Founding Director of the School of Architecture and Design
| Al-Harithy, Howayda |
| Graduate Programs Coordinator | Harb, Mona |
| Architecture Track Convener | Patt, Trevor Ryan |
| Graphic Design Track Convener | Gharbieh, Ahmad |
| Landscape Architecture Track Convener | Dreksler, Beata |
| Professors | Al-Harithy, Howayda; Harb, Mona; Musfy, Leila; Fawaz, Mona; Ghaibeh, Lina; Talhouk, Salma; Zurayk, Rami |
| Associate Professors | Abunnasr, Yaser; Aramouny, Carla; Dreksler, Beata; Gharbieh, Ahmad; Najjar, Karim; Pellegrini, Paola |
| Assistant Professors | Acikgoz, Umit Firat; Al-Akl, Nayla; Khoury, Yara; Fakour, Sina; Marinovic, Goran Ivo; Patt, Trevor Ryan; Traboulsi, Jana |
| Assistant Professors of Practice | Fayad, Nicolas; Frem, Sandra |
| Visiting Assistant Professor | Abu Saada, Nadi |
| Visiting Professor of Practice | Joubanian, Vrouyr |
| Adjunct Professor | Makhzoumi, Jala |
| Adjunct Associate Professor | Trovato, Maria Gabriella |
| Senior Lecturers | Abboud, Rania; Abdalhay Alkhayat, Nadine; Abdallah, Ramona; Abi Rached, Marc; Al-Kadi, Makram; Alamuddine, Hana; Balaa, Lara; Bassil, Georgio; Berro, Maher; Braidy, Michele; Boyadjian, Raffi; Charafeddine, Leen; Fayad, Farah; Gemayel, Imad; Genz, Bettina; El-Imam, Hatem; Hassan, Sinan; Jamal, Sany; Kosermelli, Simone; Mallat, Bernard; Merhi, Layal; Shaiban, Houssam; Yamout, Nadine; Yazigi, Serge |
| Lecturers | Abi Hanna, Ghita; Al-Hage, Carla; Al-Kakoun, Nathalie; Apelian, Khajag; Bacha, Karim; Bacho, Omar; Badran, Noura; Baki, Fadi; Basbous, Monica; Bou Nasr, Roland; Dabaji, Kassim; Denris, Alicia; El Masri, Yasser; Elsouri, Amer; Hanna, George; Hassoun, Nour; Issa, Maha; Khoury, Greta; Melhem, Wissam; Moussawer, Karim; Muhsen, Dana; Nader, Halim; Youssef, Shawki |
| Senior Instructors | Atallah, Davina; Badran, Zeina; Fabian, Monika; Fedaoui, Maya; Saksouk Sasso, Abir; Tawil, Wissam |
| Instructors | Al Baalbaky, Ahmad; Asfour, Nadia; Dahrouj, Philippa; Faour, Batoul; Farah, Karim; Mabsout, Joude; Mezher, Fouad; Kanaan, Mohamad; Kattan, Sarah-Rita; Nouraldeen, Ahmad; Ohannessian, Choghag; Saber, Romy; Traboulsi, Tanya; Zeenny, Joanna |
| Lab Manager | Azzi, Ghinwa |
| Lab Instructor | Khalil, Mirella |
Undergraduate Programs
The School of Architecture and Design (SoAD) offers the degrees of bachelor of architecture (BArch), bachelor of fine arts (BFA) in graphic design.
Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)
Program Mission
The bachelor of architecture program offers students a first professional degree that qualifies them to practice architecture. The program aims to graduate well-rounded intellectuals, critical thinkers and skilled professional architects who are committed to the advancement of the field and practice and who have a sense of responsibility for the built environment and natural resources. Design is approached as a research-oriented process that is culturally grounded, theoretically informed, and technically advanced so as to enable graduates to become lifelong learners and take a leading role in professional practice both in Lebanon and the region.
Program Requirements
The architecture program comprises a total of 174 credit hours normally taken over five years. The curriculum is structured as follows: 1) Two foundation years, first and second, with core requirements in design, technical and history courses that offer students basic skills and knowledge in design and related areas. 2) Two advanced years, third and fourth, with core requirements in advanced design, technical, history and theory courses, reinforced by the distribution electives. Two of the design studios at this level are thematic vertical studios. 3) Final year, fifth year, with a two-term design thesis and project and advanced electives. In order to pass a year, students must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.3 in both design courses offered in any given year. If the GPA is below 2.3, students must repeat the design studio(s) in which they received a grade below C+.
