American University of Beirut

Degrees awarded by the American University of Beirut (AUB) are officially registered with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) in Lebanon and with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in the United States (US). AUB is accredited as an institution by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) www.msche.org. MSCHE is an institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE). The university was first accredited in June 2004. This accreditation was reaffirmed in 2009, 2014, and 2019. The American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) in Pafos, Cyprus, was approved by MSCHE as a branch campus in 2022. The university’s full and updated Statement of Accreditation Status is maintained on the MSCHE website.​

Six of AUB’s faculties/schools have earned accreditation from professional accrediting agencies as listed below. In many cases, AUB’s faculties/schools are the first or the only ones of their kind outside of the US to have programs accredited by US agencies:

The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences’ bachelor of science (BS) degree in nutrition and dietetics coordinated program was the first and only nutrition and dietetics program in the Middle East to receive US accreditation, in 2013, under the International Dietitian Education program standards by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). ACEND is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ accrediting agency of nutrition education programs. The program secured full reaccreditation, for the maximum allowable time of seven years, in 2017.

The Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture’s bachelor of engineering (BE) in civil engineering, BE in computer and communications engineering, BE in electrical and computer engineering, and BE in mechanical engineering were accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in 2010, retroactive to 2008; renewed in 2016 and in 2023. BS in chemical engineering and BE in chemical engineering were also accredited by ABET in 2016 retroactive to 2012 and 2013, respectively. This accreditation was renewed in 2023. BE in industrial engineering was accredited by ABET in 2023 retroactive to 2020. The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) program received accreditation from the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in 2021.

 

The Faculty of Health Sciences’ Public Health Program (PHP) received its initial accreditation in 2006 from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), an independent agency recognized by USDE that accredits schools of public health and public health programs. This accreditation was reaffirmed in 2012 and 2019. The accredited PHP includes BS in environmental health, bachelor of arts (BA) in health communication, master of public health, master of science (MS) in epidemiology, MS in environmental sciences— major environmental health, and the PhD in epidemiology. The PHP at FHS was the first to be accredited by CEPH outside the Americas and remains the only CEPH-accredited program in the Arab region. Internationally, it is one of only three non-US PHPs to hold CEPH accreditation. This has allowed FHS to become a full member of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and to join the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, which are recognitions of academic excellence limited to CEPH-accredited schools and programs.

The Faculty of Medicine was granted full accreditation in 2019, for a period of six years by the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Medical Education Programs (TEPDAD) International Medical Education Accreditation Council, the authorized medical school accrediting body of the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) based in Turkey. This accreditation places the faculty in compliance with the requirements of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. The Faculty of Medicine received initial institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International (ACGME-I) in 2014. Currently, 20 residency programs and two fellowships are accredited by ACGME-I: anatomic pathology, anesthesiology, clinical pathology, dermatology, diagnostic radiology, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, endocrinology and metabolism, adult hematology-oncology, neurology, neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, otorhinolaryngology, pediatrics, plastic surgery, psychiatry, radiation oncology, and urology.

The Rafic Hariri School of Nursing became the first nursing school outside American territories to have its baccalaureate and master’s degree programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). This accreditation was reaffirmed in 2012. BS in nursing program and MS in nursing programs were reaccredited for 10 years effective March 7, 2022.

The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). It was the first school of business in Lebanon and the 100th business school outside the USA to earn this accreditation in 2009, with subsequent reaffirmations in 2014, 2019, and in 2025. The school boasts a portfolio of AACSB accredited programs that include the following: bachelor of business administration, master of business administration, online master of business administration, executive master of business administration, master in finance, master of arts in human resource management, and master of science in business analytics (MSBA). In 2024, the programs offered at the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (bachelor of business administration–management and master of science in business analytics) were included among the accredited programs.​

AACSB, 777 South Harbour Island Boulevard, Suite 750, Tampa, FL 33602, +1 813 769 6500

ABET, 415 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201, +1 410 347 7700

ACEND, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, +1 312 899 0040 – Ext 5400

ACGME-I, 401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60611, +1 312 755 7042

CCNE, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, +1 202 887 6791

CEPH, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 220, Silver Spring, MD 20910-5622

LAAB/ASLA, The American Society of Landscape Architects 636 Eye Street NW Washington, DC 20001- 3736, +1 202 898 2444, +1 888 999 2752 (Toll Free)

MSCHE, 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801, +1 267 284 5011

TEPDAD, Kazım Dirik Mah. Ankara Cad. Doktorlar Sitesi, A Blok, No:231 Daire:2, 35100 Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye, +90 530 1234570​​

The American University of Beirut (AUB) is an institution of higher learning founded to provide excellence in education, to participate in the advancement of knowledge through research, and to serve the peoples of the Middle East and beyond. Chartered in New York State in 1863, the university bases its educational philosophy, standards and practices on the American liberal arts model of higher education. The university believes deeply in and encourages freedom of thought and expression and seeks to foster tolerance and respect for diversity and dialogue. Graduates will be individuals committed to creative and critical thinking, lifelong learning, personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.

The American University of Beirut was established as the Syrian Protestant College in 1866. The college opened with its first class of 16 students on December 3, 1866. Throughout its history, the university has expanded and developed new faculties and programs. In 1867, the university started the School of Medicine. Four years later, in 1871, it added both a school of pharmacy and a preparatory school. The ​latter became independent in 1960 and is now known as International College. The opening of the hospital (currently the American University of Beirut Medical Center) in 1905 was followed by the establishment of a school of nursing (named the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing in 2008). In the early 1950s, several new programs were introduced. The Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (named the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture in 2017) was established in 1951, the Faculty of Agriculture (now the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences) opened its doors in 1952, and the School of Public Health (now the Faculty of Health Sciences) was started in 1954. In 2000, the university, which had been offering business education since 1900, established an independent school of business (named the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business in 2003) as its sixth faculty. AUB celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2016. The Rafic Hariri School of Nursing became AUB’s seventh faculty in 2018.

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In 2020, the Board of Trustees approved VITAL 2030, AUB’s strategic vision to ensure the university’s future success, relevance, and sustainability over the next decade and beyond. On September 6, 2023, AUB welcomed the first cohort of 53 students to the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) in Pafos, Cyprus, AUB’s first twin campus outside Lebanon. AUB currently offers a number of online programs to increase the global presence and influence of the university. Its portfolio of active online programs increased from 5 to 38 between 2021 and 2024.

In 2024, AUB acquired the Keserwan Medical Center in Jounieh, its first community hospital.

The number of degrees and diplomas that AUB has awarded to date is 108,493.​

AUB is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws. This includes prohibition against sexual harassment as mandated by Title IX of the US Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Title IX Coordinator ([email protected]), Office of the President, College Hall, telephone +961-1-350000 ext. 2514. For AUB’s policies, visit www.aub.edu.lb/titleix.​