Dedicated Courses for Sustainability

Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum

Our Promise: We empower the change makers of tomorrow. 

The Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum (LASC) will provide you with a number of diverse courses. It is a multi-disciplinary LASC that tells a story and educates the whole person.

• The courses offered are linked to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and capture the spirit of the major problems that our world is facing.
• The LASC will help you think about the SDGs and digitization as they relate to our nation, but also to the region and the world.
• The LASC will also help you think about yourself by promoting physical and psychological well-being and cultivating ethical development and social engagement.

In other words, the LASC will help you study and think differently, making you more intellectual, more confident and more employable.

Ready to know more? Here’s a first look at the program in detail and the courses offered.

Check the Academic Catalog for specific program requirements.

Liberal Education Courses Map to the UN SDGs

In 2015, the Member States of the United Nations collectively embraced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which comprises 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The SDG goals acknowledge that eradicating poverty and addressing various forms of deprivation must be pursued in conjunction with efforts to enhance healthcare and education, mitigate inequality, and promote economic advancement, all while confronting the challenges of climate change and preserving our precious oceans and forests.

LAU was among the first universities in the world to mainstream the SDGs into the liberal arts and sciences curriculum (LASC).  The LASC includes several key components:

1. Introduces all students to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enables them to explore how science contributes to achieving these goals through a mandatory core, the Change Makers series;
2. Enhances students’ scientific literacy through a series of Digital Cultures courses.

The LASC engages the students and helps them to establish a sustainable connection between humanity and the planet. The approach is grounded on the premise that every student should possess a foundational understanding of the SDGs and their fundamental principles, which can be applied in their careers and personal lives.

Number of LAS courses that relate to each of the United Nations 17 SDGs

3	3	3	7
5	1	1	5
6	7	8	5
4	1		6

3

Liberal Arts & Sciences Courses

LAS201 WATER SECURITY

[3–0, 3 cr.]

The course provides a comprehensive examination of water security issues confronting human society with particular focus on the attainment of United Nations Sustainable Goal 6 to ensure access to water and sanitation for all. It is one of the three Water-Energy-Food Nexus courses. Securing a sustainable supply of water, energy, and food is one of the greatest global challenges of our time. Recognizing the interdependencies and interlinkages between these three resources and finding new approaches to manage the nexus could significantly help in attaining the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). 

LAS201H WATER SECURITY

[3–0, 3 cr.]

The course provides a comprehensive examination of water security issues confronting human society with particular focus on the attainment of United Nations Sustainable Goal 6 to ensure access to water and sanitation for all. It is one of the three Water-Energy-Food Nexus courses. Securing a sustainable supply of water, energy, and food is one of the greatest global challenges of our time. Recognizing the interdependencies and interlinkages between these three resources and finding new approaches to manage the nexus could significantly help in attaining the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). 

LAS202 SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Food is the strongest lever to optimize human health and environmental sustainability. Addressing the global imbalance of nutrition, and its causes, is a central aim of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to address present and future challenges to a more sustainable food system that can provide healthy, nutritious, safe and affordable foods locally and globally.

LAS202H SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Food is the strongest lever to optimize human health and environmental sustainability. Addressing the global imbalance of nutrition, and its causes, is a central aim of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to address present and future challenges to a more sustainable food system that can provide healthy, nutritious, safe and affordable foods locally and globally.

LAS203 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course explores conventional and renewable energy with a particular focus on the progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7: Ensure Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable, and Clean Energy for All. Energy systems are covered from technical, environmental, economic, social, and policy perspectives. An overview of various energy resources and technologies is provided, including fossil fuels, nuclear, biomass, hydropower, geothermal, ocean, wind, and solar energy. The promise and limitation of each technology are examined in the framework of achieving energy sustainability on local, regional, and global scales. 

LAS204 TECHNOLOGY, ETHICS, AND THE GLOBAL SOCIETY

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers 3 cr. load from the following 1 cr. modules:

• 204A Technology: This module examines the impact of social media within global societal contexts.  Topics include the impact of social media on individualism, collectivism and culture, and personal identity.  Other topics include digital divide across class, gender, countries, and ethnic groups as well as privacy and civil liberties.
• 204B Ethics, the Internet, and Social Media: This module discusses ethical and decision-making theories, such as consequentialism, duty ethics, virtue ethics, moral assumptions and values.
• 204C Professional Ethics: This module discusses professionalism, fiduciary responsibility, and mentoring. Topics include accountability, responsibility and liability, software piracy, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, trademarks, legal foundations for intellectual property protection, plagiarism, professional certification, codes of ethics, conduct, and practice. Module includes case studies from various disciplines.