The degree requirements in architecture consist of the following:
- 117 credit hours of mandatory core courses
- 24 credit hours of approved SoAD/MSFEA field electives distributed as follows:
- 3 credit hours in Category A: Representation
- 3 credit hours in Category B: History and Theory
- 3 credit hours in Category C: Technology and Professional Practice
- 15 credit hours in any of categories A, B, or C
- 6 credit hours of free electives in consultation with the academic adviser
- 27 credits hours of general education courses
Note: Total GE requirement of 39 credit hours includes 12 to 15 credits satisfied within the architecture core program
To meet the general education requirements of AUB, students must take:
-
Understanding Communication (9 credits): 3 credits Arabic course, ENGL 203, and ENGL 206
-
Understanding Ourselves (15 credits): 6 credits from “Societies & Individuals”, out of which 3 credits are satisfied by the required ARCH 432 course, and 9 credits from “Cultures & Histories”, out of which 6 credits are satisfied by the required ARCH 121 and ARCH 122 courses. Out of these 15 credits, 3 credits must fulfill the thematic requirement: Social inequalities (Satisfied by ARCH 432), and 3 credits must fulfill the thematic requirement: History of Ideas (Must be a CHLA 2xx course).
-
Understanding Our Role in the World (6 credits): 3 credits from Community Engaged Learning as a GE course, or from an approved field elective such as ARCH 061 DI-Lab. If the Community Engaged Learning requirement is satisfied by a field elective within the program, then an additional 3 credit hours free elective will be required. 3 credits course from Human Values.
-
Understanding the World and Quantitative Reasoning (9 credits): at least 3 credits from each. One of the Understanding the World courses has to be ARCH 151.
Curriculum for Bachelor of Architecture
First Year
|
Fall Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 100 | Basic Design | 6 |
| ARCH 111 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ARCH 121 | History of Art and Architecture I | 3 |
| FEAA 200 | Introduction to Engineering and Architecture | 3 |
| ENGL 203 | Academic English | 3 |
| |
Total 18 |
|
Spring Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 101 | Architecture Design I | 6 |
| ARCH 112 | Drawing II | 3 |
| ARCH 122 | History of Art and Architecture II | 3 |
| ARCH 151 | Statics and Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| |
Total 15 |
Second Year
|
Summer Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 241 | Surveying Regional Architecture 2D-3D | 9 |
|
Fall Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 202 | Architecture Design II | 6 |
| ARCH 223 | History of Art and Architecture III | 3 |
| ARCH 252 | Structural Systems | 3 |
| ARCH 242 | Building Construction I | 3 |
| 1 General Education Requirement | 3 |
| |
Total 18 |
|
Spring Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 203 | Architecture Design III | 6 |
| ARCH 231 | Contemporary Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 243 | Building Construction II | 3 |
| 1 General Education Requirement | 3 |
| |
Total 15 |
Third Year
|
Summer Term |
Credits |
| 3 General Education Requirements | 9 |
|
Fall Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 304 | Architecture Design IV | 6 |
| ARCH 360 | Environment I - Climate Responsive | 3 |
| ARCH 313 | Digital Tools | 3 |
| 1 Field or Free Elective or 1 General Education Requirement | 3 |
| |
Total 15 |
|
Spring Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 305 | Vertical Studio I | 6 |
| ARCH 353 | Environment II - Building Systems | 3 |
| ARCH 432 | Urbanism | 3 |
| 1 General Education Requirement | 3 |
| |
Total 15 |
Fourth Year
|
Summer Term |
Credits |
| No courses are required. Students can make up for credits missed prior to this term in general education or free electives. |
|
Fall Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 406 | Architecture Design V | 6 |
| 1 Field or Free Electives | 3 |
| 2 General Education Requirement | 6 |
| |
Total 15 |
|
Spring Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 407 | Vertical Studio II | 6 |
| ARCH 461 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| 2 Field or Free Electives | 6 |
| |
Total 15 |
Fifth Year
|
Summer Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 572 | Professional Training | 1 b |
|
Fall Term |
Credits |
ARCH 508
| Design Thesis I
| 6 |
| 3 Field or Free Electives | 9 |
| |
Total 15 |
|
Spring Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 509 | Design Thesis II | 6 |
| 3 Field or Free Electives | 9 |
| |
Total 15 |
Course Descriptions
Mandatory Core Courses
Each of the following courses is required for the degree in architecture. Students should pay careful attention to the prerequisite structure, which must be observed. There is a grade average requirement for ARCH 100/101, 202/203, 304/305, 406/407 and 508/509. In order to pass a year, students must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.3 in both design courses offered in any given year. If the GPA is below 2.3, students must repeat the design studio(s) in which they received a grade below C+. Non-majors must secure the approval of the school and the instructor concerned to enroll in any of the courses listed below.
