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Bachelor of Science (BS) in Civil Engineering & Sustainable Design (CESD)*

Mission Statement

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Civil Engineering and Sustainable Design (CESD) program at AUB Mediterraneo provides students with the expertise that they need to become successful leaders and difference-makers in this field. Students in the CESD program learn a range of valuable skills. The courses in the CESD program cover a variety of topics, such as planning, designing, constructing, and managing transformative projects as a manifestation of one of humanity's oldest and most remarkable abilities: the power to shape and build the world around us.

The educational objectives of the CESD program are to see our graduates move on to become:

  • • Engineers who hold central positions, create sustainable and ethical solutions, and advance the knowledge in various sub-disciplines of civil engineering in local, regional and international practice.
  • • Graduates who are admitted to, and successfully complete advanced degrees in leading universities around the world.
  • • Leaders and innovators in their profession and in the service of their community.

*BS in Civil Engineering & Sustainable Design is in the final stages of approval and scheduled to launch in fall 2026.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the BS in CESD program will be able to demonstrate:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to aquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

These learning outcomes align with the European Qualifications Framework.

Program Requirements

For successful completion of the BS in CESD degree, students must complete all components of the program, which carry a total of 244 ECTS over 9 terms (4 years), including eight fall/spring terms and one summer term taken during the third year of the program. The program consists of:

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS ECTS
Engineering Fundamentals Courses 12 ECTS
Compulsory Core CESD Courses 88 ECTS
CESD Elective Courses 18 ECTS
Compulsory Science and Math Courses 36 ECTS
Approved Experience (summer term) 0 ECTS
General Education Courses 90 ECTS
Total ECTS 244 ECTS

For a complete list of degree requirements, refer to the Office of the Registrar CESD Requirements page.

Sample Study Plan

For a sample study plan that shows how a typical CESD student may progress through the program, refer to the Sample Study Plan published on the Office of the Registrar’s page.

Courses and Course Descriptions

CESD 101 Engineering Drawings and 3D BIM

6 ECTS

An introductory course that aims to introduce students to the basics of engineering drawing and digital design and construction. Students are exposed to computer-aided drawing and Autodesk’s Revit software package, a core component of Building Information Modeling (BIM) as well as other BIM tools for civil engineering and management applications.

CESD 271 Data Science for Engineers

6 ECTS

This course introduces students to the various types of data, basics of sensing, data acquisition, database design, and data analytics. It combines theoretical topics in machine learning with practical methods for solving problems, using Python. The students are exposed to supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms (e.g., clustering, linear regression, and classification), as well as basic deep learning architectures. The topics are demonstrated with examples and hands-on laboratory sessions drawn from civil engineering, with a focus on analytics problems faced by cities, infrastructure, and the environment. Prerequisites: CSEN 101, MATH 100, STAT 101.

CESD 100 Introduction to Civil Engineering Design

6 ECTS

The course is a project-based introductory design experience for first-year civil engineering students. Student teams work through a real project to solve a design challenge involving structures, construction management, transportation, water, and sustainability. The course develops the students’ design mindset, critical thinking, and engineering problem solving skills. Students will work in teams to break down a complex design problem into well-defined sub-problems, understand the process of collecting various types of information, and find approximate solutions to each sub-problem. Students identify themselves as civil and environmental engineers and develop a context to better understand subsequent civil engineering courses and how they relate as a system.

CESD 110 Introduction to Solid Mechanics

8 ECTS

Introduction to statics and the principles of mechanics of materials to describe the behavior of structures and introduce students to the fundamental principles and methods of structural mechanics. Course topics cover: free body diagrams, static equilibrium, force resultants, support conditions, axial, shear, and moment diagrams of beams and simple frames, analysis of determinate planar structures (beams, trusses, frames), stresses and strains in structural elements, states of stress (shear, bending, torsion), displacements and deformations. Prerequisite: MATH 100.