LAS204H TECHNOLOGY, ETHICS, AND THE GLOBAL SOCIETY

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers 3 cr. load from the following 1 cr. modules:

• 204A Technology: This module examines the impact of social media within  global societal contexts.  Topics include the impact of social media on individualism, collectivism and culture, and personal identity.  Other topics include digital divide across class, gender, countries, and ethnic groups as well as privacy and civil liberties.
• 204B Ethics, the Internet, and Social Media: This module discusses ethical and decision-making theories, such as consequentialism, duty ethics, virtue ethics, moral assumptions and values.
• 204C Professional Ethics: This module discusses professionalism, fiduciary responsibility, and mentoring. Topics include accountability, responsibility and liability, software piracy, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, trademarks, legal foundations for intellectual property protection, plagiarism, professional certification, codes of ethics, conduct, and practice. Module includes case studies from various disciplines.

LAS204M ETHICS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers the following three modules:

• 204MA Biomedical Ethics: This module examines the impact of Biomedical ethics within a global societal contexts. The module explores the major ethical issues confronting the practices of medicine and biomedical science. Topics include the doctor-patient relationship, the ethics of medical experimentation, and the ethics of biotechnology.
• 204MB Ethical Theories: This module discusses ethical and decision-making theories, such as consequentialism, duty ethics, virtue ethics, moral assumptions and values.
• 204MC Professional Biomedical Ethics: This module discusses professionalism, ethics, and fiduciary responsibility.  Topics include unethical medical experiments, gender/race-based discrimination, culturally competent care, and the doctor-patient relationship. The module includes case studies focusing historical and current cases related to biomedical ethics.

Note: The course is restricted for students in pre-medical and biomedical fields (e.g. pre-pharmacy, nursing, biology, nutrition, nutrition dietetics, chemistry-premedical track, and engineering-premedical track). In addition, students cannot take both LAS204 and LAS204M.

LAS205 DIGITAL CULTURES

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers 3 cr. load from the following 1 cr. modules:

• 205A Future Ready: This module will cover basic types of data and processing methods that will help students in solving problems in an increasingly complex word. Topics include variables, conditional execution, strings, lists, dictionaries, text processing, visualization, and mathematical analysis. 
• 205B: Fundamentals of Deep Learning
• This module introduces the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence using neural networks and deep learning.  Students will be introduced to neural networks, training neural networks from scratch, learning tools, and transfer learning.  The course uses Tensorflow, Keras, and Pandas.
• 205C Social Cybersecurity: This module introduces risk, threats, and vulnerabilities in technology with a special focus on their impact in a social context.  Topics include computer crimes, social engineering, identity theft, cyber terrorism, and criminal hacking.  The module also discusses how groups are manipulated and opinions shaped.

LAS205H DIGITAL CULTURES

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers 3 cr. load from the following 1 cr. modules:

• 205A Future Ready: This module will cover basic types of data and processing methods that will help students in solving problems in an increasingly complex word. Topics include variables, conditional execution, strings, lists, dictionaries, text processing, visualization, and mathematical analysis. 
• 205B: Fundamentals of Deep Learning
• This module introduces the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence using neural networks and deep learning.  Students will be introduced to neural networks, training neural networks from scratch, learning tools, and transfer learning.  The course uses Tensorflow, Keras, and Pandas.
• 205C Social Cybersecurity: This module introduces risk, threats, and vulnerabilities in technology with a special focus on their impact in a social context.  Topics include computer crimes, social engineering, identity theft, cyber terrorism, and criminal hacking.  The module also discusses how groups are manipulated and opinions shaped.

LAS206 MINDS & MACHINES

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers 3 cr load from the following 1 cr modules:

206A: Mind and its Place in Nature

This module takes a closer look at the mind and the way it fits into nature. We begin the class with  the classical framing of the issue, focusing on the definition of the mind, and its relation to the material world, before turning to more recent construals, particularly those emerging in the 20th century. Throughout the class we will also consider how the issue of understanding the mind impacts the world we live in.