For Architecture and Graphic Design elective courses see list at end of Graphic Design section.
Minor in Integrated Product Design
Integrated product design is an interdisciplinary minor, located at the intersection of design, engineering, business, art, humanities, and social sciences. The minor in integrated product design is open to all AUB students who are interested in expanding their knowledge of design and obtaining a deeper understanding of the design process of goods, systems, and services from research and conceptualization, to design development and prototyping, and to marketing and branding. It is a minor for students who are inspired to become social entrepreneurs to design and develop products that can be implemented and scaled to trigger positive systemic change. Through the minor, students are exposed to a range of design skills and methods, from visualization of ideas to creative problem solving, and transformative design thinking. They also learn to work with multidisciplinary teams on hands-on projects and in a studio environment.
Minor Requirements
Students must earn 18 credits to satisfy the requirements for the minor in integrated product design. These are distributed as follows:
-
Foundational design skills (6 credits): Student must select 3 credits in basic design methods courses and 3 credits in visualization courses from list 1, list of foundational courses with a focus on basic design, visualization, and prototyping: ARCH 100, ARCH 111, ARCH 112, ARCH 313, ENMG 664, GRDS 111, GRDS 141, MECH 201, MECH 421, MECH 522.
-
Core product design and development (6 credits): Students must select 6 credits in product design and development courses from list 2: ARDS 400, BMEN 501, CHEN 571, ENMG 663, GRDS 305, INDE 502, EECE 502, CHEN 502, CIVE 402, MECH 502, MECH 510, MECH 525.
-
Thematic field electives (6 credits): Students must select 6 credits from at least two categories:
-
Category A: ARCH 068, DCSN 310, DCSN 340, EMBA 521, ENMG 654, ENMG 655, ENMG 656, ENTM 220, ENTM 230, ENTM 270, ENTM 320, FINA 211, INFO 220 / MKTG 220, INFO 227 / MKTG 227, INDE 412, MKTG 234, MKTG 311, MKTG 312
-
Category B: ARCH 040, ARCH 060, ARCH 063, ARCH 069, BMEN 608 / MECH 634, CHEN 619, EECE 425 / 625, EECE 487 / 687, EECE 652, EECE 680, EECE 684, EECE 685, EECE 686, EECE 687 / 487, EECE 697 / MECH 646, EECE 698 / MECH 650, GRDS 040, GRDS 043, MECH 617, MECH 631, MECH 632, MECH 646 / EECE 697, MECH 650 / EECE 698, MECH 798C
-
Category C: GRDS 062, MKTG 210, MKTG 225
-
Category D: GRDS 033, GRDS 331
Students will follow AUB’s regulations while pursuing the minor. University minimum requirements for a minor are as follows:
- A minimum of 15 credit hours earned on the basis of regular graded courses (not tutorial or special project type courses) is required for a minor (refer to the requirements of each faculty/school).
- At least 9 credit hours of coursework must be completed at AUB.
- Each minor must have at least 6 credits exclusive to it, 9 credits may be common with the program requirements of the major field(s) of study.
- Minor courses may not be taken on a pass/fail basis at AUB.
