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General Education Courses

ENGL 100 Academic English

6 ECTS

This course introduces students to the demands of critical reading and writing college level texts. Through a recursive process of exploration, discovery, and writing, students develop ownership of texts and practice their voice to compose a documented synthesis.

ENGL 101 Advanced Academic English

6 ECTS

This course provides training in writing analyses, syntheses, and critiques of advanced college-level texts. Throughout the term, students polish their research skills by examining and evaluating different aspects of argumentation. The course culminates in an argumentative research paper. Prerequisite: ENGL 100. This course does not count toward graduation for students in Faculty of Engineering.

ENGL 102 Technical English

6 ECTS

This course immerses engineering students in the best practices of technical communication for their discipline. It focuses on making complex information accessible to different audiences while emphasizing evidence-based argumentation appropriate for specific contexts. Special attention is given to style, conventions, the recursive technical writing process, research methodology, and collaboration. Prerequisite: ENGL 100. For students in Faculty of Engineering only.

ARAB 100 Beginners’ Arabic as a Foreign Language I

6 ECTS

This course introduces students who have no previous knowledge of Arabic to the Arabic language and culture within its Lebanese setting. The course utilizes an integrated approach to Arabic and emphasizes communicative tasks and contexts. By the end of the course, students will be able to speak and write simple connected sentences about themselves, their families and their immediate environment, and read and listen to short authentic texts.

ARAB 101 Beginners’ Arabic as a Foreign Language II

6 ECTS

A continuation of ARAB 100. By the end of this course, students reach Intermediate-Low to Intermediate-Mid proficiency in Arabic on the ACTFL scale. Prerequisite: ARAB 100.

ARAB 102 Traces and Ruins

6 ECTS

A distinct relation between identity, things/objects, and narratives exists through shared memories and experiences. Throughout this course we will be exploring the theme of identity through the study of remnants of people and places. We will look at texts and material culture, regarded as “ruins”, as means to explore ways of interpretation of the past and possibly the present, of identity and belonging, authority and representation.

GRLG 100 Greek as a Foreign Language I

6 ECTS

The course aims to introduce students to Greek language and to enable them to communicate in commonly encountered situations. The course emphasizes cultural awareness in addition to practical language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

GRLG 101 Greek as a Foreign Language II

6 ECTS

The course aims to introduce students to the A2 level of the Greek language and help them build upon topics covered at the A1 level. In addition, students will have the opportunity to explore new subjects and units to enrich their vocabulary and gain a better understanding of Greek syntax and grammar. The course also promotes cultural awareness by incorporating topics related to Greek culture and civilization, along with activities that address the four main domains of language acquisition: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

BIOL 100 General Biology I

6 ECTS

An integrated approach to the biology of organisms covering the organization of life, energy transfer through living systems, perpetuation of life, and diversity of life.

BIOL 101 Human Biology

6 ECTS

This course covers the fundamental principles of cell biology, genetics, and human biology, with emphasis on the morphology, physiology, and disorder of body systems.

CHEM 100 Chemical Principles

6 ECTS

A theoretical introduction to chemical principles, stressing atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry, gases, solutions, acids and bases, solution equilibria.

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 102 Introductory Chemical Techniques

4 ECTS

A laboratory course on the methods of quantitative analysis, physical chemistry measurements, and inorganic semi-micro qualitative analysis, with applications to environmental problems. Pre- or corequisite: CHEM 100 or CHEM 101.

CHEM 301 Organic Chemistry I

6 ECTS

An introduction to organic chemistry organized according to functional groups. This course covers synthesis, properties, and reactions of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and alkyl halides, with emphasis on mechanistic and stereochemical aspects of organic reactions. Prerequisite: CHEM 100.

CHEM 302 Organic Chemistry II

6 ECTS

A course that covers synthesis, properties, and reactions of organic functional groups, including alcohols and ethers, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and derivatives, amines, phenols, and aryl halides; chemistry of difunctional compounds and of molecules of biological importance, including carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids; and organic structure determination by spectroscopic methods. Emphasis is placed on reaction mechanism and stereochemistry, as well as on the design of multi-step syntheses. Prerequisite: CHEM 301.

HPCH 100 Introduction to Public Health

6 ECTS

An introductory course intended to introduce undergraduate students to the basic concepts, disciplines, principles of public health, and how public health functions and integrates other professions. Students learn how to link biological, physical, and socio-political factors to health and illness, situated at individual, community, institutional, and global levels through interactive lectures and consequent application sessions. Examples and case studies of contemporary health challenges and interventions will be used.

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 101 Introduction to Classical Physics

6 ECTS

The objective of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive conceptual overview of classical physics. The course will review solids and fluids, thermal physics and processes, heat and heat engines, the laws of thermodynamics, gas dynamics, vibrations and wave phenomena, sound, reflection and refraction of light, mirrors and lenses, wave optics and optical instruments.

