American University of Beirut

Department of Environmental Health

​​Chairperson​
Jurdi, Mey
ProfessorsHabib, Rima; Jurdi, Mey; Massoud, May; Nuwayhid, Iman
Associate ProfessorDhaini, Hassan
LecturerNasr, Joumana
InstructorEl Helou, Nida
Part-time LecturerAbou Arrage, Jad

​​

The Department of Environmental Health offers a three-year undergraduate program in environmental health, which is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The curriculum provides a broad education in basic sciences and fundamental knowledge of environmental health. Emphasis is placed on the evaluation and control of major environmental health problems in developing and developed countries in such fields as indoor and outdoor air pollution, water, sanitation and hygiene, food safety, risk analysis, municipal and hazardous waste, occupational health and safety, environmental impact assessment and audits, climate change and sustainable development. During their senior year, students in the program are also given the opportunity to complete an internship in pre-approved work settings, thus providing them with the opportunity to supplement their theoretical and laboratory experience with real-life practical field experience. Moreover, as part of the program, students are also required to take public health courses in epidemiology and biostatistics, health management and health promotion, which facilitates acquiring a minor in public health (for the minor policy, refer to the General University Academic Information section of this catalogue). Additionally, students can follow a pre-medical track, if interested in joining the medical school.

Due to increased environmental concerns, Lebanon and countries in the region are in great need of qualified personnel capable of planning and implementing policies, strategies, and programs to enhance human health and ecological vitality. This provides great job opportunities in various sectors, such as public/governmental agencies, international organizations, private companies, non-governmental organizations, and academic/research institutions.

BS in Environmental Health

Promotion

For promotion from year I to year II, students must complete a minimum of 30 credits. For promotion from year II to year III, students must complete a minimum of 62 credits.

Majorless Status

Majorless students in the environmental health program are required to take ENHL 220.

Residency Requirements

As per AUB policy, students must earn their final forty-five (45) credits while in residence (refer to the General University Academic Information section). Given the structured curriculum, and course offerings, students of the Faculty of Health Sciences must meet the following minimum residency requirements. The minimum number of credits is 45. However, the maximum number of required credits will depend on course equivalency.

Students pursuing the environmental health major are required to register for three regular terms.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation with the degree of bachelor of science in environmental health, students must:
  • pass a minimum of 96 credit hours after freshman science class or its equivalent.
  • achieve a total cumulative GPA of 2.3 and achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.3 in the major field of study.

Curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health​

Course NumberCourse TitleLecture Hrs./ WeekLab Hrs./ WeekCredits​

Fall 1
BIOL 200Diversity of Life
2
23
CHEM 208Brief Survey of Organic Chemistry2
2
3
CHEM 209Introductory Organic Laboratory22
3
ENGL 203Academic English2
2
3
ENHL 220Fundamentals of Environmental Health Sciences
3
​03
Term Credit Total ​ ​ ​15

​​​Spring 1
ENHL 221Management of Domestic and Hazardous Wastes30
3
ARAB 2xxUnderstanding Communication (Arabic)3
0
3
ENGL 204Advanced Academic English3
0
3
ENHL 227Environmental Microbiology2
2
3
 
Cultures and Histories – History of Ideas3
0
3
Term Credit Total ​ ​ ​15

Fall 2
ENHL 231Water and Wastewater Quality Control3
0
3
ENHL 232
Instrumentation, Analytical Techniques and Sampling3
1
3
ENHL 238Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution3
0
3
EPHD 203Epidemiology and Biostatistics2
2
3
EPHD 203ABiases in Epidemiology1
0
1
 Cultures and Histories Elective3
0
3
Term Credit Total ​ ​ ​16

Spring 2
ENHL 233Quality Determination of Water and Wastewater22
3
ENHL 234Occupational Health2
2
3
ENHL 235Toxicology and Risk Analysis3
0
3
ENHL 239 or
​NFSC 282
Food Safety3
0
3
EPHD 213Survey Methods1
2
2
 Societies and Individuals Elective3
0
3
Term Credit Total ​ ​ ​1​7

​Fall 3
ENHL 242Environmental Management Tools and Applications
3
0
3
HMPD 204Introduction to Health Services Administration3
0
3
HPCH 237Theories and Practices of Health Promotion3
0
3
 Free Elective3
0
3
PHIL 209Environmental Ethics3
0
3
Term Credit Total ​ ​ ​15

Winter 3
ENHL 236Practicum-
-
3
​Term Credit Total ​ ​ ​3

Spring 3
ENHL 243Global Environmental Issues3
0
3
 Free elective3
0
3
 Free elective3
0
3
ENHL 245Environmental Economics3
0
3
 Cultures and Histories Elective3
0
3
Term Credit Total ​ ​ ​15
Total Credits ​ ​ ​96

Course Descriptions

​​Modes of Analysis
​​Understanding Communication - English and Arabic (9)
​​Cultures and Histories(9), Human Values(3)
​​Societies and Individuals (6)
​​Understanding the World (12) Quantitative Reasoning (6)
​​Major Courses (42)
​​Community-Engaged Learning (3)
​Lecture Course (9+12 +6+ 12+6+ 42+3)
​Required Arabic Course (3)

Required English Courses: ENGL 203 (3), 204 (3)
​Cultures and Histories electives (9)

Phil 209 (3)
​HPCH 237(3)

Elective (3)
​ENHL 220 (3)

BIOL 200(4)

CHEM 208(3)

EPHD 203(3)

EPHD 213(2)

EPHD 203A(1)
​ENHL 220 (3), 227(3), 221(3), 239(3), 231(3), 232(3), 233(3), 234(3), 235(3), 238(3), ENHL 242(3), 243(3), 245(3)
​HMPD 204 (3)
​Lab (4+4)
​BIOL 200(4)

CHEM 209(2)
​ENHL 232(3), 234(3), 233(3), 227(3)

​Seminar (2)
​ENHL 242(3), 243(3)

​Research Project (1+3)
​ENHL 242(3), 243(3)

Fieldwork​
​ENHL 236(3)​

Students take, in addition to the required courses above, 9 free elective credits in various fields and modes of analysis.​

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