Minor in Urban Studies
The minor in urban studies is open to all AUB students who are interested in expanding their knowledge of the contemporary opportunities and challenges posed by the ongoing transformations of the natural and built environments as the world shifts to a “planetary” urbanization. Through the minor, students familiarize themselves with a range of contemporary debates discussing the implications of urbanization across disciplinary fields. They also strengthen their command over some of the methods and tools used in social and environmental sciences, humanities, and urban planning and design to analyze urbanization processes.
In order to satisfy the requirements of a minor in urban studies, students must earn 15 credits of coursework, as described below.
Students enrolled in architecture, engineering or landscape architecture who hold a minor in urban studies qualify for an advanced standing if they apply for the master of urban planning and policy (open to all students with a first degree in engineering, architecture, landscape, and/or the social sciences) and the master of urban design (open to all students with a first professional degree in architecture and/or landscape architecture).
The minor in urban studies is administered by the coordinator of the master in urban planning and policy and master in urban design programs in the School of Architecture and Design at MSFEA.
Minor Requirements
In order to obtain a minor in urban studies, students must complete fifteen credits distributed as follows:
- Two courses in the general theory/methods framework are required: ARCH 332/URPL 632, and URPL 630/SOAN 210/PPIA 308/PSPA 300.
- Register for the 0-credit seminar City Debates once (URPL 660).
- At least one course about the interaction of urban studies with a professional field is required such as the below (or equivalent, approved by the program coordinator):
- Design & Landscape: URDS 632, LDEM 301, and LDEM 302.
- Urban Planning: URPL 631, and PPIA 301.
- Environmental Studies and Management: LDEM 630, CIVE 565, and CIVE 601.
- Urban Transportation and Infrastructure: CIVE 686/ARCH 073, CIVE 661, CVE 666, and SOAN 323AG.
- At least one of the special-topics theory courses (3 credits) that intersect directly with the study of the city in the School of Architecture and Design such as (or equivalent, approved by the program coordinator): URPL 621, URPL 637 / ARCH 036, URPL 638 / ARDS 030, URPL 665 / ARCH 065, URPL 669, URDS 624, URDS 632, URDS 634, ARCH 015, ARCH 020, ARCH 021, ARCH 022N, ARCH 305B.
- One of the following courses (3 credits) may also be taken towards the minor in urban studies. Other courses relevant to urban studies may also be eligible, as approved by the MUPP-MUD program coordinator: HIST 263, CVSP 205, SOAN 220, SOAN 216, SOAN 221, SOAN 223, FINA 232, FINA 234, PPIA 310K.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design
Program Mission
The undergraduate program in graphic design offers a professional degree with a well-rounded scope covering the multiple practice areas of the discipline. The curriculum focuses on solid training in the theoretical, practical and technical aspects of graphic design, while promoting a socially responsible practice and awareness of both local and international developments in the field. The goal of the program is to produce graduates with expert design proficiencies, grounded in historical knowledge, who are capable of adapting graphic and visual tools to the changing demands of the design industry. Students develop intellectual and critical thinking skills and contribute to aesthetic and technological innovations by generating ideas in response to a wide range of design challenges. The program is committed to the role design plays in the multicultural and multilingual contemporary regional context and provides a creative teaching and learning environment to address these issues.
Program Requirements
The graphic design program is comprised of a total of 139 credit hours normally taken over four years. The curriculum is structured as follows: 1) Two foundation years, first and second, with core requirements in design, typography, representation techniques, digital media, and history courses, which offer students basic skills and knowledge in design and related areas. 2) One advanced year, third year, with core requirements in advanced design, digital media, and theory courses, reinforced by the field electives and General Education requirements. 3) Final year, fourth year, with a one-year design project and advanced electives. In order to pass a year, students must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.3 in both design studio courses offered in any given year. If the design studio average across Fall and Spring of any given year is below C+, students must repeat the design studio(s) in which they received a grade below C+.
The degree requirements in graphic design consist of the following:
- 94 credit hours of mandatory core courses
- 15 credit hours of approved SoAD/MSFEA field electives:
- 3 credit hours in Category A: Representation
- 3 credit hours in Category B: History, Theory, and Methodology
- 3 credit hours in Category C: Digital Media, Typography, and Professional Practice
- 6 credit hours: choice between A, B & C
- 3 credit hours of free electives in consultation with the academic adviser
To meet the AUB general education requirements (27 credits must be taken outside the department):
-
Understanding Communication (9 credits): 3 credits in Arabic, and 6 credits in English (ENGL 203 and ENGL 204).