PHYS 102 Introduction to Modern Physics

6 ECTS

The objective of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive and conceptual overview of modern physics. It is the follow up course to PHYS 101 to complete the physics knowledge for undergraduate students. Part I of the course covers electric field, electric potential Gauss’s law, capacitance, electric current and circuits and Ohm’s law. Magnetic field, Ampere’s law, electromagnetic induction, electromagnetism applied to biological systems. Part II of the course covers an introduction to relativity, atoms and atomic structure, nuclei, elementary particles and radioactivity.

PHYS 104 Electricity and Magnetism

6 ECTS

The objective of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive and detailed overview of electricity and magnetism. It also aims at making students apply the mathematical calculus-based tools to solve electromagnetism problems and use virtual lab experiments to understand the underlying phenomena.

CSEN 101 Introduction to Programming

6 ECTS

This course introduces students to programming and computational thinking. A high-level programming language is used. Students will learn the principles of imperative and object-oriented programming in addition to basic data types, flow control (repetition and selection constructs), procedures and functions, parameter passing, scoping, recursion, arrays, and classes. Students are briefly introduced to simple algorithms and data structures.

CMPS 108 Computing for Business

6 ECTS

This course introduces Excel as a computer tool to plan, create, and use spreadsheets to formulate and solve business problems. It exposes students to a wide coverage of spreadsheet topics from introductory concepts such as problem formulation, writing formulas and functions, charting, grouping, and error prevention to more powerful and advanced features such as pivot tables, and analysis needed in decision-making. In addition, it boosts students’ ability to collect, analyze, and forecast business and financial data to generate valuable insights. The course offers students an opportunity to apply skills in a laboratory environment in which they can experiment using Excel business problems designed for some selected topics. It provides the tools to perform modeling, calculations, analysis of various phenomena encountered in other courses such as finance, operations management, human resources, etc. Cannot be taken for credit by CSE and IENG students.

CSEN 111 Discrete Math

6 ECTS

This course introduces students to discrete structures, focusing on those relevant to computing sciences. Topics covered include Logic and Proofs, Sets, Sequences, Functions, Growth of Functions, Algorithms and their complexities, Induction and Recursion, Counting, and Recurrence Relations.

MATH 100 Calculus and Analytic Geometry III

6 ECTS

Sequences and series, Taylor approximation, Multivariable functions, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, cylindrical and spherical coordinates, and integration along curves.

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 102 Mathematics for Social Sciences I

6 ECTS

Polynomials, factoring, first- and second-degree equations, inequalities, absolute value, straight lines, Gaussian elimination, functions, graphs, exponential and logarithmic functions, limits and differentiation. Not open to students with prior credit in MATH 100.

MATH 103 Mathematics for Social Sciences II

6 ECTS

Matrix operations, inverses and determinants; elementary combinatorics; introduction to probability; random variables; binomial, normal and Poisson distributions; basic integral calculus; introduction to differential equations; partial derivatives and extremal points of multivariable functions. Prerequisite: MATH 102.

MATH 201 Elementary Linear Algebra with Applications

6 ECTS

An introduction to linear algebra at a less theoretical level than MATH 202. Systems of linear equations and Gaussian elimination, vectors in Rn, matrices, determinants, vector spaces, subspaces and dimension, orthogonal projection and least-squares approximation, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and selected applications. Students cannot receive credit for both MATH 202 and MATH 201.

MATH 202 Linear Algebra I

6 ECTS

This course provides a rigorous introduction to linear algebra, with emphasis on proof and conceptual reasoning. Vector spaces, linear transformations and their matrix representation, linear independence, bases and dimension, rank-nullity, systems of linear equations, brief discussion of inner products, projections, orthonormal bases, change of basis, determinants, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and spectral theorem. Students cannot receive credit for both MATH 202 and MATH 201.

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, and MATH 100. Prerequisite or Co-requisite: MATH 201. Students cannot receive credit for both MATH 203 and CSEN 351. (This course is cross-listed as CSEN 351 in the Department of Computer Science).

PHIL 200 Introduction to Logic

6 ECTS

An introduction to basic concepts and tools which, in addition to being of interest in themselves, also inform various philosophical discussions and are taken for granted in different areas of contemporary philosophy.

STAT 100 Elementary Statistics for the Social Sciences

6 ECTS

Data organization and frequency distributions; measures of central tendency and dispersion; probability and random variables; binomial and normal distributions; estimation, and hypothesis testing.

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.

CHLA 101 Ancient Near East and Classical Civilizations

6 ECTS

An introduction to fundamental elements of Ancient Mesopotamian, Greek, and Roman world views that continue to influence us today. Starting with the Epic of Gilgamesh, the course moves on to explore the Greek and Roman worlds through epic, drama, history, and philosophy, in some of the most influential texts from that period of human history.

