Saint Joseph University

Saint Joseph University of Beirut (French: Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, abbreviated to and commonly known as USJ) is a private Catholic research university located in Beirut, Lebanon, which was founded in 1875 by French Jesuit missionaries and subsidized by the Government of France during the time when Lebanon was under Ottoman rule. It is widely recognized as one of the leading and most prestigious academic institutions in Lebanon and Middle East. The institution boasts a diverse and accomplished group of alumni, who have gone on to become leading figures in politics, law, academia, literature, sciences, arts, medicine, and religion. USJ's impressive roster of graduates includes seven of independent Lebanon's thirteen Presidents, a Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon, two Presidents of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon, Governors of the Banque du Liban, hundreds of legislators and ministers, numerous judges, and high-ranking civil servants, among them Commanders of the Lebanese Armed Forces and executives of the Internal Security Forces. As the oldest and foremost French university in Lebanon, it not only promotes Lebanese culture but also upholds a policy of equal admission opportunity without consideration of ethno-religious affiliations. Furthermore, it advocates trilingual education, offering instruction in Arabic, French, and English. Additionally, it is known in Lebanon and the Middle East for its prominent university hospital, the Hôtel-Dieu de France, and for its prestigious and historical Faculty of Law, modern Lebanon's oldest law school and the first law school in Lebanon since the ancient Roman law school of Berytus.
The 12,650-student enrollment is served by an academic staff of 2,000 and a support staff of 540, distributed over its 13 faculties, 24 institutes and schools, across five campuses in Beirut, with regional university centers in Sidon, Tripoli, and Zahlé, as well as one foreign center, the USJ-Dubai, located in Dubai, UAE. The student body represents 45 countries.
USJ stands out as a unique university in the Middle East and the Arab world by being the only one to follow the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), which is complemented by its official recognition and compliance with the higher education regulations of Lebanon. USJ has partnerships with over 275 institutions in 42 countries worldwide, including Francophone, Jesuit, and Arab universities.
History
In 1839, French Jesuit missionaries came to Beirut and established a modest French catholic school. Later, in 1855, the Jesuits missionaries founded a bigger school in Ghazir. The second school was eventually moved to Beirut in 1875, where it merged with the first school established earlier in 1839. Public authorities quickly graced the new school with the title of "university," which allowed it to grant academic degrees, with a focus on doctoral degrees in philosophy and theology. In his audience of 25 February 1881, Pope Leo XIII bestowed the title of pontifical university on the USJ.
The creation of faculties and institutes gradually followed the establishment of the university. For instance, the Institute of Medicine founded in 1883, became the French Faculty of Medicine in 1888, and later the French Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in 1889. Today, the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy has a reputation for excellence in education and research in the region. A maternity clinic opened in 1896, followed by the Oriental College in 1902. The university has since been noted for establishing a continuous French presence in the eastern Mediterranean.
The School for French Law was established in 1913 under the patronage of the University of Lyon. The Institute for Political Sciences was first established in 1920 and is now known as "SciencesPo Beyrouth." They both evolved into the Faculty of Law and Political Science of Saint Joseph University in 1946. Today, the Faculty of Law continues to offer a rigorous and comprehensive approach to legal education, covering both French and Lebanese law in their entirety. Students have the opportunity to study these legal systems side by side, exploring the similarities and differences between them. Most of the major law classes are taught in French. The Faculty of Law enjoys a strong reputation in corporate law, family law, private international law, as well as in other areas of international law. Current faculty members have contributed to the development of the law in France, Lebanon, the Gulf countries, and other regions of the world. The Institute of Political Science offers the Arab Master's in Democracy and Human Rights, widely regarded as the most prestigious program of its kind in the Arab world.
The French School of Engineering also founded in 1913 became the Higher School for Engineering of Beirut (French: École Supérieure d'Ingénieurs de Beyrouth (ESIB)) in 1948. For many years, USJ held a monopolistic position in engineering education in Lebanon and the Levant, training the first generations of engineers in the region.
