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September 15, 2025
100% online
courses
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Capstone Design Project
$4,200

The Program

Powered by Abdulla Al Ghurair Hub for Digital Teaching and Learning

The 'Sustainability in the Built Environment' online graduate professional diploma provides you with the fundamental skills to tackle the main challenges to the sustainability of buildings, neighborhoods, and infrastructure, particularly in the Arab region.

Tailored for engineers and architects, this program will equip you with the essential skills and tools needed to design sustainable projects to contribute to the region's sustainable development journey.

Be part of the change makers shaping a sustainable future!

Join a highly engaging program that features interactive online sessions, a hands-on capstone design project, and optional on-site visits providing you with the opportunity to make strategic decisions and collaborate within diverse, interdisciplinary teams. If you are aiming to get your LEED Green Associate (GA) or Pearl Qualified Professional (PQP) international accreditation, you can choose to take the elective course “Building Rating Systems”, designed to get you ready to sit for the exam.

Unique Benefits Tailored to Your Needs!

Learn to tackle sustainability challenges from a regional perspective
Gain in-demand skills to secure top-notch job opportunities in the region
Take part in a multidisciplinary team-based capstone project
Experience hands-on learning and gain insights into sustainable design and construction through an optional on-site visit
Benefit from extensive exposure and networking opportunities with both regional industry experts and esteemed AUB faculty
Earn a professional diploma from AUB, ranked 138th worldwide for sustainability
2023 UI Green Metric World University Rankings

Who Is This Program For?

You are

Engineers, Architects and Planners

  • Designing and constructing building systems
  • Tackling urbanization challenges to design sustainable neighborhoods
  • Creating green designs and materials for roads, bridges, and supporting infrastructure
  • Keen on joining the movement that's shaping a sustainable tomorrow
You have
  • An undergraduate bachelor's degree in engineering or architecture from a recognized institution of higher learning
  • The English Language Proficiency Requirement (ELPR).

What Skills Will You Gain?

In-depth understanding of climate change and its relation to the built environment
Proficiency in the assessment of sustainability in the built environment
Decision-making and strategizing for a sustainable future
Knowledge of building physics and systems and understanding of adaptation and resilience to climate impacts
Comprehensive understanding of adaptation and resilience of buildings to climate impacts
Ability to work within multidisciplinary teams
Readiness to sit for the LEED Green Associate (GA) or Pearl Qualified Professional (PQP) international accreditation

Curriculum

Course Details

This course offers a comprehensive examination of socio-ecological systems within the MENA region, approached through the lens of systems thinking. Students will delve into the basics of systems thinking and its crucial application to understanding and addressing the interconnectedness of social and ecological factors, fostering resilience and adaptability in the face of environmental challenges.

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method and tools, and its critical role in informing environmental design within the built environment, due to the complex range of materials, energy sources, and processes required to construct and manage buildings and infrastructure systems. Given the unique regional urbanization challenges, understanding the whole lifecycle implications of building projects is crucial for both current urban centers and future developments. Students will delve deep into LCA methodologies, from defining objectives to interpreting results, and will gain hands-on experience in performing LCA on real-world projects.

This course discusses the regional challenges (climatic, geographic, scarcity, cultural, socio-economic) affecting construction materials flow, availability, and circularity, and highlights the impact of governance, development plans, and behavioral changes on resource management and waste accumulation. It introduces the importance of circularity, cradle-to-cradle design, and digital technologies in addressing construction materials’ challenges and creating social, economic, and ecological value. It also provides learners with the mindset, tools, and knowledge to assess and achieve the circularity of systems and processes in the built environment.

This module focuses on the notions and key drivers for decarbonization in the built environment. Based on the principles of integrative building delivery process, students will acquire knowledge regarding environmental approaches to the design (or retrofit), operation and recyclable dimensions of buildings. Case studies will be offered to demonstrate real-world applications in the MENA / Gulf and global regions.

In the arid and semi-arid climates of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, building and neighborhood design faces unique challenges, primarily centered around thermal resilience against overheating and the imperative for sustainability. This interdisciplinary course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to design buildings and neighborhoods that are not only resilient to the extreme thermal conditions of the MENA region but also sustainable through the integration of energy-efficient systems.

The capstone project course provides students with an opportunity to integrate their knowledge of sustainability principles and practices within the context of the built environment. Students will work on real-world projects that address sustainability challenges in the design, construction, and operation of buildings and infrastructure. Through this hands-on experience, students will enhance their problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills while contributing to sustainable solutions in the built environment.

This course focuses on the key elements of building rating systems, namely LEED and ESTIDAMA/Pearl Building Rating System, and the implementation of sustainability principles throughout the building’s lifecycle using these prevalent rating frameworks. It will also cover the certification process to prepare you to sit for the LEED GA exam.

Flexible Tuition Fees

Select the payment method that suits you best!
Pay for the courses you register each term.
Base price per course: $700
Pay in full and benefit from a 10% reduction on tuition fees.
Total program tuition: $4,200
Corporate tuition rates are available, contact us for more information.
Contact us

Choose Your Ideal Study Plan!

