Frequently Asked Questions
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General Information
Where is LAU? How can I learn more about LAU’s Beirut and Byblos campuses?
LAU has campuses in Beirut—Lebanon’s capital and largest population hub—and Amsheet—about 35 kilometers north of Beirut. Browse the campus pages for more information.
Are LAU’s campuses open to the public? Where can I find more about visiting LAU?
If you have an appointment with an LAU faculty or staff member, he/she should inform the security personnel about your visit ahead of time. You might be asked to produce some form of identification to enter. If your visit has not been arranged, you might be asked to leave your ID at the gate for the duration of your stay on campus. Here’s more information about visiting the Beirut campus and the Byblos campus.
Where can I find brief facts and figures about LAU?
A brief profile of LAU is available on the Facts and Figures page and on the Facts and Figures brochure issued yearly by the Marketing and Communications Department.
How many schools are there at LAU?
LAU has five schools: Arts and Sciences (Beirut and Byblos); Business (Beirut and Byblos); Engineering and Architecture (Byblos); Medicine (Byblos); and Pharmacy (Byblos).
How is the academic year divided at LAU?
The academic year at LAU starts in end of September and is divided into two four-month regular semesters, fall (September–February) and spring (February–June), and two five-week summer terms.
Check the academic calendar for important dates and deadlines related to beginning and end of classes, registration, advising, final exams, holidays, and so on.
When was LAU founded? How can I learn more about its history?
LAU’s roots go back to the American School for Girls founded by American Presbyterian missionaries in 1835. Read more in this page about LAU's history.
Who governs LAU?
LAU is a not-for-profit, private American institution governed by a Board of Trustees that derives its authority from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. The Board consists of 25 members, most of them American. More information is availabe in the Board Leadership page.
Who are the president and other officers at LAU?
Joseph G. Jabbra became president on August 1, 2004. Short biographies of all executive officers appear on this page.
What is LAU’s educational mission?
LAU's mission, vision and goals are stated on this page.
What is the system of education at LAU?
LAU administers an American-type curriculum modified to local needs and meeting the standards of the U.S. chartering agency. Instruction is in English. In LAU’s 4.0 GPA grading system, each letter is associated with a certain number of quality points. LAU uses a credit-based system. Classroom attendance is mandatory. For more information, see the Academic rules and procedures.
Is LAU accredited? What is its chartering agency?
In September 2007, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges granted LAU accreditation candidacy status.
Some academic programs at LAU have also achieved, or are seeking, accreditation. For example, LAU’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is the only one outside the United States that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
LAU is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. Credits are transferrable to colleges and universities in the United States. All degrees are accepted for graduate study abroad including the United States.
For more information, please see the Charter and Accreditation page.
How can I stay abreast of LAU news and upcoming events?
The News and Events website will satisfy all those who want to stay updated on what’s going on at LAU. The feature stories, brief news, and press clippings will tell you about recent happenings and achievements. You can also learn about upcoming activities by checking out the calendar of events, the conferences and seminars pages, and the announcements. For school-related events, visit the schools’ websites.
How can I donate to LAU?
Informtion on how to support LAU is available on LAU's Campaign for Excellence website.
How can I contact LAU if I have general questions?
For general inquiries, contact us at the general LAU addresses, telephone numbers or emails.
Academic Information:
What are the degrees LAU offers?
Degrees offered are: A.A., A.A.S., B.A., B.S., B.E., B.Arch., M.A., M.S., M.B.A., E.M.B.A., T.D., Pharm.D. and M.D.
What are the majors and specializations offered at LAU? Are all of them offered in both campuses?
You can find information on the majors, minors and specializations on the lists by field of study or by school and degree.
Both campuses offer the same curricula in the arts, sciences and business. Junior and senior years in engineering, architecture, and pharmacy programs are completed on the Byblos campus.
Does LAU offer associate degree, non-degree, continuing education, professional development, or other special programs?
The schools of Arts and Sciences, Business, and Engineering and Architecture offer associate degrees. There are also several special or non-degree programs.
In collaboration with the academic units, the Continuing Education Program organizes outreach programs for the Lebanese community at large. The office provides multiple academic, technical, and professional training opportunities.
The centers and institutes also offer a variety of courses, conferences, lectures, and trainings on specialized topics or fields.