CESD 180 Engineered Systems and Sustainability

6 ECTS

This course introduces key engineered systems, including energy, water supply, buildings, and transportation, and examines their environmental impacts. It covers the basic principles of science necessary to understand how natural processes are influenced by human activities. Students will critically evaluate various engineering approaches, including renewable energy integration, water conservation techniques, green building practices, and sustainable transportation planning, to address sustainability challenges in civil engineering.

CESD 211 Cornerstone Structural Analysis and Design

8 ECTS

Introduction to the subject of structural analysis and design; Analysis of statically determinate plane frames; Deflection of statically determinate beams. Introduction to indeterminate structures; Influence lines for structures. Computer applications in structural engineering. Project: Building modeling, assessment, and preliminary design. Prerequisites: MATH 100, CESD 110.

CESD 240 Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics

6 ECTS

This course provides a thorough understanding of the principles of fluid mechanics and their applications. Topics include fluid properties, fluid statics, flow analysis, continuity principle, energy and momentum equations and their applications. Laboratory experiments that reinforce theoretical concepts are also conducted. Prerequisites: MATH 100, PHYS 100, CESD 110.

CESD 270 Remote Sensing and Digital Mapping

6 ECTS

A course that examines the concepts and principles of Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing with applications to civil and environmental engineering. It provides coverage of state-of-the-art GIS methods and tools, remote sensing technologies, and processing and analysis of remotely sensed data using ArcGIS Pro software. Hands-on laboratory sessions reinforce students’ understanding of the academic concepts and principles. Prerequisite: CESD 101.

CESD 281 Sustainable Construction Materials and Technology

6 ECTS

An introductory course on the composition and properties of engineering materials such as aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, steel, polymers, and wood. It also provides a detailed exploration of sustainable construction materials and the technologies used to implement them in modern building practices. Hands-on laboratory experiments and demonstrations are part of the course and are designed to familiarize students with materials, testing methods, equipment, and standards. Prerequisite: CESD 110.

CESD 312 Reinforced Concrete Design

6 ECTS

Introduction to the fundamentals of reinforced concrete design and analysis. Topics include: design philosophy, design loads & load combinations, shear and flexural design of beams, column design for axial load and bending moment, deflection and crack control requirements, slab design, footing design, and anchorage/development length. Practical design project with the use of software: design of a simple reinforced concrete structure as per the requirements of ACI-318 and Eurocodes. Prerequisites: CESD 211, CESD 281.

CESD 313 Steel Design

6 ECTS

Loads on structures. Philosophies of design. Behavior, analysis, and design (according to AISC) of tension members. Compression members. Flexural members. Composite beams. Prerequisite: CESD 211.

CESD 320 Engineering Project Management and Economics

6 ECTS

This course focuses on the economic aspects of construction and engineering projects, providing students with essential knowledge and skills in construction project management. Topics include economic problem-solving in construction, project management techniques, characteristics of construction organizations, and the effective use of construction equipment and methods. Students will gain a thorough understanding of the financial, organizational, and operational factors that influence the success of construction projects.

CESD 330 Geotechnical Engineering and Design

6 ECTS

Soil mineralogy; Soil classification and index properties; site investigation; compaction; flow of water through soils; effective stress concept; compressibility and consolidation; stress and settlement analysis; shear strength; applications of soil mechanics to the determination of bearing capacity and settlement of footings and rafts, design of shallow foundations; laboratory experiments. Prerequisites: CESD 110, GEOL 227.

CESD 341 Engineering Hydrology

6 ECTS

A course outlining hydrologic principles, rainfall-runoff analysis, flood routing, frequency analysis and ground water hydrology. Applications from arid and semi-arid regions are demonstrated. Prerequisites: CESD 240; MATH 101.

CESD 360 Transportation Engineering and Design

6 ECTS

An introductory course to the field of transportation engineering and design through presenting the basic principles of geometric design of highways, traffic flow theory, and operational analysis. Emerging trends in the transportation field are also discussed. The laboratory component consists of field experiments and contemporary software (Python and Synchro) that reinforce students’ understanding of academic concepts and principles. Prerequisites: STAT 101, CSEN 101, CESD 270.

