfari Institute will make a unique and valuable contribution to progress in the region during this era of historic transition and beyond.
For more information please visit: Asrafi
he Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut (IFI) is an independent, research-based, policy-oriented institute. It aims to initiate and develop policy-relevant research in and about the Arab world.
The Institute aims to bridge the gap between academia and policymaking by conducting high quality research on the complex issues and challenges faced by Lebanese and Arab societies within shifting international and global contexts, by generating evidence-based policy recommendations and solutions for Lebanon and the Arab world. IFI responds to emerging policy needs in Lebanon and the Arab world by attracting talented scholars and practitioners and building an agile organization.
For more information please visit: IFI
Global Engagement Initiative – New York office
The Global Engagement Initiative (GEI) works to help achieve AUB's mission to expand global knowledge by sharing research and engaging in partnerships worldwide.
Based out of the Debs Center | New York Office and grounded in empowering our faculty and students, GEI generates, enhances, and expands relationships with academic institutions and think tanks across the globe. In collaboration with these partners, we develop projects and public conversations across such fields as women's rights, climate change, health care, democratic politics, fine arts, technology, and our changing world.
For more information please visit: GEI