DIVERSITY is our character.

A diversity of societies, and of cultures. But also a diversity of environmental problems affect our integrity of our ecosystems and the health of our people.

In Interfaculty Graduate Environmental Sciences Program (IGESP) we recognize these links and we know we can help resolve these issues without adopting a:

Our Program

Disciplines Integrated by our Program

The program strives to:

Fields of specialization

Study the elements of the physical environment: air, water, soi
Understand air, water, and soil’s cycles in the system
Acquire environmental engineering perspective to managed wastes and by-products

Faculty

Rami Zurayk, Director, Associate professor at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Mutassem El-Fadel, Director, Water Resources Center, Associate professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
Hala Mohtaseb, Associate professor at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Iman Nuwayhid, Assistant Dean, Associate professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences

Ghazi Zaatari, MD, Chairman, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, director of Environment Core Lab

Curriculum

Two-year program (30 credits + 6 credits thesis)

The core courses which address regionally relevant environmental specializations, include:
         - Air pollution
         - Waste and water management
         - Solid waste management
         - Toxicology and environmental health hazards
         - Natural resource management
         - Ethics and policy

Twelve credits of elective courses offer specialization in one of three areas:
         Ecosystem Management
         Environmental Health
         Environmental Technology

Facilities

Faculty lab

Environment Core Lab
Environmental Engineering Research Lab
Geographic Information System (GIS) Lab
Molecular Analysis and Tissue Culture Lab

Current Research

Coastal Zone Management (World Bank, URB)
Darwin Projects in Coastal Vegetation (UK)
Survey and Conservation for Lebanon (USAID, IDRC)
Heavy Metals in the Ecosystem
Integrated Solid Waste Management (URB)
Process in the Urban Environment (CEDRE)

Sustainable Improvement of Marginal Lands in Lebanon: ARSAL, a case study (IDRC)
Traffic-induced Emissions and Urban Air Quality Management (URB, USAID)
Waste Water Management (UNDP)

What Happens Next?

IGESP graduates today have all been able to find employment in private firms or with research projects. Many have opted for an academic career and have joined some of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. where they have all been awarded full financial support.

Admission Requirements:

1. Meet general University requirements for admission to graduate study. In addition, applicants to the Program may be admitted under the following categories only:

      A. Clear if average in the last 60 credits is greater than 80.
      B. On probation if average in the last 60 credits is less than 80 and greater than 75.

2. Be recommended by the appropriate Faculty Graduate Committee and accepted by the Interfaculty Coordinating Committee of the Program.

It is expected that applicants to the Program have a broad background in the Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Physics). Remedial courses may be suggested by the Academic Advisor for those who lack this background.

Core Program Courses

ENSC 600/CIVE 656N Air Pollution and Control I. 3 cr.
ENSC 610/CIVE 654N Solid Waste Management I. 3 cr.
ENSC 620/CIVE 652N Water and Wastewater Treatment. 3 cr.
ENSC 630/ENSC 330  Natural Resource Management. 3 cr.
ENSC 640/ENHL 310  Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards. 3 cr.
ENSC 650                  Environmental Policy and Ethics. 3 cr.
ENSC 690/797            Seminar in Environmental Sciences. 0 cr.

Examples of Specialization Electives in Environmental Sciences

ENSC 651/CIVE 650N Methods of Environmental Sampling and Analysis. 3 cr.
ENSC 652/CIVE 659N Environmental Impact Assessment. 3 cr.
ENSC 654/ECMG 311  Physical and Biological Resources in Terrestrial Ecosystems. 3 cr.
ENSC 655/AGR 301    Research Design and Statistical Methods. 3 cr.

ENSC 601/CIVE 657N  Air Pollution and Control II. 3 cr.
ENSC 602/CIVE 751N  Air Pollution Modeling. 3 cr.
ENSC 611/CIVE 655N  Solid Waste Management II. 3 cr.
ENSC 612/CIVE 658N  Industrial/Hazardous Waste Management. 3 cr.
ENSC 621/CIVE 653N  Water and Sewage Design. 3 cr.
ENSC 622/CIVE 651N  Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology. 3 cr.
ENSC 623                   Physical, Chemical, and Biological Processes. 3 cr.
ENSC 631/ECMG 314  Agricultural Pollution and Control. 3 cr.
ENSC 632/LWRS 318  Soil Salinity and Management. 3 cr.
ENSC 641/ENHL 312    Occupational Health. 3 cr.
ENSC 642/ENHL 230    Food Quality and Control. 3 cr. 
 
 

While it is not required to specialize in any one field, students are encouraged to do so when feasible as it helps them in selecting a thesis or project topic.