206B: The Mind’s Architecture

This module takes a closer look at current ways of thinking about the mind’s architecture, and how we can model the mind. We begin by distinguishing mental attributes from other types of attributes, before turning to different models of the mental in cognitive and computer science today. Throughout the class we will also look at the costs and benefits of AI for human society.

206C: Beyond the Mind

This module takes a closer look at new ways of thinking about the mind. Brains do not work on their own. They are part of a body, that acts, and that is in the world. Moreover humans use their minds alongside tools, which are increasingly sophisticated, and which allow us to do more cognitively. So where does the mind end? In this course we’ll look at ‘the 4Es’, which offer new responses to this question: embedded, embodied, enactive, and extended cognition theories. We’ll also see how they have been applied in contemporary technology for a more sustainable future.

206D: The Ethics of Digital Technology

This module takes a closer look at the ethical issues raised by contemporary digital technology. We begin with a quick overview of different ethical theories before turning to the contemporary applications of AI, robotics, and related technologies to a variety of real-world problems.

LAS207 MIGRATION STUDIES

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces students to foundational concepts, frameworks and theories within migration studies, and permits them to benefit from a collection of scholarly research that has shaped and expanded our understanding of the drivers, push and pull factors, as well as the management of international migration. Throughout this course, students will explore a different theoretical and practical question relating to international migration each week. Through interactively addressing these questions in lectures and debates, this course explores the role played by social, cultural, political, economic, legal and government actors in shaping migration and displacement processes. Given the interdisciplinary nature of migration studies (as well as that of displacement studies), students will be assigned readings from political science, international law, economics and sociology, to help them form a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the different perspectives and lenses that each discipline adopts in the study of migration and displacement. In order to also grasp international migration patterns, the readings will also present case studies from around the world to provide a comprehensive view of different streams of contemporary migration.

LAS208 WELLBEING MATTERS

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course examines the various dimensions and determinants of health and wellbeing. An emphasis is placed on public health as well as the social and mental health aspects of wellbeing. An interdisciplinary approach is used to address present and future challenges to physical and mental wellbeing of the public. This course will rely on case studies as well as other active learning strategies to enhance students’ problem-solving skills and wellbeing based on applied, day-to-day examples.

LAS209 DOING GENDER: CONTEXTUAL APPROACHES

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course examines the practice of Doing Gender, defined by West and Zimmerman as involving the everyday performance of “a complex of socially guided perceptual, interactional and micropolitical activities that cast particular pursuits as expressions of masculine and feminine natures.” The course is structured around the 4 pillars of sustainability -Social, Environmental, Economic and Governance- and examines how the act of doing gender can be defined and refined as a result of the personal interaction with each pillar. Students will learn to be discerning about the linguistic turns and media images that they encounter in social settings; they will also understand the impact of particular environmental factors in shaping how people of different genders define themselves; in addition, students will understand the powerful impact of economics on our ability to do gender. 

LAS209H DOING GENDER: CONTEXTUAL APPROACHES

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course examines the practice of Doing Gender, defined by West and Zimmerman as involving the everyday performance of “a complex of socially guided perceptual, interactional and micropolitical activities that cast particular pursuits as expressions of masculine and feminine natures.” The course is structured around the 4 pillars of sustainability -Social, Environmental, Economic and Governance- and examines how the act of doing gender can be defined and refined as a result of the personal interaction with each pillar. Students will learn to be discerning about the linguistic turns and media images that they encounter in social settings; they will also understand the impact of particular environmental factors in shaping how people of different genders define themselves; in addition, students will understand the powerful impact of economics on our ability to do gender. 

LAS301 DEBATING SUSTAINABILITY

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces students to formal, structured debate as a tool in decision-making, leadership and civic engagement. It focuses mainly on case construction, cross-examinations, use of evidence, team debate, and ethics in argumentation. Debate topics will emphasize a sustainable development agenda.

LAS301H DEBATING SUSTAINABILITY

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces students to formal, structured debate as a tool in decision-making, leadership and civic engagement. It focuses mainly on case construction, cross-examinations, use of evidence, team debate, and ethics in argumentation. Debate topics will emphasize a sustainable development agenda.

LAS302 INQUIRY FOR INNOVATION

[3–0, 3 cr.]

