Academic Catalog 2024–2025

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Honors Program

Note: Students enrolled in the Honors program prior to Fall 2024 are urged to refer to the old curriculum.

Mission

The mission of the LAU undergraduate honors program is to cultivate a community of exceptional scholars who are committed to academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and societal engagement.

Benefits

The Honors Program offers a variety of advantages to help students excel in their studies and personal development. Students gain access to exclusive opportunities like research and entrepreneurship courses, internships, and independent study possibilities. Additionally, they receive priority registration, access to dedicated facilities, and preferential services such as tutoring and student support. The program fosters a sense of community through annual events showcasing student achievements and culminates in special graduation recognition, including a co-curricular transcript, honors regalia, and a dedicated ceremony. Beyond academics, the program equips students with valuable skills in leadership, communication, and teamwork, while also offering personalized career guidance and access to professional networks. This approach empowers students to thrive in graduate school and their chosen career paths.

Admission

The Lebanese American University (LAU) Honors Program offers a chance for motivated students to pursue a more enriching academic experience. Admission is conducted in two phases: pre-selection and selection.

Eligibility:

  • You can apply to the Honors Program at the start of your studies at LAU, whether you’re a freshman or sophomore.
  • Transfer students can be considered after one semester at LAU, once their grades are available.
  • Students who were not initially enrolled can apply or reapply after completing a maximum of two full-time semesters.

Pre-selection Criteria:

  • High school academic record: You must have strong grades in your 10th, 11th, and 12th years
  • Freshman and sophomore applicants: You must have a minimum GPA of 3.5.
  • Motivation video: Submit a 30-60 second video explaining why you want to join the Honors Program. Specific instructions and scoring rubrics will be provided.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV): Include your CV with a description of your extracurricular activities.

Selection Process:

An Honors Admission Committee, including the Director and representatives from each school, will review all applications and make recommendations. They consider not only academic achievement but also your motivation and potential for personal and professional growth. In some cases, an interview may be required.

We encourage you to apply if you are a high-achieving student dedicated to academic excellence and personal growth.

Maintaining the honors status

To maintain their status in the Honors Program, students must demonstrate continued academic excellence and integrity. This includes upholding a clean academic record, free from any violations or warnings, and maintaining a minimum CGPA of 3.2. Students who fall below the required CGPA but remain above a 3.0 will be placed on probation for one semester. However, failure to meet the minimum CGPA by the end of the probationary semester will unfortunately result in dismissal from the Honors Program.

Graduation Requirements and Regulations

Completing the Honors Program requires fulfilling three core components: coursework, academic standing, and co-curricular engagement.

Students must finish the designated 18 credits while maintaining a minimum CGPA of 3.2. Additionally, they need to develop an “e-Portfolio” endorsed by the program director. This portfolio should document the completion of co-curricular requirements, including participation in at least 3 Honors workshops and 2 activities within or outside LAU. These activities can encompass soft-skills workshops, service learning, leadership experiences, advocacy initiatives, research and entrepreneurial projects, community engagement, civic initiatives, and even wellbeing exercises. To help students navigate this process, training on portfolio development, organization, and publication will be included as part of the co-curricular requirements.

Fulfilling these requirements will grant graduates the prestigious distinction of “University Honors” on their transcript and permanent records.

Honors Courses

The Honors Program offers courses designed to provide students with a stimulating and enriching learning experience. These courses often go beyond traditional methods, incorporating interdisciplinary approaches and active learning methods. Classes are kept small, fostering a more interactive and engaging environment. Notably, Honors courses fulfill both Liberal Arts and Sciences (LASCs) requirements and count towards graduation from a student’s chosen major, regardless of the specific discipline. This means even if a student doesn’t complete all Honors Program requirements, the credits earned in LASC Honors courses will still contribute to their overall graduation requirements.

You’ll need to complete 18 credits of Honors courses.

Change Makers (Minimum 6 credits)

  • LAS201H  Water Security
  • LAS202H  Sustainable Food Systems
  • LAS208H  Wellbeing Matters
  • LAS209H  Doing Gender: Contextual Approaches
  • LAS301H  Debating Sustainability
  • LAS302H  Inquiry for Innovation
  • LAS499H  Honors Interdisciplinary Capstone (MANDATORY course)

This capstone project allows you to tackle significant sustainability challenges through an interdisciplinary lens. You’ll work under faculty supervision, incorporating knowledge gained throughout the program. This project culminates in a scholarly paper and a presentation.

Digital Cultures (Minimum 3 credits)

LASC Core (0 to 6 credits)

  • COM203H  Art of Public Communication
  • ENG202H  Advanced Academic English

Remaining LASC Courses (to make up the 18 Credits)

Honors Co-curriculum

The honors co-curriculum aims to develop students’ essential soft skills for academic and professional success. Students must engage in a series of co-curricular activities. The co-curriculum focuses on developing your essential soft skills for future success. You’ll engage in various activities like workshops, service learning, and leadership experiences. These activities are designed to enhance your professional development plan and will be documented in an e-portfolio LAS499HP Professional Portfolio (0 cr.).

You have to take at least 3 workshops covering diverse topics such as: Emotional Intelligence, Life Balance, Goal Setting, Career Steering, Leadership and Change, Debate Skills, and the list below:

  • WRK202H Life Balance
  • WRK203H Skills of Debate
  • WRK205H Steer Your Career
  • WRK207H Leadership and Change
  • WRK208H Comm-U-nicate
  • WRK209H Ace your Interview
  • WRK210H Own the Stage: How to Deliver more Impactful Presentations
  • WRK216H Developing Stronger Relationships through Emotional Intelligence
  • WRK219H Pitching in Public
  • WRK222H Learning Agility
  • WRK225H Meaning and Purpose Discovery
  • WRK226H Meaning, Purpose and Well Being
  • WRK227H Finding Optimism In Challenging Times
  • WRK228H Guideposts To Choice And Conscious Decision Making
  • WRK229H How To Undergo A Meaningful Fulfilled Life
  • WRK230H The Values Workshop
  • WRK231H Building Life Resilience Through Meaning
  • WRK232H Nav. Disrup.Tech: Role Hum. Lead. 
  • WRK233H Falling Forward
  • WRK234H Time Mgmt & Productivity Mastery

Contact Information

Director
Ms. Ghada El-Zakhem Naous
Email

Senior Academic Assistant
Ms. Rima Mirdas Kurdi

Location and Contact Information

The office of the Honors Program is located in:

  • Beirut: Nicol Hall, Room 310
  • Byblos: Block A, Room 701

For more information, visit Honors Program. Or contact us at honorsprogram@lau.edu.lb.