Curriculum
Majors offered
- Architecture
- Bioinformatics
- Biology
- Business
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Engineering
- Political Sciences
- English
- Psychology
Students should complete 6 Honors courses (3-4 LAC and 2-3 Major-specific courses) in addition to three workshops.
Courses Offered
LAC Honors Courses
Arabic
Arts
Cultural Studies
- CST 203H: Cultural Studies III
History
Literature
- ENG 212H: Literature II
- ENG 216H: Introduction to Literature
- ENG 342H: Modernism and Beyond
- ENG 346H: Contemporary Culture
- ENG 372H: Comparative World Literature
- ENG 479HA: Topics in Lit. & Culture: Extinction and Survival: Paradigms from the Middle East
Philosophy
- PHL 204H: Modern Philosophy
- PHL 311H: Philosophy of Religion
- PHL 322H: Philosophy in Literature and Film
Psychology
- PSY 335H: Organizational Psychology
Science
- NUT 201H: Fundamentals of Human Nutrition
Social Sciences
Major-Specific Honors Courses
Architecture
- ART 431H: Modern Art
- IAA 375H: Introduction to Islamic Art
- ARCH 462H: Seminar in Architecture Theory
- ARCH 580HA:Topics in Architecture: Architectural Speculations
Bioinformatics
- BIF 498HA: Genomics Research Methods, cross listed with BIO 488HD and BIO 806
- BIF 498HB: Topics: Adv. in Epigenet. & Therapeut., cross listed with BIO 881E
- BIF 498HC: Top: Tum Mrk & Targ.CancerTher, cross listed with BIO 881F
- BIF 498HD: ”Sp.Top: Medical trends in Immunology” and cross listed with BIO 488HG
- BIF 515H: Machine Learning, cross listed with CSC 615
- BIF 599H: Capstone Project
Biology
- BIO 401H: Developmental Biology
- BIO 410H: Biotechnology
- BIO 420H: Virology & Immunology
- BIO 488HA: Top.Adv.in Epigenet. & Therapeut, cross listed with BIO 881E
- BIO 488HB: Sp.Top:Tum Mrk & Trg Can Therapy
- BIO 488HC: Sp.Top:Bif: Tools & Apps, cross listed with BIF 415 and BIO 881D
- BIO 488HD: Sp.Top:Genomics Resch Methods, cross listed with BIO 806, BIF 498HA
- BIO 488HE: Advanced Human Genetics, cross listed with BIO 881G
- BIO 488HF: Top: advanced Molecular Biology, cross listed with BIO 822
- BIO 488HG: Sp. Top: Medical Trends in Immunology
- BIO 488HH: Special Topics: 4D Biology, cross listed with BIO 681A
- BIO 488HI: Tp: Microbial Pathogenesis
- BIO 499H: Senior Study
Business
- FIN 301H: Managerial Finance
- FIN 401HA: Seminar:Commercial Bank Mgt
- FIN 401HB: Seminar in Finance: Quant. Methods in Business, cross listed with QBA 851
- FIN 401HC: Seminar: Financial Management, cross listed with FIN 861
- FIN 401HD: Seminar: Financial Accounting, cross listed with ACC 821
- MGT 420H: Strat. Plan.& Pol. Formulation
- OPM 301H: Operation and Production Mgt.