The digital and biological revolution is changing the world; it is driving certain organizations to extinction but it is also providing others with fertile ground to innovate and grow. The fourth industrial revolution has greatly impacted humans and their entrepreneurship ecosystem. This course covers the social and economic impact of technology on our society. It sheds light on the main challenges and opportunities of organizations in the third millennium. It also offers an opportunity for students to use research and innovation in order to survey the science, and respond to the market demands with innovative and sustainable solutions.

Co-requisite: ENG102 Academic English II

MA in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies

Our graduate program focuses on gender, the socially-constructed understandings of what it means to be female or male, and how understandings of gender affects people across all social categories.

This program is built on a foundation of equality, human rights, and social justice. As such, it is inclusive in nature and combines both academic rigor and social activism. By scrutinizing the power differential between females and males, you will begin to understand the intersection of other inequalities.

What Will I Learn?

In this program, you will be introduced to both the academic and practical applications of a focus on gender issues, with a view to filling an identified need in the job market. The degree guarantees you a high level of academic freedom, and integrates gender, along with several themes and concepts that are crucial to understanding gender inequality in the Arab world, such as education, sexuality, health, political representation, economic participation, and so on. 

Your Career

Upon graduation, you can pursue careers in governmental organizations and ministries as well as national, regional, and international agencies focusing on gender across a broad range of sectors. 

Curriculum

A total of 30 credits are required for graduation. These are distributed as follows:

• Core Courses (12 credits) – Required to be taken by all students.
• Elective Courses (18 credits) – A set list of approved courses; free electives are not allowed.
• In addition to the successful completion of the course of study, you are required to apply your knowledge either by submitting a thesis or completing a professional placement.

Core Courses (12 credits)

Minor in Gender Studies

Our program will raise awareness on the importance of gender in understanding issues related to social change, social justice, human rights, gender inequalities, etc.

Through the interdisciplinary courses offered, you will be armed with the knowledge, tools, and practical experience to incorporate gender into various fields such as conflict resolution, diplomacy, human rights, education, politics, and others. This minor will build a base of knowledge on and interest in gender issues and will feed directly into our MA in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies.

This program falls within one of LAU’s core missions namely commitment to civic engagement, the advancement of scholarship, and the education of the whole person. It also complements the mission of the  Arab Institute for Women (AiW) that strives to promote gender equality through academic research and intellectual rigor as well as social activism.

Who Can Apply?

The variety of courses offered might fall within the interest of students majoring in political science, international affairs, social work, migration studies, communication arts, journalism, literature, and business to mention a few.

What Will I Learn?

At the completion of this program, you should be able to:

• Analyze critically the major theories and concepts in gender studies and the various research methodologies appropriate to inter-disciplinary inquiry.
• Evaluate recent advances in gender issues and their impact on society.
• Demonstrate ability to analyze complex gender issues and explain how gender infiltrates all disciplines.
• Integrate a gender perspective into academic and professional endeavors.
• Acquire effective communication skills and leadership techniques.

Your Career

The program helps you acquire theoretical knowledge, interdisciplinary competencies, and practical skills, which facilitates the pursuing of graduate work in gender studies or other related fields.

Upon graduation, you will be able pursue careers in governmental and non-governmental organizations, ministries, as well as national, regional, and international agencies focusing on development and humanitarian work across a broad range of sectors.

Curriculum

For a Minor in Gender Studies, you must complete 18 credits.

Core Minor Requirements (9 Credits)

Minor Electives: Choose any three courses (9 credits)

BE in Civil Engineering

The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org .

ABET is the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.

ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

The civil engineering program provides a superior education to those who wish to become talented and creative engineers. It draws upon LAU’s broad resources in sciences and liberal arts. Graduates of the civil engineering program have a strong theoretical background, training in the latest design methods, and proficiency in technological applications.

The courses offered by the civil engineering department cover construction, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources engineering, as well as surveying.

Our graduates go on to pursue various careers in design, construction, management, and research. They are prepared to work effectively in today’s work environment because they are technically competent, critical thinkers, and abreast of the latest technical software.

The UK-based Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) now recognizes the LAU Civil Engineering degree as: “Fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng)”. LAU Civil Engineering graduates will no longer need to apply for an academic assessment to gain an ICE professional qualification in the UK. This sets LAU Civil Engineering graduates on the path to a successful career by partially satisfying the educational requirements for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in the UK.  

