American University of Beirut

​​​​​​​The School of Nursing offers five tracks:

Both thesis and non-thesis options are available for all tracks.

Other graduate programs:

Students are eligible for consideration for admission to the master of science in nursing (MSN) program if they fulfill the following AUB admission requirements for graduate studies:

Please see the Office of Admissions section of the Graduate Catalogue for further details regarding the Readiness for University Studies in English (RUSE). In addition, HSON requires the following criteria:

The MSN program admits students once per year in the fall term, except for the blended MSN in nursing administration and management track, which accepts applicants in fall and spring. Special non-degree seeking students willing to register for graduate nursing courses may do so in fall or spring terms. However, they need to be approved by the HSON Graduate Studies Committee. The program admits both full-time and part-time students; they need to complete all program requirements within a maximum period of four years. Extension beyond the maximum allowed period of study requires approval of the Graduate Studies Committee of the school. Candidates who fail to meet any of the admission requirements but who, in the opinion of the faculty, demonstrate potential graduate study, are admitted on probation. For example: students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 but less than GPA of 3.3 in the major field (nursing) may be conditionally admitted as graduate students on probation. Students admitted on probation must complete 9 credits of graduate level courses within the first two terms of graduate studies, pass all courses and attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 to achieve regular status.

For graduate academic diplomas, students should have an undergraduate bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent from AUB or other recognized institutions of higher learning) with a GPA of at least 3.0 (or standardized equivalent from other institutions of higher learning). Applicants who do not meet the minimum undergraduate average requirement but appears to have reasonable potential for academic success, for example as manifested by relevant practical experience or high scores on relevant standardized exams, may be admitted based on justified recommendation. 

For graduate professional diplomas, the same admission requirements apply as for graduate academic diplomas but without a minimum constraint on the undergraduate average. 

For both graduate professional and graduate academic diplomas, student admission recommendations require the approval of the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee (FGSC).

All recommendations for graduation are made by a vote of the faculty upon the recommendation of the HSON Graduate Studies Committee. To be eligible for graduation from the MSN program, the student must have:

• passed all required courses with a minimum grade of (C+) per course.
• achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3.
• completed the total number of credits required in the track of study.
• passed the comprehensive examination.
• completed the requirements for the thesis or project.
• met the residency requirements as stated in the General University Academic Information section.
• applied for graduation.​
  
  

Refer to Transfer of Credits section under the General University Academic Information.

Graduate students are assigned academic advisers to guide and help in planning their course of study, as stipulated by the graduate curriculum. Non-nursing courses relevant to the students’ areas of specialty can be taken as electives with the approval of the advisers. For students working towards a thesis, a thesis adviser who must be a full-time faculty member is assigned. Their adviser will also serve as chairperson of the thesis committee. The thesis adviser and committee members must be of professorial rank.

Graduate-level courses in nursing, graduate or online, are numbered 500 and above. The minimum passing grade for a graduate course is (C+). However, students are required to maintain a cumulative average of at least B+ (GPA: 3.3). Students who are absent without excuse from more than one third of the number of sessions in any course, who fail to sit for scheduled examinations, or who fail to fulfill course requirements, will be given a failing grade equal or below (C) of (F) for graduate courses. Results of tutorial courses, NURS 610, comprehensive exam, residencies, projects, or theses will be reported as pass (P) or fail (F).

Students admitted with curriculum deficiencies may need to register for prerequisite undergraduate courses; such courses do not carry any graduate credit. The minimum passing grade for a prerequisite course is (C+).

Refer to Academic Standing of Student Working for a Master’s Degree section under General University Academic Information.

Students must pass a comprehensive examination after completion of most of the course requirements for the MSN degree. The Graduate Studies Committee of the School of Nursing sets the time of the examination offered twice per year, once in the fall and once in the spring term. Students planning to take the comprehensive exam must register for the comprehensive exam course
NURS 526 (0 credit) in the term during which they are planning to sit for the exam. The purpose of the examination is to ascertain the students’ knowledge of their field of specialization. Students who do not pass the comprehensive examination may take it a second time in the following term. Students who are unable to pass a program’s comprehensive exam twice are dropped from the graduate program.

For more information, refer to Comprehensive Examination section, under General University Academic Information.

Those students enrolled in the MSN with the thesis option must submit a thesis based on original, independent research, and in English. An abstract not exceeding 350 words must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee for approval of the topic and thesis committee members 4 months before the defense date. Once approved, students can proceed with the thesis work and must ensure that the thesis conforms to the guidelines outlined in the University Thesis Manual found in the library. Theses not conforming to the manual requirements will not be accepted. Students must submit copies of the thesis to the members of the thesis committee at least two weeks before the thesis defense.

The thesis committee should be composed of at least three members approved by the faculty Graduate Studies Committee. Students must submit the thesis proposal to the Master’s Thesis Committee for approval. The committee members will evaluate the proposal in consultation with the thesis adviser. It is advisable that the thesis committee includes one member from outside the School of Nursing (who can also be from an institution outside AUB). All committee members should hold professorial rank. The thesis committee approves the thesis topic, oversees the research protocol, and participates in the thesis defense.

Students may opt for a 3-credit project. If so, 3 credits of elective coursework in a related area should be taken. Students are assigned an adviser who serves as the project adviser. The Master’s Project Committee should be composed of at least two members. It is a must that the first reader of the project committee member holds a professorial rank. The second reader can hold a clinical/administrative position (Non-PhD, such as CNS) or be an academic associate or adjunct faculty with expertise in the area of research. The project’s topic abstract and selection of the adviser and project committee members should be approved by the faculty/school Graduate Studies Committee at least four months before the project defense. 

For more information, refer to Supervision of Master’s Thesis or Project section under General University Academic Information. Refer also to the Graduate Student Handbook of the School of Nursing regarding guidelines for projects and theses.

Refer to Thesis Defense and Project Defense section under General University Academic Information.

Refer to Thesis Defense and Project Defense section under General University Academic Information.

Concentration Courses

Lecture Hrs./ Week

Clinical Hrs./ Week

Credit Hrs.

​Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Track
NURS 503	Advanced Health Assessment	2	3	3
NURS 504	Advanced Pathophysiology	3	0	3
NURS 505A	Advanced Practice in Adult-Gerontology I	2	8	4
NURS 505B	Advanced Practice in Adult-Gerontology II	2	8	​4
NURS 506	Advanced Practice in Adult-Gerontology III (Clinical residency)	0	​16	​4
PHRM 314	Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics	3	0	3
Electives	-	3	0	3

​

Nursing Administration and Management Track (offered as a blended program)
NURS 507	Essentials of Nursing Administration Management	2	0	​ 2
NURS 508	Advanced Practice in Nursing Administration	0	16	4
NURS 531	Practical Applications of Budgeting Nursing	1	0	1
NURS 525	Leadership Theories and Application Nurse Managers	3	0	3
NURS 520	Managing Quality with Teams	3	0	3
NURS 533	Advanced Learning & Health Informatics	3	0	3
MHRM	Human Resource Development	3	0	3
Electives	-	​3	0	3

​