1 year+ | part-time study plan
Created for working individuals, this part-time study plan provides the balance needed between pursuing your studies and managing your professional commitments, by taking only one course per semester.
Next Start Date

September 15, 2025

Join our upcoming cohort of sustainability champions!
Deadline to apply is September 8, 2025! Hurry!
Need more information?
Want to learn more about this program? Interested in a personalized 1-on-1 session with our enrollment coaches? Schedule a session today!

Instructors

Douaa Al Assaad

Postdoctoral researcher at KU Leuven Belgium
Expert in Building Physics and Sustainable design for human well-being

Sarah Jaber

Associate Director of Sustainability at The Bulb
MEng in Applied Energy, AUB
Expert in strategy & framework development, holding multiple accreditations in circular economy and green building.

Rima Manneh

B.E., M.A.Sc., Ph.D. Chemical Engineering
Sustainability Independent Consultant
Expert in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Walid Saad

Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Energy
Sustainability champion leveraging diverse industrial, startup, and consulting experience to drive innovative solutions for a greener future

Issam Srour

Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Founding director of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Hub for Digital Teaching and Learning
Expert on quantitative techniques, circular economy, and sustainability principles to solve real-world engineering and construction management problems.

Alissar Yehya

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Co-founder of Betafeld, MA, USA, a circular supply chain tech startup
Expert in sustainable systems and circular design

Aram Yeretzian

Assistant Professor, Architecture Program Convener, School of Architecture and Design
Advocating for climate responsive and low environmental impact architecture for the future

Rami Zurayk

Professor of Ecosystem Management, Department of Landscape Design
Expert on Food System Resilience and Sustainability

Douaa Al Assaad

Postdoctoral researcher at KU Leuven Belgium
Expert in Building Physics and Sustainable design for human well-being

Sarah Jaber

Associate Director of Sustainability at The Bulb
MEng in Applied Energy, AUB
Expert in strategy & framework development, holding multiple accreditations in circular economy and green building

Rima Manneh

Associate Research Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Energy
Sustainability Independent Consultant, Expert in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Walid Saad

Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Energy
Sustainability champion leveraging diverse industrial, startup, and consulting experience to drive innovative solutions for a greener future

Issam Srour

Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Founding director of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Hub for Digital Teaching and Learning
Expert on quantitative techniques, circular economy, and sustainability principles to solve real-world engineering and construction management problems.

Alissar Yehya

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Co-founder of Betafeld, MA, USA, a circular supply chain tech startup
Expert in sustainable systems and circular design

Aram Yeretzian

Assistant Professor, Architecture Program Convener, School of Architecture and Design
Advocating for climate responsive and low environmental impact architecture for the future

Rami Zurayk

Professor of Ecosystem Management, Department of Landscape Design
Expert on Food System Resilience and Sustainability

Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants to this diploma may provide evidence for RUSE by submitting a satisfactory and valid score for one of the following tests: AUB-EN, TOEFL iBT, IELTS (Academic), or Duolingo.

Important Note: Applicants who have graduated from a university where English is the primary language of instruction may be exempted from demonstrating RUSE.

Test Minimum Score Validity
AUB-EN 32 1 year
TOEFL iBT 80 2 years
IELTS (Academic) 6.5 2 years
Duolingo 120 2 years

TThe courses consist of pre-recorded lectures that you can access at your convenience. Although the lectures are selfpaced, you will still need to follow regular deadlines. Each course includes one online live interactive session per week, providing you with the opportunity to interact with both your instructors and fellow students. All live sessions are recorded in case you cannot attend. You also have the chance to go on an optional site visit to gain hands-on learning from real world projects.

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Pay Online
In this case, you will receive a payment gateway link.
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Pay by cash at the AUB cashier’s office
In this case, we will issue an invoice for you to provide at the cashier’s office at College Hall.
Notes
  • Payments can only be made in USD.
  • Corporate tuition rates are available. Schedule a call for more information.

Upon program completion, you will receive a professional diploma certificate issued by the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA), signed by the Dean of MSFEA and the Director of the Abdulla al Ghurair Hub for Digital Teaching and Learning.

The diploma does not state “online“. All our programs are offered by AUB faculty members in collaboration with industry experts and offer quality education while utilizing advanced tools and technology to facilitate online learning.

No, the diploma does not have an expiry date.

Currently, there are no financial aid or scholarship offers for online programs. Alternatively, you can benefit from the early bird seat by paying the full tuition fee before the start of the program to receive a 10% deduction.

Refunds are allowed only within seven days of the course start date. This allows you to get a feel of the course content and assess if this program is a good fit for you.

The minimum passing grade for the courses within this diploma is 70 (C+).

  • Our professional diplomas focus on upskilling you in areas that are in high demand in the job market and equipping you with practical skills and knowledge
  • These programs also have an academic bearing, meaning you may be able to waive up to six credits should you wish to enroll in a relevant master’s degree at AUB.

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