The university launched Berytech, a business development center, in 2008. In 2012, the Faculty of Economics launched a new master's degree in web science and digital economy, the first of its kind in the Middle East region.
The saying goes that "[i]t is Saint Joseph University of Beirut that has healed, legislated, and built Lebanon." (French: "C’est l’USJ qui a soigné, légiféré, et construit le Liban.") The university ranks very high for the quality of its publications.
Academics
Saint Joseph University of Beirut has been consistently ranked as the second-best university in Lebanon, and it has a historical rivalry with the top English-speaking university, the American University of Beirut (AUB). It has also established itself as the foremost French university in the nation and ranks among the most prestigious academic institutions in the Middle East.
USJ awards degrees equivalent to those commonly recognized in English-speaking countries, including bachelor's (BA, BS, LLB, BEng, BBA, BTheol, BCS, B.Ed, BSA, BM, B.Phil among many others), master's, and doctorate.
The University boasts a vast array of academic resources, including 13 faculties, 24 institutes and schools, spread out across five campuses nestled in the bustling city of Beirut, as well as regional centers in three other major cities of Lebanon, and a foreign center in Dubai. It is structured as follows:
Medicine and Health
Faculty of Medicine (French: Faculté de médecine (FM)) which was founded in 1883. It operates a large university hospital, the Hotêl-Dieu de France, and includes:
The School of Midwifery (French: École de sage-femmes (ESF)) founded in 1922
The Institute of Physical Therapy (French: Institut de physiothérapie (IPHY)) founded in 1956
The Institute of Psychomotor Therapy (French: Institut de psychomotricité (IPM)) founded in 1999
The Higher Institute of Speech and Language Therapy (French: Institut supérieur d'orthophonie (ISO)) founded in 1966
The Institute of Occupational Therapy (French: Institut d'ergothérapie (IET)) founded in 2016
The Higher Institute of Public Health (French: Institut supérieur de santé publique (ISSP)) founded in 2016
Faculty of Pharmacy (French: Faculté de Pharmacie (FP)) founded in 1889 and which includes:
The School of Medical Laboratory Scientists (French: École de techniciens de laboratoires d'analyses médicales (ETLAM)) founded in 1946
Faculty of Dental Medicine (French: Faculté de médecine dentaire (FMD)) founded in 1920
Faculty of Nursing Sciences (French: Faculté des sciences infirmières (FSI)) founded in 1942
Art, Humanities, Religious Studies
Faculty of Humanities (French: Faculté des lettres et des sciences humaines (FLSH)) reorganized in 1976 and now comprising specialized departments for western literature; Sociology and anthropology (including human resources management); History (including archeology, and cross-cultural studies); Geography (including tourism geography, and environmental resource management); Philosophy (including eastern and western philosophy); and psychology. The faculty includes:
The Institute of Oriental Letters (French: Institut de lettres orientales (ILO)) founded in 1936 and focused mainly on Arabic literature, islamic philosophy, islamic studies, and education in Arab countries
The Lebanese School of Social Work (French: École Libanaise de Formation Sociale (ELFS)) founded in 1948
The Institute of Theatre, Audiovisual, and Cinema Studies (French: Institut d'Études Scéniques, audiovisuelles, et cinématographiques (IESAV)) founded in 1988
Faculty of Languages and Translation (French: Faculté des langues et de traduction (FdLT)) founded in 1980 and which includes:
The School of Translators and Interpreters of Beirut (French: École de traducteurs et d'interprètes de Beyrouth (ETIB))
The Center for Modern Languages (French: Centre des Langues Vivantes (CLV))
Faculty of Education Sciences (French: Faculté des sciences de l'éducation (FSédu)) which includes:
The Lebanese Institute for Educators (French: Institut libanais d'éducateurs (ILE))
Higher School of Arts and Fashion Design (French: École supérieure des arts et techniques de la mode (ESMOD)). ESMOD was initially established in 1841 in Paris by Alexis Lavigne, the tailor of Empress Eugénie of France. It is present in Lebanon since 1999 and is now part of USJ.