CHLA 102 Medieval, Islamic, and Renaissance Civilizations

6 ECTS

An introduction to fundamental elements of late Classical, Medieval, Islamic, and Renaissance worldviews that continue to influence us today. This course focuses particularly on Christian and Islamic thought as presented in texts such as those of Augustine, Al Ghazali, Ibn Tufayl, Ibn Rushd, Aquinas, Dante, Ibn Khaldun, and Luther. Selected texts from the Renaissance period round off the course.

CHLA 103 Enlightenment and Modernity

6 ECTS

An introduction to fundamental elements of what has come to be termed the epochs of Modernity and the Enlightenment. This course explores the emerging elements of an age of exploration, scientific advancement, and radical new ideas, through selections from authors such as Shakespeare (The Tempest), Bacon, Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Hume, Adam Smith, Diderot, Bentham, Kant, Goethe, Shelley, Marx, and Mill.

CHLA 104 Contemporary Studies

6 ECTS

An introduction to some of the most seminal influences in thought that have shaped our contemporary world from the late 19th century to the present time. This course typically explores themes and developments such as evolutionary theory, Nietzschean radical critique, depth-psychology, astrophysics, philosophy of science, revolution, the absurd, existentialism, gender issues, and postcolonial literature and criticism, from both the Western and the Arab worlds.

CHLA 105 Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Civilizations (Thematic)

6 ECTS

Individualized courses designed to explore ancient, medieval, and renaissance periods utilizing a thematic approach. Examples of themes that will be explored include: Epics: Text and Context; Human Nature: Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance texts; Love: Human and Divine; Religion as Text and Tradition; Utopian Thought. May be repeated for credit on different topics.

CHLA 107 Modern and Contemporary Studies (Thematic)

6 ECTS

Individualized courses designed to explore the periods covered in CHLA 101 and CHLA 104, utilizing a thematic approach. Examples of themes: Epics: Text and Context; Faith, Culture, and Modernity; Folly; Four Theories that Shaped the Twentieth Century; Gender and Cultural Production; Human Nature: Modern and Contemporary; Language, Imagination, and Poetry; Love in the Modern and Contemporary Worlds; Monstrosities in European Modernity; Science and Society; Utopian Thought. May be repeated for credit on different topics.

ENGL 103 Shakespeare

6 ECTS

A course that covers representative plays by Shakespeare, with attention to form, cultural context, and theatrical practice. Attention may be given to Shakespeare’s poetry, adaptation and reception, and Mediterranean connections. Readings may vary from term to term. Prerequisite: ENGL 100.

ENGL 104 The Iliad

6 ECTS

In this course students study the Iliad in its entirety, in conjunction with representative critical and creative responses. Attention is given to the mythological, linguistic, poetic, and material backgrounds to Greek epic and the role of Homeric poetry in later Greek and world culture. Prerequisite: ENGL 100.

HIST 100 History of the Arab East and Egypt Since 1920

6 ECTS

This course examines the political, social, and cultural history of the Arab East and Egypt during the 20th century. We will proceed chronologically, with the 19th century background which is essential to understanding the events and the world of the 20th century.

PHIL 100 Political Philosophy

6 ECTS

An examination of the main issues of political philosophy, such as political obligation, justice, political rights, and other issues. Students cannot receive credit for both PHIL 100 and PSPA 200. Alternate years

PHIL 101 History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy

6 ECTS

A survey of ancient and medieval philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Aquinas.

PHIL 102 Introduction to Philosophy

6 ECTS

An introduction to philosophy and its methods through an analysis of traditional issues in ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, and the philosophy of religion.

PSPA 200 Introduction to Political Thought

6 ECTS

An introduction to the main currents of political thought in the world (Jewish, Christian-western, Islamic, Black-American, Indigenous), with a focus on theories such as liberalism, libertarianism, Marxism, anarchism, and decolonization.

ECON 100 Survey of Economics

6 ECTS

Elementary principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics and applications. No credit is given for students majoring in economics. Students cannot receive credit for both ECON 100 and ECON 101–ECON 102 (Unless ECON 101 or 102 are required by the major).

ECON 101 Principles of Microeconomics

6 ECTS

This course lays out the general principles of microeconomics, which include elements of supply and demand, consumer behavior, production theory, and market structures. Students cannot receive credit for both ECON 100 and ECON 101 (unless ECON 100 or 102 are required by the major).

ECON 102 Principles of Macroeconomics

6 ECTS

General principles of macroeconomics; aggregate supply and demand framework is used to analyze overall movements in prices and national output, inflation and unemployment, and monetary and fiscal policies. Students cannot receive credit for both ECON 100 and ECON 102 (unless ECON 100 or 102 are required by the major).