Computer Science
- CSC 310H: Algorithms & Data Structures, cross listed with CSC611
- CSC 498HA: Top. CSC: Algorithmic Graph Theo, cross listed with CSC688
- CSC 498HB: Top. CSC: High Perform Comp Arch, cross listed with CSC 631
- CSC 498HC: Pervas.Comp. & Wireless Network, cross listed with CSC 637
- CSC 498HD: Meta-Heuristics, cross listed with CSC 614
- CSC 498HE: Tp: Cryptography & Data Security, cross listed with CSC616
- CSC 498HF: Top. Software Quality Assurance and Testing, cross listed with CSC694
- CSC 498HG: Topics: Data Mining, cross listed with CSC624
- CSC 599H: Capstone Project
Economics
- ECO 333H: Comparative Economic Systems
- ECO 402HA: Top: Capit.from Marx to Piketty
- ECO 402HB: Top: Challen of Eco.Dev. in M.E., cross listed with ECO 863
- ECO 402HC: Top: Applied Econometrics
- ECO 402HD: Tp: Energy Policy, cross listed with ECO880O
- ECO 402HE: Applied Econometrics II cross listed with ECO 832
- ECO 402HF: Tp: Cent.Bank.Dig.Cur.& Mon.Pol cross listed with ECO 880F
- ECO 402HG: Top: Advanced Macroeconomics cross listed with ECO 822
- FIN 301H: Managerial Finance
Engineering
- INE 320H: Engineering Economy
- INE 594H: Undergraduate Research Project
- PTE 594H, MEE 594H, CIE 599H, ELE 594H, COE 594H, MCE 594H: Undergraduate Research Project
- PTE 598H, MEE 598H, CIE 598H, ELE 598H, COE 598H, MCE 598H: Research Methods
- GNE 340H: Engineering Entrepreneurship
- GNE 335H: Introduction to Sustainable Engineering
English
- ENG 212H: Literature II
- ENG 342H: Modernism and Beyond
- ENG 346H: Contemporary Culture
- ENG 372H: Comparative World Literature
- ENG 381H: Corpus Linguistics, cross listed with ENG 381
- ENG 479HA: Topics in Lit. & Culture: Extinction and Survival: Paradigms from the Middle East
Political Science
- POL 331H: International Organization, cross listed with INA 815B
- POL 335H: Politics of Multiculturalism
- POL 499H: Senior Study
- POL 437HA: Topics in POL/IA: Politics of Extremism
- POL 437HB: Top: Arab Sp & Spo eff: backla & Opp
- POL 437HC: Tp: Theories in Intern. Affairs
- POL 437HD: Political Theory, cross listed with INA 850
- POL 437HE: Refugee Pol. Int. Persp., cross listed with INA 813O
- POL 437 HF: Tp.Int: Theories of Wars & Confl, cross listed with INA 813Q
- POL 437HG: Tp.Int: Comparative. Polit of the M.E., cross listed with INA 826
- POL 437HH: Tp.Int: Women, Peace & Security, cross listed with INA 813R
- POL 437HI: Tp: Turkey and the M.E. Today, cross listed with INA 814U
- POL 437HJ: Tp: Migration & Cultural Prac., and cross listed with MIG 780G
- POl 437HK: Tp: Gender and Public Politics in IGS, cross listed with IGS 725
- POL 437HL: Tp: Migration and Development, cross listed with MIG 765
- POL 437HM: Tp:Soc Mov.Theo & Com Case Std, cross listed with INA 813V
- POL 437HN: Topics: Politics and Migration, cross listed with MIG 725 & INA 855
Psychology
Workshops offered
Soft skills are what accompany the hard skills, that’s why it’s so important to focus as much on soft skills training and development as you do on traditional hard skills.
Soft skills are increasingly becoming the hard skills of today’s work force. It’s just not enough to be highly trained in technical skills, without developing the softer, interpersonal and relationship-building skills that help people to communicate and collaborate effectively. These skills are more critical than ever as organizations struggle to find meaningful ways to remain competitive and be productive. Teamwork, leadership, and communication are underpinned by soft skills development. Since each is an essential element for organizational and personal success, developing these skills through specialized workshops is crucial for career success.
The workshops offered so far:
WRK 200H: Emotional Intelligence I
An introduction to understanding and applying emotional intelligence Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize and effectively manage our emotions as well as the emotions of others. As a result, emotional intelligence increases individual’s capacity to make good decisions, build relationships, and better deal with stress and change. The goal this workshop is to introduce the concept of emotional intelligence as well as give an overview of the components of Emotional Intelligence.
WRK 201H: Emotional Intelligence II
An in-depth look into ways to improve emotional intelligence Pre or Co-requisite: Honors Program workshop H1 Emotional intelligence increases individual’s capacity to make good decisions, build relationships, and better deal with stress and change. In order to accomplish more while maintaining a harmonious environment, it is becoming critical not only to perform technical skills and deliver outcomes but to be able to analyze and understand one’s self and others. This workshop aims at going more in depth into the topic so that students can apply theory into practice.
WRK 202H: Life Balance
In this millennium of ever-changing environmental factors and expanding opportunities, individuals find themselves overwhelmed and often end up burning out while becoming increasingly demotivated. With the growing professional, global, cultural and personal responsibilities, individuals have to find alternative ways to perform, deliver in multiple areas of their lives while maintaining a healthy overall wellbeing. The workshop will assist students in finding and maintaining excellence both as a student at LAU and as a human being in other areas of life.
