Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation
LAU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. NECHE is the regional accrediting association in the United States developing and regularly reviewing standards for educational institutions of all levels. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, NECHE accredits 241 colleges and universities in the six-state New England region as well as 11 institutions overseas.
Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
301 Edgewater Place, Suite 210, Wakefield, MA 01880
NECHE direct line: 781-425-7785
E-Mail: info@neche.org
LAU was granted initial accreditation for a five-year period following a site visit in November 2009. In 2014, LAU underwent a comprehensive evaluation and was re-accredited for a ten-year period. The stages LAU has completed since starting the first rigorous process in fall 2005 have demonstrated the university’s commitment to academic quality.
An interim report was submitted in 2019 which was approved by NECHE in 2020. The institution is currently undergoing a comprehensive evaluation for the purpose of re-accreditation for a ten-year period starting 2024.
NECHE Evaluation: Public Comments Invitation
Program Accreditation
School of Architecture and Design
Bachelor of Architecture
The Bachelor of Architecture program has been granted initial accreditation as of 2019, by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which accredits architecture programs in the United States. The program is the first in Lebanon and the third outside the United States to receive NAAB accreditation: https://www.naab.org/.
In addition to being recognized by the Ministry of Education in Lebanon, the Bachelor of Architecture is officially recognized by the Ministry of Culture in France.
Design Programs
The School of Architecture & Design at LAU earned the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD) Accreditation in 2020. The NASAD accreditation covers the BFA in Studio Arts, the BFA in Interior Design, the BFA in Graphic Design and the BFA in Fashion Design and the Master in Islamic Art. For more information on NASAD: https://nasad.arts-accredit.org/.
School of Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
The BS in Computer Science Program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org , under the General Criteria and the Computer Science Program Criteria.
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program (CP)
The BS in Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, (http://www.eatrightpro.org/acend). The accreditation enables program graduates to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam and become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN), qualified to practice in the United States.
Adnan Kassar School of Business
The Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) at the Lebanese American University (LAU) is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. In addition, AKSOB’s Hospitality and Tourism Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).
AKSOB’s portfolio includes three undergraduate degree programs: Bachelor of Science in Business, Bachelor of Science in Economics, and BS in Business Emphasis Hospitality and Tourism Management; and four minor programs: Minor in Business, Minor in Data Analytics, Minor in Economics, and Minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management ; in addition to seven graduate programs: Master of Business Administration (MBA), MBA in Business Analytics (online), Executive MBA, MBA in Global Business Administration (online), Master of Arts in Applied Economics, Master of Laws and Master of Science in Human Resources Management.
Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
On July 12, 2023, the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Medical Education Programs (TEPDAD/Turkey), a World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)-recognized accreditation agency, officially awarded LAU’s Undergraduate Medical Education (MD) program full accreditation until August 31, 2027. This accreditation comes after the program had previously received a two-year provisional accreditation in the summer of 2021, pending the conducting of a face-to-face visit.
School of Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering Programs
- The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil Engineering.
- The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org , under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Engineering.
- The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Electrical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org , under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Electrical Engineering.
- The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Industrial Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org , under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Industrial Engineering.
- The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org , under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechanical Engineering.
- The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Mechatronics Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org , under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechatronics Engineering.
- The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Petroleum Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org , under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Petroleum Engineering.
In addition, the B.E. in Civil Engineering, B.E. in Computer Engineering, B.E. in Electrical Engineering, B.E. in Industrial Engineering and B.E. in Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Federation of Arab Engineers.
School of Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
“The Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Lebanese American University- Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202)-887-6791.”
School of Pharmacy
Doctor of Pharmacy
The School of Pharmacy is a full member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Currently, the Doctor of Pharmacy program at LAU is the only one outside the United States of America that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Pharm.D. graduates are eligible for licensure as pharmacists in U.S. state boards of pharmacy.