CESD 400 Approved Experience

0 ECTS

Students are placed for eight full weeks at a recognized consulting and/or contracting firm in Cyprus or abroad, in a capacity that ensures they apply their knowledge and acquire professional experience in the field of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of 80 credits (160 ECTS).

CESD 417 Earthquake Engineering

6 ECTS

A course that provides an introduction to earthquake engineering. It covers earthquake dynamics of single- and multi-degree-of-freedom systems; engineering characterization of earthquake ground motions; earthquake demands on structures; and introduction to earthquake-resistant design. Prerequisite: CESD 211.

CESD 450 Environmental Engineering and Design

6 ECTS

Introduction to various areas within environmental engineering and their associated principles. Topics include material balance concepts for tracking substances in environmental systems, environmental chemistry, environmental microbiology, water quality management, water and wastewater treatment, air quality, environmental risk assessment, and mathematics of growth. The course will include a project-based design module for the design of a wastewater or water treatment facility. Prerequisite: CESD 240.

CESD 482 Capstone Sustainability Project

6 ECTS

This project-based course starts with the selection of a topic for a design group project involving sustainable materials, systems, or technologies and the preparation of a detailed execution program aimed at providing practical design experience in a civil and environmental application through comprehensive research with the guidance and approval of faculty members. Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of 90 credits (180 ECTS).

CESD 321 Construction Methods and Safety Management

6 ECTS

Presenting tools needed for estimating, planning and directing operations in heavy civil projects and building construction. Equipment, methods, productivity, ownership, operating costs, and safety management. Prerequisite: CESD 320.

CESD 414 Prestressed Concrete

6 ECTS

The course seeks to provide the students with the fundamental knowledge of design and behavior of prestressed concrete (P/C) structural systems with particular emphasis on bridge members. Prerequisites: CESD 110, CESD 312.

CESD 415 Special Topics in Concrete

6 ECTS

The course seeks to provide the students with the advanced knowledge of design and behavior of reinforced concrete (R/C) structures. It aims to provide students with the fundamental concepts needed for advanced design and analysis of R/C systems and to develop the engineering skills and knowledge necessary for the analysis of advanced reinforced concrete systems. Prerequisite: CESD 312.

CESD 416 Numerical Methods in Structural Analysis

6 ECTS

Matrix/systematic approach for the modeling and analysis of structural systems, Computer modeling/analysis using specialized software (SAP2000), Computer implementation and code development (MATLAB). Prerequisite CESD 211.

CESD 418 Concrete Technology

6 ECTS

A course that examines Portland cements. Aggregates. Pozzolans. Proportioning normal concrete mixtures. Pumping concrete. Consolidating, finishing, and curing concrete. Durability. Testing hardened concrete. High-strength concrete. Light and heavy weight concretes. Hot and cold weather concreting. Prerequisite: CESD 281.

CESD 422 Building Construction and Estimating

6 ECTS

Presenting various building systems and construction methods as well as cost estimating procedures. Emphasis on major civil engineering systems (concrete, steel and masonry construction, roofing, glazing, cladding, interior finishes, partitions, etc.) in addition to mechanical and electrical equipment in buildings. Presenting professional construction documents including execution drawings, details, and specifications.

CESD 431 Applied Foundation Engineering

6 ECTS

A course on raft and deep foundations; retaining structures, anchored and braced excavations; and computer applications. Prerequisite: CESD 330.

CESD 432 Soil and Site Improvement

6 ECTS

A course that covers compaction; admixture stabilization; foundation soil treatment; reinforced soil and composite materials; and site reclamation. Prerequisite: CESD 330.

CESD 451 Environmental Biotechnology

6 ECTS

This course examines current and emerging environmental biotechnologies used for environmental quality evaluation, monitoring, and remediation of contaminated environments, and provides students with a working knowledge of the science that underpins them. Prerequisites: CHEM 101, MATH 100.

