Welcome to the website of the Faculty of Economic Sciences (FSE) at Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ).

The FSE was established on February 23, 1980, by a decision of the University Council. The bachelor’s degree in economics was established on October 28, 1963, and was awarded at that time by the University’s Faculty of Law and Economics.

The FSE’s mission is not only to train professionals capable of effectively and successfully integrating into various sectors of economic activity, both in Lebanon and abroad, but also to train high-level faculty members and researchers.

To fulfill this mission, the FSE offers three academic programs: the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees, following the European ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).

The Bachelor’s degree naturally focuses on courses in theoretical and applied economics. It also emphasizes specializations in finance.

The Master’s program, meanwhile, offers three tracks: Economic Policy; Web Science and Digital Economics; and Banking and Financial Markets. The Master’s program is designed for the most capable students, enabling them to deepen their knowledge and begin their own research projects.

The doctoral program is conducted within the Faculty’s Doctoral School of Economic Sciences (EDSE). Upon completion of this program, students are awarded a Ph.D. enabling them to join the university as faculty members or to work for major international organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank, and the OECD, as well as leading consulting firms.

French—and more broadly, European—faculty members lead specialized seminars at the Faculty, particularly at the master’s and doctoral levels. In addition, as part of exchange programs with primarily European universities, our students can spend one or two semesters studying at these institutions; similarly, we welcome European students to our Faculty.

In line with the new research policy developed by the University’s Rector, Professor Salim Daccache, S.J., the Faculty has established research structures within the Center for Economic Research and Documentation (CEDREC), bringing together its faculty members, students, and, where appropriate, researchers from other faculties or external institutions, around research areas focused not only on topics related to the country and the region but also on the use of artificial intelligence in economic analysis methods.

The FSE team is looking toward the future with the goals of continuously updating its academic programs, renewing its teaching methods, launching its research program, and integrating itself into the dynamics of new technologies, but also continuing to engage with the professional world in order to strengthen the Faculty’s relationships with its students, alumni, and academic and professional partners.

Jean-François Verne

Professor

Dean of the Faculty of Economics

at Saint Joseph University in Beirut