PHPE 100 Introduction to PPE

6 ECTS

Introduction to PPE is an interdisciplinary course that explores philosophy, politics, and economics and is taught by at least two faculty members from distinct disciplines.. In this course students are introduced to the emergence of the social sciences from philosophy in the 19th century and how they forged their identities in the 20th century. As each discipline has established its boundaries, we bring them back together in the PPE degree. The recent re-emergent interest in the benefits of interdisciplinarity, in how the three disciplines can complement each other working in pairs or as triples, in both theoretical and applied work, will cover a significant portion of the course. The course also introduces the history of the PPE degree and the varied career paths it offers its holders.

PHPE 200 Economic Justice

6 ECTS

This course introduces and examines different conceptions of economic justice. It looks closely at different answers that contemporary philosophers and economists give to the question: How and on what grounds should economic benefits and burdens be distributed? The aim of the course is to deepen the students' understanding of debates, issues, and distinctions related to economic justice. It equally aims at developing and sharpening students' powers of critical thinking and analysis.

PHPE 201 Conflict, Peace, and Justice

6 ECTS

This course introduces and examines different phenomena of war, conflict, peace and conflict resolution from the perspective of politics and philosophy. It explores the different conceptions of violence in contemporary societies and approaches violence as a political, philosophical and epistemological issue. The aim of the course is to deepen the students' understanding of debates, issues, and distinctions related to conflict, peace and violence. It equally aims at developing and sharpening students' powers of critical thinking and analysis.

PHPE 300 Political Economy

6 ECTS

This course starts from the premise that a long-term view of production, power. and social change is essential for understanding enduring patterns of wealth and poverty in the contemporary world. By emphasizing the historical and ecological specificity of the infrastructures of social power inherited from the agrarian past, the course tries to highlight the pitfalls of deploying models based on European example for understanding development and social change in other parts of the globe.

PSPA 100 Introduction to Politics

6 ECTS

An introduction to the study of politics with emphasis on the basic concepts, ideas, and issues relating to the process of government in the modern state.

PSPA 101 International Politics

6 ECTS

A survey of the basic forces and factors determining relations among states, with special emphasis on the international system, foreign policy, national power, the restraints on determinants of state action, contemporary problems and major issues faced by states, and the patterns of interaction that prevail among states.

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychological Science

6 ECTS

This course introduces students to the scientific field of behavior and mental processes through studying and critically reviewing psychology's basic principles and theories. By overviewing the major areas of contemporary psychology, students will learn more about the vast field of psychological science.

PSYC 312 Social Psychology

6 ECTS

This course introduces the students to the scientific field of social psychology through the study and critical review of this subfield's basic principles and theories. It tackles various issues ranging from how we form attitudes to interact in groups, from love and intimacy to prejudice and discrimination. In this course, we aim to develop a well-rounded understanding of the field of social psychology and how it translates into the real world. Together, we will bridge research with application and theory with real-life relevance—all while gaining knowledge and actively engaging in invigorating discussions. Prerequisite: PSYC 101.

QUAL 110 Qualitative Research Methods for Social-Political Sciences and Humanities

6 ECTS

The course introduces qualitative research methods commonly used in the Social-Political Sciences and Humanities. A wide range of qualitative methods will be covered in the course and students will then be able to apply these to specific disciplines.

PHIL 130 Ethics

6 ECTS

An introduction to some of the major normative ethical theories based on the study of the original writings of selected philosophers, including a section on applied ethics and AI.

PHPE 430 Ethics and Public Affairs

6 ECTS

Ethics and Public Affairs engages students on critical societal issues that arise in ethics, economics, politics, globalization, and the daily life of citizens. Students will discover and discuss public affairs that arise within a context of ethics, politics, and economics.

BBAB 310 Social Entrepreneurship

6 ECTS

A social enterprise is a hybrid organization that applies commercial strategies and uses market mechanisms to solve social issues. This course provides a foundation for students to understand social entrepreneurship. It reviews various schools of thought and perspectives on social entrepreneurship’s role in tackling social issues, while covering concrete tools for students to begin to engage communities, identify a problem, and develop an innovative solution.

CECS 200 Community-based Learning

6 ECTS

This course provides students with a community-based learning experience conducted in the form of a tutorial. The student is supervised by a faculty member to conduct a project that identifies a need in the community and develops an approach to address that need. Supervised projects can be completed over the course of a whole regular term or in a more condensed format during the winter or summer terms.

PSPA 300 Introduction to Global Citizenship

6 ECTS

This course offers an introductory exploration of the concept of citizenship, tracing its historical evolution and exploring its contemporary significance in an interconnected world. Students will examine the rights, responsibilities, and identities associated with citizenship and the challenges and opportunities it presents in the 21st century. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of citizenship and be equipped with critical thinking skills to engage in discussions about civic participation and social issues. Students will develop their "Civic Engagement in Action" capstone project that addresses a real-world issue related to global citizenship.