Faculty of Religious Sciences (French: Faculté des sciences religieuses (FSR)) with a long and rich history going all the way back to 1875. It includes:
The Higher Institute of Religious Sciences (French: Institut supérieur de sciences religieuses (ISSR)) established in 1980
Institute of Islamo-Christian Studies (French: Institut d'études islamo-chrétiennes (IEIC)) founded in 1977
Law, Political Science
Faculty of Law and Political Science (French: Faculté de droit et des sciences politiques (FDSP)) founded in 1913 and reorganized in 1946. It includes:
The Institute of Political Science (known as "SciencesPo Beyrouth") (French: Institut des Sciences Politiques (ISP)) founded in 1920
The Center for Legal Studies in the Arab World (French: Centre d'études des droits du monde arabe (CEDROMA)). CEDROMA was founded in 1997 following a partnership agreement between the University and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Its purpose is to promote a better understanding of the laws of Arab countries through a comparative law approach, particularly in relation to French law.
Economics, Management, Banking, Insurance
Faculty of Economics (French: Faculté des sciences économiques (FSE))
Faculty of Business Administration and Management (French: Faculté de gestion et management (FGM)) which includes:
The Institute of Business Administration (French: Institut de gestion des entreprises (IGE))
Higher Institute for Banking Studies (French: Institut supérieur d'études bancaires (ISEB))
Higher Institute for Insurance Studies (French: Institut supérieur des sciences de l'assurance (ISSA))
Engineering and Technology, Sciences
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (French: Faculté d'ingénierie et d'architecture (FIA))
Higher School of Engineering of Beirut (French: École superieure d'Ingenieurs de Beyrouth (ESIB)) established in 1948
Higher School of Architecture of Beirut (French: École superieure d'architecture de Beyrouth (ESAR)) reestablished in 2023
Higher School of Agricultural Engineering for Mediterranean Countries (French: École superieure d'ingénieurs d'agronomie méditerranéenne (ESIAM))
Higher School of Food Engineering (French: École superieure d'ingénieurs agroalimentaires (ESIA))
National Institute of Communication and Informatics (French: Institut national des télécommmunications et de l'informatique (INCI))
Faculty of Sciences (French: Faculté des Sciences (FS))
Other university centers
Japanese Academic Center (French: Centre académique japonais (CAJAP))
Professional Center for Mediation (French: Centre professionnel de médiation (CPM))
Confucius Institute (French: Institut Confucius (IC)) for the teaching of Chinese and the promotion of Chinese culture.
University for All (French: Université Pour Tous (UPT)). UPT provides advanced-level courses that are accessible to everyone in Lebanon, without any requirements or registration, and do not confer academic degrees.
The Social Sciences Campus (commonly known as "Huvelin" after its founder Paul-Louis Huvelin) is known for its competitive bachelor programs that prepare students to pursue advanced master's degrees in top business and law schools in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, other member States of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Additionally, USJ proudly showcases prestigious institutions such as the Center for Arab Christian Research and Documentation (French: Centre de documentation et de recherches arabes chrétiennes (CEDRAC)), the Museum of Lebanese Prehistory, the Mim Museum for minerals and fossils and its two theaters: Le Béryte and Théâtre Monnot. USJ houses the Bibliothèque Orientale, one of the oldest and most prominent research libraries of the Near East, and a repository for ancient valuable Oriental books and manuscripts.The business school has received an "excellent" ranking from Eduniversal.
Campuses
Saint Joseph University of Beirut campuses include:
The Medical Sciences Campus (French: Campus des Sciences Médicales (CSM)) on Damascus Street.
The Sciences and Technology Campus (French: Campus des Sciences et Technologies (CST)) in Mar Roukouz.
The Social Sciences Campus "Huvelin" (French: Campus des Sciences Sociales (CSS)) on Monnot Street.