The Number of courses in the Civil Engineering Program that relate to each of the United Nations 17 SDGs

BE in Mechanical Engineering

The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org .

ABET is the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.

ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

The mechanical engineering major prepares students for a variety of careers in the design and construction of mechanical systems.

The production, transformation, transmission and control of thermal and mechanical energy constitute one of the main tracks that rely on thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer. This track leads to applications in internal combustion engines, steam and gas power plants and HVAC.

Solid mechanics, kinematics, and dynamics of machinery lead to applications in vibrations control and machine design. The general area of manufacturing that is closely linked to industrial engineering is also covered in the course of study.

The program emphasizes the broad spectrum of applications of mechanical engineering, as well as the interaction with other engineering disciplines. Laboratory experimentation and computer simulation are used to train students on the understanding, design and testing of thermal and mechanical systems.

Six credits of professional experience are included in the summer of the third year to give students an opportunity to integrate classroom instruction with practical work experience as a part of their academic program.

The Number of courses in the Mechanical Engineering Program that relate to each of the United Nations 17 SDG

Sustainability at the Academy of Continuing Education

The LAU Academy of Continuing Education (ACE) contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the content and outcomes of its diverse programs. It offers more than 65 courses in various modalities: remote, in-person, hybrid and asynchronous. Through these offerings, the academy contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education as they are presented to the public and the community beyond the university’s student body. They also address SDG 17; Partnership for the Goals as they tackle and promote the SDGs.

Two of the academy’s offerings stand out as having demonstrated a far-reaching impact in Lebanon. The Crafts, Arts and Vocational programs have, for two years now, encouraged women to develop their own enterprises in partnership with artisans and entrepreneurs. A similar program, the Women Entrepreneurship Diploma Program, advocates for gender inclusivity in the Lebanese labor market, by offering women in rural and peri-urban areas the opportunity to build their skills and identify their business niche. Each of these programs has reached more than 200 women across the country, contributing to SDG4: Quality Education and SDG5: Gender Equality.

Increased power cuts in Lebanon over recent years due to the economic and financial crises have led to a demand for alternative power sources, particularly solar power. In the context of an unorganized market and a shortage of trained professionals, ACE developed a training program to build the capacities of photovoltaic (PV) technicians in the solar energy market. The program encompasses around 100 hours of training on design and engineering, installation and safety, commercial and legal aspects, and work ethics, addressing SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

On the inclusivity front, ACE has established a number of programs to help build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions across the board. A couple of programs stand out.

The second is a specially designed teacher-training program for every cohort of Teach for Lebanon fellows, namely fresh graduates who go on to teach in underserved schools across the country. Through this, the academy serves SDG1: No Poverty and SDG10: Reduced Inequalities as the program seeks to improve access to basic services for all. Both programs also attest to the academy’s contribution to SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

A wide array of other courses, certificates, diplomas and training programs at ACE also attest to SDG3: Good Health and Well-Being, such as the Food Safety Program, offered to industry professionals in collaboration with the ministries of Industry and Agriculture. Other programs promote fitness, mental health and risk management, and are offered to healthcare professionals, health coaches and psychologists.

Gender in Development and Humanitarian Assistance (GDHA) Certificate

Overview

In collaboration with The Arab Institute for Women (AIW) at the Lebanese American University (LAU), the Gender in Development and Humanitarian Assistance (GDHA) Certificate is a continuing education program designed for students, practitioners, and policymakers. The program addresses gender issues in development and humanitarian settings. GDHA innovatively incorporates academic knowledge with high-level expertise to create a new standard in gender education for development and humanitarian professionals. The standards are in-line with internationally-recognized practices. Moreover, the program builds local capacity to address local issues, building a cadre of motivated professionals in the Arab region.

Content

The program involves an active learning approach with practical workshops. It also emphasizes reflective and collaborative learning. Participants may choose to take individual courses or to complete the full set. Upon completion of all ten courses, participants receive a certificate.

Objectives

• Address the full range of gender issues in development and humanitarian contexts
• Build Arab capacity to address Arab development and humanitarian challenges
• Provide technical, marketable skills in gender programming to address gender inequalities
• Establish foundational knowledge in global and regional best practices on gender equality and women’s rights

Contact us

Email: joanna.fayad@lau.edu.lb

Phone: +961 1 786 456, ext. 1106