WRK 203H: Skills of Debate
The workshop will focus on the three elements of debate that help develop and enhance skills like critical thinking, decision-making, teamwork, active listening and leadership. These are 1) argumentation and cross-examination, 2) public speaking and the use of verbal and non-verbal delivery and 3) formal debate structure. Participants will get first-hand experience of the power of logic, structure and delivery in persuasion all within the context of an actual formal debate.
WRK 204H: Goal Setting and Vision Boarding
Goal setting is the process of identifying something that the student wants to accomplish, and establishing measurable goals and time frames. Smart goal setting involves the development of an action plan designed to motivate and guide a person to achieve his/her goal on a personal and professional level. Vision boarding is a visual representation of what one wants to create in life; it is a powerful tool for creating a roadmap to success. The vision board is created by using images and words of the set goals and dreams, crafted together on a board. It will help students define their intentions and desires, gain clarity, perspective, focus, and go from imagining to envisioning with purpose.
WRK 205H and 206H: Steer your Career
Steer Your Career is a professional learning program which focuses on the work-readiness skills and career perspectives.
The workshop aims to raise the students’ awareness of professional skills and challenges faced as they take their first steps in the professional career path. It will empower and prepare them using modern day tools, methodologies of career development and expert trainings with sessions covering concepts in professionalism and the work place.
WRK 207H: Leadership and Change
This workshop will help students acquire some core skills required to better deal with change and explore new perspectives designed to prepare them for future leadership roles. Students will be able to:
- identify different types of change and the way people and organizations may react to them.
- explore one change management theory.
- explain why people resist change and how resilience could help them overcome their resistance.
WRK 208H: Comm-U-nicate
There is no “one size fits all”, especially when it comes to communication. Today, more than ever before, we communicate with different types of people, all of whom perceive the world in their own way and we often take this for granted. We expect them to understand us, but yet for some reason, we often refrain from attempting to understand them.
Through “Comm-u-nicate”, students will be able to:
- Explain why miscommunication happens using a renowned model, and what one can do to communicate better with others.
- Identify the various differences between Hearing and Listening, and explain how the latter is correlated to enhanced communication.
- Practice using a questioning technique that helps conversations flow better.
WRK 209H: Ace your Interview
Students start looking for great opportunities to enter the workplace way before their graduation. Organizations carefully design series of interviews to select the best-fit candidates among graduates. The trouble is, students simply aren’t told what to really expect, and that makes thing more complicated and borderline unfair.
“Ace your Interview” will offer students insights on how real interviews are conducted, from both sides of the table. After completing this workshop, students will be able to:
- Explain the most common types of interviews and why they are used.
- Analyze the STAR method and how to leverage it to ace their interview.
- Apply best practice that will help leave a lasting impact on interviewers.
- Practice nonverbal techniques and tips to impress interviewers.
WRK 210H: Own the Stage: How to Deliver More Impactful Presentations
“OtS” is designed as a holistic learning experience that reflects a real challenge students face as they are about to enter the workforce: presentations! At the mere sight of the word, hearts start beating faster, palms get sweaty and voices start to shake. With that in mind, “Own the Stage” offers students a safe learning environment where they must simply practice.
Through a series of constructive iterations, participants will be able to attain a more personal touch to their overall style and learn how to deliver more impactful presentations.
After completing this workshop, students will specifically be able to:
- Identify the core requirements the make presentations impactful.
- Re-align nonverbal communication with verbal approach.
- Practice delivering to an audience of peers.
WRK 211H: Performance Elevated
Students always feel that there isn’t enough time and that deadlines creep up from out of nowhere. It is essential for students to learn how to manage their time, and ultimately deliver a better performance in their career as well as their personal lives.
“Performance Elevated” is designed to expose students with a different paradigm on the concept of time management. After completing this workshop, students will be able to
- Manage their time in a better way by applying a proven framework.
- Set goals in an optimal fashion that will offer the highest chances of success.
- Identify a set of strategies to cope with daily interruptions.
WRK 212H: Stress and time management for effective decision making
We work in a highly competitive environment where stress is part of our life styles. This workshop will provide the participants with the key skills to manage both their stress and their time effectively. It will explore the students to ways of using the positive effects of stress to make adequate decisions and perform better in their lives. Upon the completion of this workshop, students will be able to:
- Identify the most common time wasters and how to cope with them.