What courses does LAU offer? Where can I find the class schedules?
The Academic Catalog, which is published annually, lists descriptions and other information on courses. The Banner system provides the current course offerings.
The courses required for particular programs are listed on the academic programs by field of study or by school and degree pages.
How can I register for classes?
The registration guide helps you understand the rules, steps, and procedures you should know before, during and after registration. Online registration happens though the Banner system on dates specified in the Academic Calendar.
What are the upcoming seminars and conferences to be held at LAU?
The News and Events website provides a list of all upcoming seminars and conferences, as well as a calendar of events.
Student Life:
How can I get involved in student activities on and off campus? What student clubs and organizations are there at LAU?
The development of the “whole student” is a hallmark of education at LAU. Student activities abound, catering to a variety of interests and talents. Play productions; graphic design, fine arts, photography and other exhibitions; cultural days; athletic games and fitness activities; trainings and workshops; and concerts and dance performances are some of the activities in which students can participate. OR There are plenty of opportunities for students to stay active and socialize outside the classroom: sports and fitness activities organized by the Athletics Office regular lectures, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, and theater and other performances hosted by various [schools][link to schools]; awareness campaigns and fairs prepared by the Guidance Office…
More than 50 official student clubs group together students with common hobbies and concerns—cultural, athletic, artistic, academic, career, and service.
Students have a say in student-related aspects of university governance through undergraduate councils and graduate committees. Their members are determined during annual elections. > Student Life website
Does LAU provide any guidance or other kinds of help to students?
Students can benefit from the Guidance Office’s services which include academic support, health care and education, career guidance, counseling, orientation for and assistance to new and international students, etc.
People and Facilities at LAU:
How can I locate or contact a person working or studying at LAU?
Search the online directory to find contact information for LAU faculty and staff members as well as students. Details about the directory and assistance with using it are available on the Help page.
Some of the schools websites also provide listings and information on their faculty and staff.
>List of departmental email addresses > General university addresses and telephone numbers
What are the facilities available at LAU?
Students, faculty and staff benefit from a wide range of athletic, computer, educational, and other facilities at LAU. More on the Buildings and Facilities pages.
What kinds of information technology resources are available at LAU?
IT resources for LAU students, faculty, and staff include a local area network for all campus spaces, wireless Internet access on both campuses, e-mail and webmail accounts, the Banner student information system for registration and academic records, the WebCT online course management tool, the online library tools and services (catalog, databases, e-reserve, etc.).
Faculty and staff are also benefit from videoconferencing, web publishing, dial-up Internet access from anywhere, and various business applications, as well as IT support.
What are the library resources at LAU? Who can use them?
At LAU’s libraries in Beirut and Byblos students, teachers and researchers can access thousands of print volumes and periodicals listed in the Library Catalog, as well as online databases, e-journals, e-books, and microfilms.
Special features and collections include book and non-book materials on feminist studies, the Children’s Library, the Practice Teaching collection for education students, the audiovisual collection, the Islamic art and architecture resources and artifacts…
Orientation, individual instruction, and research assistance are available throughout the year. The instant messenger, e-reserve, and inter-library loans and document delivery services provide easy solutions to library users.
Users who don’t hold LAU ID cards are entitled to in-library use only, including photocopying facilities. Taking items outside the libraries, browsing the Internet and searching online databases is permitted to the LAU community only.
For more questions, check out the library-specific frequently asked questions.
Does LAU provide housing for students?
The residence halls in Beirut and Byblos provide students and visiting professors with well-equipped dorms in a cozy atmosphere. Fees vary depending on occupancy type, duration of stay, and campus.
Working at LAU:
What are the faculty and staff vacancies available at the moment?
Current employment opportunities and applications procedures for staff and faculty at LAU are listed online.
LAU Alumni:
What are the basics LAU alumni should know?
If you are a recent graduate or an old one wanting to refresh your basic alumni-related knowledge, this section will provide a summary. For more detailed information, visit the Alumni website.
What are the services and benefits offered to LAU alumni?
The Alumni website includes a list of services and benefits.
How can I learn about alumni-related news and upcoming events?
The alumni news and calendar of upcoming events help you stay close to LAU and your fellow classmates.
Is there an alumni chapter where I live?
LAU has 26 alumni chapters all around the world. Join the network now!