-
Understanding Ourselves (15 credits): 6 credits from “Societies and Individuals”, out of which 3 credits are satisfied by the required GRDS 331 course, and 9 credits from “Cultures and Histories”, out of which 6 credits are satisfied by the required ARCH 121 and ARCH 122 courses.
-
Understanding Our Role in the World (6 credits): 3 credits from “Community Engaged Learning” satisfied by the required course GRDS 203, and 3 credits from “Human Values”.
-
Understanding the World and Quantitative Reasoning (9 credits): at least 3 credits from each. One of the Quantitative Reasoning courses has to be CMPS 207.
-
Thematic Requirements: Out of the above, 3 credits must fulfill the thematic requirement “Social Inequalities”, and 3 credits must fulfill the thematic requirement “History of Ideas” (Must be a CHLA 2xx course).
Curriculum for BFA in Graphic Design
First Year
|
Fall Term |
Credits |
| ARCH 100 | Basic Design | 6 |
| GRDS 111 | Drawing | 3 |
| ARCH 121 | History of Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ENGL 203 | Academic English | 3 |
| 1 General Education Requirement | 3 |
| |
Total 18 |
|
Spring Term |
Credits |
| GRDS 101 | Graphic Design I | 6 |
| ARCH 122 | History of Art and Architecture II | 3 |
| GRDS 151 | Typography I | 3 |
| GRDS 141 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| ENGL 204 | Advanced Academic English | 3 |
| |
Total 18 |
Second Year
|
Summer Term |
Credits |
| GRDS 212 | Photography | 3 |
| 2 General Education Requirements | 6 |
| |
Total 9 |
|
Fall Term |
Credits |
| GRDS 202 | Graphic Design II | 6 |
| ARCH 223 | History of Art and Architecture III | 3 |
| GRDS 252 | Typography II | 3 |
| GRDS 213 | Illustration | 3 |
| |
Total 15 |
|
Spring Term |
Credits |
| GRDS 203 | Graphic Design III | 6 |
| GRDS 224 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| GRDS 242 | Motion Graphics | 3 |
| GRDS 214 | Printmaking | 3 |
| |
Total 15 |
Third Year
|
Summer Term |
Credits |
| 2 General Education Requirements | 6 |
| 1 General Education Course: CMPS 207 | 3 |
| |
Total 9 |
|
Fall Term |
Credits |
| GRDS 304 | Graphic Design IV | 6 |
| GRDS 331 | Introduction to Visual Theory | 3 |
| GRDS 361 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| GRDS 343 | Interaction Design I | 3 |
| |
Total 15 |
|
Spring Term |
Credits |
| GRDS 305 | Graphic Design V | 6 |
| GRDS 344 | Interaction Design II | 3 |
| 1 General Education Requirement | 3 |
| 1 Field Elective | 3 |
| |
Total 15 |
Fourth Year
|
Summer Term
|
Credits
|
| GRDS 462 | Approved Experience | 1 b |
|
Fall Term
|
Credits
|
| GRDS 406 | Final Project Research | 4 |
| 2 Field Electives | 6 |
| 1 Free Elective | 3 |
| |
Total 13
|
|
Spring Term
|
Credits
|
| GRDS 407 | Final Project Design Research | 6 |
| 2 Field Electives | 6 |
| |
Total 12
|
Course Descriptions
Mandatory Core Courses
For other mandatory core courses such as ARCH 121, ARCH 122, and ARCH 223, refer to the architecture core course descriptions.
SoAD Elective Course Offerings
The elective courses in the Department of Architecture and Design are distributed into three main categories and are subject to change as new electives are introduced every year. Some electives are open to students in all faculties.
Category A: Representation (ARCH 01 and GRDS 01).
Category B: History (ARCH 02 and GRDS 02) and Theory (ARCH 03 and GRDS 03)
Category C: Technology (ARCH 04), Engineering (05), Professional Practice (ARCH 06, GRDS 06), Digital Media (GRDS 04) and Typography (GRDS 05).
Electives are chosen in consultation with the assigned adviser and in accordance with the load distribution.