- Distinguish between urgent and non-urgent tasks.
- Develop basic skills to manage one’s time at the office, home and throughout one’s life.
- Understand the connection between time management and stress, and identify some symptoms of stress on body, mind, emotions and behaviors.
- Identify key steps in rational decision-making and understand the constraints in this process.
- Pinpoint some “mental locks” that inhibit creativity and categorize elements of creative problem solving.
- Appreciate the brainstorming approach in decision-making.
WRK 213H: Best tools to optimize your digital marketing presence
This course teaches the foundations of search marketing to an audience with or without previous experience in the field. The course includes an overview of the main search strategies currently available online and explains how we can use each to promote brands and businesses on Google, in a cost-effective way. By attending this program, students will acquire what they need to create and implement successful digital search marketing campaigns and promote their websites in order to raise awareness, build brand trust, increase traffic and generate sales and conversions. Upon completion of this workshop participants will be able to:
- Understand the basics of search marketing.
- Understand the difference between SEM and SEO.
- Read and generate reports on Google Analytics
WRK 214H: Creating Self-Awareness through Emotional Intelligence
Emotions highly impact the way we perceive ourselves. Understanding the root causes of our emotions is the first step in developing good self-awareness for better Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Research shows that people who have high EQ are more likely to succeed in the workplace and in their personal lives. Workshop Objectives:
- Enhance participants’ knowledge about emotions and how they can hijack their actions and decisions.
- Establish the importance of Emotional Self-Awareness as the first step in the development of EQ
- Allow participants to practice with tools and exercises so they can increase their emotional self-awareness
WRK 215H: Identifying “Character Strengths” to Create Self-Awareness
Discovering and understanding character strengths will have a great impact on people’s work and life. In 2004, psychologists Martin Seligman & Chris Peterson published key findings about Character Strengths, which are a constellation of character traits that make each human distinct or unique. Research reveals that people who know and use their character strengths every day are: more productive, 3 times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life, 6 times more likely to be engaged at work, and 15% less likely to quit their jobs. Workshop Objectives:
1. Participants will be introduced to their personal character strengths (through an assessment).
2. Participants will know how to use their character strengths for greater efficiencies.
3. Participants will know where they are special to help develop their self-esteem.
WRK 216H: Developing Stronger Relationships through Emotional Intelligence
Recent research from Armour (2007) showed that employees who had better relationships at work demonstrated higher job satisfaction, higher involvement/commitment and were less likely to leave their job. Emotions impact our relationships in different ways. Having the right Emotional Intelligence (EQ) skills can help people develop trustworthy intimate relationships that are an essential component of strong leaders today. Workshop Objectives:
- Thoroughly understand how emotions impact relationships.
- Understand why relationships are an important part of Leadership.
- Understand the components of Building Trusting Relationships.
- Apply this learning through tools and exercises
WRK 217H: Using Emotional Intelligence for Managing Decisions and Procrastination
An important part of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is understanding how emotions are impacting our decisions and throwing us into procrastination. Making sound and timely decisions is key for good leadership. Workshop Objectives:
- Understand the proper decision-making process
- Understand the role of emotions in decision making
- Practice sound decision making through tools and exercise
WRK 218H: Identifying the Stressors and Learning Approaches for Stress Management
For our ancestors, stress was a survival skill during life threatening situations. In today’s world, people are constantly bombarded by stressors of different kinds: work deadlines, traffic, and family obligations. The over-activation of our stress hormones have been linked to high blood pressure, heart attacks, lower immunity, depression, anxiety, and more. Workshop Objectives:
- Understand Stress and its impact on our success in Life.
- Take a Look at our Life and Identify the main stressors.
- Learn different Approaches to help participants manage their Stress.
WRK 219H : Pitching in Public
In this time and age of social media and start-ups, we stand witness to a total transformation in career success/failure. Public exposure and visibility have become the new normal. No doubt about it, we’re living in the age of public speaking and public engagement! The power to communicate our ideas is our only way to success, or more truly, to survival. This workshop on Pitching in Public is a hands-on training opportunity into the art of pitching. It introduces participants to pitch drafting (ideas generation and categorization) and pitch delivery (public speaking and voice coaching). Most importantly, the workshop offers a real platform for participants to pitch their ideas/projects.*