The Humanities Campus (French: Campus des Sciences Humaines) on Damascus Street.
The Innovation and Sports Campus (French: Campus de l'Innovation et du Sport (CIS)) on Damascus Street.
The three regional centers are located in Sidon (Southern Lebanon), Zahlé (Beqaa Valley), and Tripoli (Northern Lebanon).
In 2008, Saint Joseph University opened a branch in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Saint Joseph University - Dubai offers a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a Master of Laws (LLM), and a Master of Arts (MA) in translation. The campus is located in the Dubai International Academic City. The university is accredited by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority of the Emirate of Dubai.
International cooperation
USJ has more than 275 partnerships with foreign universities, most notably with Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It also has more than 200 professors on missions abroad and a large administrative office in Paris, France.
The university belongs to the following associations which directly link it to over a 100 American, Arab, Canadian, and European universities:
International Association of Universities
International Federation of Catholic Universities (European Federation of Catholic Universities)
Association of Jesuit Institutions of Higher Learning in Europe and Lebanon
Association of French speaking universities
Réseau d'excellence des sciences de l'ingénieur de la francophonie
Association of Arab Universities
Notable alumni and academics
Lebanese presidents
Camille Chamoun
Charles Helou
Elias Sarkis
Amine Gemayel
Rene Moawad
Bachir Gemayel
Elias Hrawi
Lebanese ministers (incomplete)
Ziad Baroud
Adnan Mansour
Ibrahim Najjar
Marie-Claude Najm
Abdallah Victor Farhat
Michel Murr
Nicolas Nahas
Tarek Mitri
Khatchig Babikian
Shakib Qortbawi
Leila Al Solh
Walid Daouk
Marwan Hamadeh
Salim Jreissati
Lebanese politicians (incomplete)
Raymond Edde
Pierre Gemayel
Samy Gemayel
Michel Chiha
Kamal Jumblatt
Michel Pharaon
Antoine Ghanem
Fouad Abou Nader
Nayla Moawad
Karim Pakradouni
Antoine Andraos
Eddy Abillammaa
Adnan Kassar
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Foreign politicians
Mohammad Habash
Aram Karamanoukian
Ahmad Mirfendereski
Eliyahu Sasson
Izzat Traboulsi
Religious leaders
Anthony Peter Khoraish
Peter-Hans Kolvenbach
George Riashi
Wladyslaw Rubin
Michel Sabbah
Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir
Theologians and philosophers
Louis Cheikho
Jad Hatem
Samir Khalil Samir
Ambassadors
Farid Abboud
Tawfiq Yusuf Awwad
George Ghanem
Academics
Aya Chacar
René Chamussy
Architects
Joseph Philippe Karam
International lawyers
Assad Kotaite
Poets
Bashir Copti
Mansour Eid
Nadia Tueni
Linguists
Joseph E. Aoun
Musicians
Marie Keyrouz
Joelle Khoury
Gabriel Yared
Directors
Nadine Labaki
Hiba Tawaji
Historians
Jean Maurice Fiey
Henri Fleisch
Paul Huvelin
Henri Lammens
Columnists
Georges Corm
Randa Habib
Peter Scholl-Latour
Pierre-Luc Séguillon
Writers
Charles Corm
Hassan Kobeissi
Amin Maalouf
Wajdi Mallat
Thurayyā Malḥas
Youakim Moubarac
Ghassan Salamé
Salah Stétié
See also
List of universities in Lebanon
Paul Huvelin
Rue Huvelin
Education in the Ottoman Empire
List of Jesuit sites
Law school of Berytus
Christianity in Lebanon
References
External links
Official Saint Joseph University website
Catholic universities and colleges in Lebanon
Catholicism in Beirut
Jesuit universities and colleges
Schools in Beirut
Saint-Joseph, Universite
1875 establishments in the Ottoman Empire
19th-century establishments in Ottoman Syria
Organisations based in Beirut