USEK School of Law and Political Sciences was inaugurated on November 10th, 1988, on the 40th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights. From its beginnings, the School of Law and Political Sciences has always offered its students an exceptional education that consolidates the strength of tradition with the dynamism of the modern world.

The School of Law and Political Sciences is indeed heir to a long history. The Lebanese Maronite Order, since its foundation, provided its monks with a solid education in canonical law, and has progressively extended its teaching to all legal disciplines for its monks and the Lebanese public. This diversification, based on the educational needs of Lebanese society, has allowed the School of Law and Political Sciences to build on past experiences while opening up to modernity.

Initially based in Byblos, the School of Law and Political Sciences relocated to the central campus of Kaslik in the fall of 1999, to accommodate the rise of the number of its students and to allow them to integrate with other University students and experience campus life to the full. The School also has a Regional University Center (RUC) in Zahle. Since 2016, it has hosted the Higher Institute of Political and Administrative Sciences, for students who wish to prepare themselves for management careers in government, public service, governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations.

The School of Law and Political Sciences proposes a full offering of legal education that includes a Bachelor in Law, a selection of master’s degrees, and a doctoral degree. Its programs are offered in both French and English. Its school members include highly knowledgeable law professors and renowned professionals such as prominent judges, lawyers, and civil servants practicing in several administrations.
The School of Law and Political Sciences not only provides a learning experience but aims to develop the personal qualities of its students through its many extra-curricular activities such as mock trials, international pleading competitions, vis moot competitions in international arbitration, and clinical trainings. Most importantly, these experiences are designed to provide students with knowledge and skills to prepare them for the job market, locally and internationally.

It is an era of global legal practice and USEK School of Law and Political Sciences is committed to preparing its students by offering opportunities for transnational experiences, by actively recruiting international scholars (from France, Italy, USA, Canada), by developing student options for studying abroad within the Erasmus Plus program (typically in Greece, France, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, or USA), and by building partnerships with reputable foreign universities, such as the Robert McKinney School of Law of Indiana-Purdue University for the delivery of a LL.M. in International and Comparative law, and more recently, with the Syracuse University School of Law in New York.

In addition, the School of Law and Political Sciences offers, through programs implemented in Lebanon, double master degrees, from France and Lebanon, such as the Master 2 in International Contracts offered in conjunction with the University of Montpellier I where students are awarded a Master 2 degree from USEK and a Master 2 degree from the University of Montpellier I, and a Master 2 in Business Law (Juriste d’affaires) in conjunction with the University of Poitiers where students are awarded a Master 2 degree from USEK and a Master 2 degree from the University of Poitiers.

Affiliated to the School of Law and Political Science, the Higher Institute of Political and Administrative Sciences, was created in February 2006 (decree no 16410), to train future officials in public administration and civil society, who are mindful of community spirit and ethics. The Institute contains three multidisciplinary educational fields, those of political sciences, international relations, and public administration. These aim to:

• Provide students with a specialized education in political sciences, thus giving them access to a professional life.
• Develop students analytical and synthesis spirit, thus enabling them to understand national and international issues.
• Prepare students to follow a specialized higher education curriculum.

Mission
The mission of the School of Law and Political Sciences is to provide students with the opportunity to develop specialized knowledge in all areas of law by offering high quality programs that comply with the national and international standards. In an era of global legal practice, USEK School of Law and Political Sciences offers its students several opportunities for transnational experiences, by actively recruiting international scholars and building partnerships with reputable foreign universities.

The School of Law and Political Sciences consists of the following departments/programs:

Department of Law

• Law Degree
• Minor in Human Rights
• Minor in Public Administration: Public Law and Administrative Organizations of Lebanon
• Master of Arts in Criminology
• Master of Laws in Private Law
• Master of Laws in Public Law
• Master of Laws in Business Law
• Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law
• Master of Laws in International Contracts
• PhD in Law

Department of Political and Administrative Sciences

• Bachelor of Arts in International Relations
• Minor in Middle Eastern Studies
• Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Security
• Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies
Master of Arts in Political Sciences - International Relations