CESD 452 Environmentally Sustainable Renewable Energy Sources

6 ECTS

The course covers basic principles, potentials and limitations of various renewable energy sources and technologies. The focus will be on solar energy, hydroelectricity, wind energy, bioenergy, hydrogen energy and fuel cell technology. Sustainability and environmental impact of renewable energy sources will be discussed based on globally implemented technologies. Prerequisite: CESD 180, GEOL 227.

CESD 453 Environmentally Responsive Buildings

6 ECTS

The course is designed to provide the undergraduate and graduate student with a deeper understanding of green building principles and to help them make a connection between the conceptual and the practical aspects of climate responsive and environmentally friendly buildings. Particular focus will be placed on the thorough understanding of the sustainable dimension of building materials by address the sustainable dimension of structures / materials in nature and the performance of materials. The course will encourage the students to consider green options and to apply their knowledge of green buildings in their career. Prerequisite: CESD 180, GEOL 227.

CESD 454 Wastewater Treatment and Laboratory

6 ECTS

Quality and treatment processes of wastewater. Testing for physical, chemical, and biological parameters.

CESD 455 Coastal Engineering

6 ECTS

The course introduces the student to the field of Coastal Engineering that is involved with the design and maintenance of harbors, marinas, coastal and offshore structures such as breakwaters, seawalls, and jetties. Coastal Engineering is also concerned with the study of waves and currents and their effect on coastal structures, the control of erosion, and the pollution of the coastal waters. The course is divided into three main parts: water wave theories for regular and irregular waves, wave propagation and transformation, and wave-structure interaction. The first part of the course covers various water wave theories to predict their properties and associated phenomena. The propagation of water waves from deep water to shallow water and associated wave transformation is covered next, while the wave-structure interaction constitutes the last part of the course. The coastal engineering course material is tied together again through an optional design project of breakwater or seawall. Prerequisite: CESD 240.

CESD 461 Urban Transportation Planning

6 ECTS

An introduction to methods and models used in transportation planning with emphasis on the urban context. Topics include travel patterns in urban areas; data requirements for planning and data collection techniques; transportation/land-use interaction; travel demand and network models; discrete choice and machine learning models with applications; applications of geographic information systems (GIS). Prerequisite: CESD 360.

CESD 462 Traffic Engineering

6 ECTS

A course outlining traffic engineering studies; traffic control of signalized and unsignalized intersections; signal control hardware and maintenance; arterial performance and operations; and network optimization. Prerequisite: CESD 360.

CESD 483 Climate Change and Infrastructure Resilience

6 ECTS

Climate change is a major sustainability challenge. Although this issue is global, climate risk assessment and solutions are often of local character. This course introduces the students to the issue of climate change, and how the dynamics of the climate system shape global and regional climate impacts like heat waves, floods, sea-level rise, drought, etc. and how the human, societal, and natural/physical environments affect systems’ sensitivity and adaptive capacity to these impacts. It also provides the students with the tools and thought process to interpret climate data and projections, assess the vulnerability of civil infrastructures and operations to climate impacts and their potential disruptive scenarios, and identify measures to build adaptive capacity and mitigation strategies to improve climate resilience within the built environment.

The courses in this section are offered through the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Institute for the Liberal Arts General Education Program.​​

CHEM 101 Introduction to Environmental Chemistry

6 ECTS

An introduction to the chemistry of the environment for first year students. The course provides a nice blend of interactive lectures, virtual laboratories and educational activities related to environmental chemistry. Students will learn more about pollutants and their interaction into the environment. Main topics cover the beginning of life on earth, reaction rates, earth atmosphere, stratospheric and tropospheric chemistry, urban chemistry, gases, metals, the chemistry of global climate, green chemistry, as well as water pollution and waste treatment.

CHEM 101L Introduction to Environmental Chemistry Lab

4 ECTS

This lab component of the CHEM 101 course offers hands-on experience with analytical techniques and experiments related to environmental chemistry. Corequisite: CHEM 101.

