An interfaculty graduate environmental sciences program: a case study

Nuwayhid, Iman, El-Fadel, Mutasem and Zurayk, Rami (2003) An interfaculty graduate environmental sciences program: a case study. International Forum on Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health, Montreal, Canada,. 18 - 23 May 2003.

Abstract

This presentation introduces the growth elements and ongoing challenges of an Interfaculty Graduate Environmental Sciences Program (IGESP) at the American University of Beirut (AUB). The IGESP, launched in 1997, leads to an MS degree in Environmental Sciences with three majors namely, Environmental Technology, Ecosystem Management, and Environmental Health awarded by the Faculties of Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, and Health Sciences, respectively. Originally, different departments at AUB proposed their own graduate programs in environmental sciences. Conflicts among the different schools froze all proposals and forced them to develop a unified program. The preparatory phases were tense and characterized with mistrust. The program, however, overcame most of these obstacles by adopting various criteria outlined below:
1) Relative independence: administration by an Interfaculty Coordinating Committee reporting to the Provost of the university
2) Balance: “Broadening” not adopted at the expense of technical proficiency
3) Collaboration: through co-teaching and joint research programs
4) Flexibility: incorporation of feedback of graduates, current students, and international and national experts, exemplified in the recent approval of a fourth specialization track in Environmental Policy and Planning to be awarded by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
5) Cost saving: faculty members drawn from existing departments where they carry other academic and administrative responsibilities
6) Output: over 200 articles, reports, and training manuals during the past 5 years; and well-placed graduates in consulting firms, local government and regulatory agencies, and academia, or pursuit of higher education abroad.
7) Links and relevance: Relevance through strong links with new research and educational initiatives, and local and regional environmental market. The IGESP still faces many challenges, primarily due to its organizational structure. More is desired towards a real transdisciplinary educational program. The AUB model may be useful to other academic institutions, but a single formula for environmental education seems unlikely, and perhaps undesirable.

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