MATH 101 Differential Equations

6 ECTS

Integration of vector fields along curves and on surfaces, Green’s theorem, Stokes’s theorem, divergence theorem; first-order differential equations, linear differential equations, series solutions, Bessel’s and Legendre’s functions, the Laplace transform, and systems of differential equations. Prerequisite: MATH 100.

MATH 203 Numerical Computing

6 ECTS

Computer number representations and round-off errors; Basic techniques in numerical analysis: root finding; Gauss elimination and PLU decomposition; polynomial and spline interpolation; differentiation and integration, Richardson extrapolation; solving initial value problems for ordinary differential equations and systems of differential equations. Implementations and analysis of algorithms are stressed. Projects using MATLAB or similar tools are assigned. Prerequisites: CSEN 100 or CSEN 101, MATH 100.

PHYS 100 Introductory Physics II

6 ECTS

The course will review classical mechanics, fluid statics, fluid dynamics, temperature, heat and first law of thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, heat engines, entropy and second law of thermodynamics, general properties of waves, sound waves and resonances, light and optics, interference, diffraction, and polarization. Pre- or corequisite: MATH 100.

PHYS 100L Introductory Physics II Lab

2 ECTS

This lab component of the PHYS 100 course offers practical experience with measurement techniques, data analysis, and the application of theoretical principles. Corequisite: PHYS 100.

STAT 101 Introduction to Probability and Random Variables

6 ECTS

Display of data, properties of probability, methods of enumeration, conditional probability and independent events; univariate and bivariate distributions corresponding to both discrete and continuous variables; mixture of distributions; covariance and correlation, independent random samples and the central limit theorem; basics of point and interval estimation and hypothesis testing. Prerequisite: MATH 100. Students who complete STAT 101 cannot receive credit for STAT 100.

CESD students must complete 90 ECTS within the General Education Program, including several compulsory courses:

• ENGL 100 Academic English
• ENGL 102 Technical English
• CSEN 101 Introduction to Programming
• MATH 100 Calculus and Analytic Geometry III
• BIOL 101 Human Biology
• GEOL 227 Climate and Earth Sciences for Engineers
• INDE 330 Engineering Ethics

CESD students also take the following General Education electives:

• Foreign Language in Arabic or Greek (6 ECTS)
• Cultures and Histories (12 ECTS)
• Societies and Individuals (6 ECTS)
• A choice of Societies and Individuals OR Cultures and Histories (6 ECTS)
• Free Elective in General Education program (6 ECTS)

​Teaching Staff

Full-time Faculty

Hadi Abou Chakra
Hadi Abou Chakra

Senior Lecturer

Faculty of Engineering
[email protected]

Georgios Charalambous
Georgios Charalambous

Lecturer

Faculty of Arts and Sciences
[email protected]

Salah Sadek
Salah Sadek

Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Professor of Civil Engineering

Faculty of Engineering
[email protected]

Zinon Zinonos
Zinon Zinonos

Assistant Professor

Faculty of Arts and Sciences
[email protected]

Part-time Faculty

Christos Photiou
Christos Photiou

Special Scientist-Lecturer

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Rafaela Vasiliadou
Rafaela Vasiliadou

Special Scientist-Lecturer

Faculty of Arts and Sciences
[email protected]

Seconded Professors

Mayssa Dabaghi
Mayssa Dabaghi

Associate Professor

American University of Beirut
[email protected]

Dima Al Hassanieh
Dima Al Hassanieh

Labs Manager

American University of Beirut
[email protected]

Mounir Mabsout
Mounir Mabsout

Professor and Chair, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering

American University of Beirut
[email protected]

Shadi Najjar
Shadi Najjar

Professor

American University of Beirut
[email protected]

Darine Salam
Darine Salam

Associate Professor

American University of Beirut
[email protected]

Alissar Yehya
Alissar Yehya

Assistant Professor

American University of Beirut
[email protected]

Maya Abou Zeid
Maya Abou Zeid

Professor

American University of Beirut
[email protected]

For a detailed list of courses taught by each faculty member in the CESD program, refer to this Faculty Course Assignments document.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance

This program is in the final stages of approval with the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA)

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