In the past, education had a global character. There was no differenciation among disciplines. The boundaries between school and university were not clear and the same applied to the differenciation among faculties and courses. The same instructor indistinctly used the same book for almost all courses to teach all the students in the same institution.

This is how the monasteries of Baabda, Mar-Chaya, Ghazir, Deir-el-Kalaa, and Kattine taught their students grammar and languages, as well as philosophy, theology, music, law, and jurisprudence.

Higher learning in the East gradually became classified in independent diciplines. The same applies to the allocation of different courses to different faculties. Specialty was increasingly imperative at the level of the institute, the instructor, and the student.

The Lebanese state also gradually improved higher learning legislation. It was preoccuopied with maintaining loyalty to the spirit and text of the Lebanese Constitution and the Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees the freedom of education.

Throughout this process of differenciation, The Antonine Order committed itself to never confine its educational mission to one field.

To that end, the order has continued for decades to prepare its own staff members in the most reputed universities in Europe and elsewhere to assume their academic and administrative responisibilities at its own university.

Meanwhile, the Antonine Order has witnessed several developments at the level of organized higher learning. Throughout those stages, we have been preoccupied with meeting the growing needs of the middle and the lower classes and with contributing to the development of Lebanese society.

I- Faculty of Civil Law in Baabda

Upon the issue of the 7965 Decree on October 24,1961 and that organizes higher learning in Lebanon, it appears from the minutes of the twelfth session of the Lebanese parliament (December 20, 1961 p.512) that the state noted the creation by The Antonine Order of The Faculty of Law that actually operated for many years.

II- Academic Enrolment

In 1979 and in accordance with the agreements signed with Belgian universities, Lebanese students started their studies at the Antonine Institute and completed them in Belgium where they graduated with Belgian diplomas.

The majors ranged from applied sciences to medicine and dentistry. Engineering students did two years in Baabda, followed by three in Belgium, medical students did the first three years in Baabda and then went to Belgium for another four years, and dentistry students had to spend four years in Baabda before going to Belgium to do their fifth year and obtain the Belgian state diploma in surgery-dentistry.

From the beginning the Antonine students have demonstrated remarkable achievements at The University of Liege, The Free University of Brussels, The Catholic University of Louvain where they graduated with official diplomas. At present, those graduates have succesful careers in addition to having a legal status in their country.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that the Antonine Order had a pastoral concern: in fact, due to the war, many young Lebanese people, especially Christians, left the country in search of university studies abroad.

The results and the validity of that education were uncertain and questionable. Host countries were not an adquate milieu for them and many were lost in an irremediable manner. This constituted a real hemmorage at the human and financial levels and the young had to face many economic, cultural, linguistic, ehtical and human problems.

Many people opted for East European countries from which they came back with debatable academic standards and professional competence, and especially with an ideology that is hardly commendable for our society.

Academic experience has been a transition in our experience in the field of higher learning.

The difficulties that emerged later made our task even arduous.

The Lebanese state whose national university did not have a faculty of medicine seized the opportunity to create one while benefiting from the experience of the Antonine Order. To that effect, the government concluded in 1984 agreements with the Antonine fathers who were represented by Reverend Father Louis Rohban. In accordance with those agreements, the Lebanese government would be in charge of the students, the curriculum, the academic staff, and the equipment, while the Antonine fathers would continue to provisionally offer the premises. The 1118 Decree issued on October 12, 1983, paragraph 18, stipulates it.

Therefore, it was due to the assistance, orgasnization and hospitality provided by our order that The Lebanese University made its first steps in the field of medical studies.


III- The School of Music

At the same time, a presidential decree numbered 4410 and issued on June 25, 1981, granted the order the permission to create a school of music. Father Joseph Waked, a maestro in the field, was entrusted with the task of founding and managing that school. The latter is rightly considered the founder and major promoter of this institution. The school of music gloriously benefits from the outstanding achievements of Maestro Waked who is a prominent composer and whose works are appreciated worldwide.

IV- Physical and Sports Activities

Created on February 24, 1975, The Antonine Sports Club was the precursor of The Institute of Physical Education. Its achievements have made possible the revival of organized sports, the encouragement of the young to do sports, and having sports trainers

V- Dental Prosthetics

On December 14, 1984, the Ministry of Health issued a decree numbered 1/202 in which it granted The Antonine Order the authorization to create and manage a hospital in Hadath. The hospital hosted an institute of dental prosthetics and a school of dental assistants. In fact, a presidential decree numbered 3358 and issued on August 7, 1986, granted our order the permission to found the first institute of dental prosthetics in Lebanon. It developed considerably later and now it is known as The Technological University Institute (IUT).

VI- ISAFOR

In 1994, the order entrusted Reverend Father Maroun Abi Nader with the task of managing The Antonine Higher Institute of Religious Studies, which is almost unique in the country. ISAFOR offers the public at large and young laymen in particular an adequate doctrinal training and an initiation to the Christian mystery and commitment to Christianity. Such students will become witnesses in society and eventually assume the responsibility of catechism teachers and qualified promoters of faith in parochial bodies and pastoral activities. Such qualifications are attested to by the diplomas delivered by the institute. The curriculum and regulations of the institute were approved of by the proper authorities. Since its foundation in 1994, ISAFOR has made considerable progress by enlarging its audience, the sphere of its activities, its methods and experience.

Meanwhile, The Antonine Ordrer continued to approach the proper bodies in the government with the aim of obtaining an official authorization to found a university.

Thus, upon the issue of the Presidential Decree no.9278 on October 5, 1996, The Antonine Univeristy was born.

It should be noted that the Lebanese government under the mandate of Prime Minister Michel Aoun decided on July17, 1990 to authorize the creation of an Antonine university. A presidential decree no.659 was issued on July 24, 1990 to that end. Subsequent events made those who were in power to invalidate that decree.

Upon its creation, the university included the following units:

- The Faculty of Biblical, Ecumenical and Religious Studies;
- The Faculty of Theology and Pastoral Studies;
- The University Institute of Information Technology;
- The University Institute of Dental Prosthetics;
- The Higher Institute of Music;
- The Institute of Sports and Physical Education.

On December 12, 1999, and in accordance with the Presidential Decrees no.1946 and 1947, two new faculties were created:

- The Faculty of Nursing. In accordance to a protocol between the Antonine University and the Charity Sisters,
  The Sacre-Cœur Hospital is the university hospital of our faculty.
- The Faculty of Engineering with its three departments: Computer, Telecommunications, and Multimedia Engineering.

On February, 23, 2006, three new faculties have been established under the presidential decree number 16403.

1. Faculty of Business Administration, with different majors composing the BBA program:
MANAGEMENT: Business Management, Insurance & Risk Management, Hospitality Management.
MARKETING & ADVERTISING: Marketing, Advertising and Media.
FINANCE & BANKING: Money and Banking.
ACCOUNTING & AUDITING: Accounting & Auditing.
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM.
BUSINESS COMPUTING.

2. Faculty of Advertising, with six majors composing the BBA Program:
Publicity;
Radio and Television;
Cinema;
Photography;
Graphic arts and Printing;
Communications and Public Relations

3. Faculty of Public Health
a. Department of Nursing
b. Department of Physiotherapy

1- The Institute of Biblical Studies

1- The Institute of Biblical Studies
The institute offers training based on a deep study of the Bible, following the decision of The Second Ecumenical Vatican Council: « …As God, in the Scriptures, spoke through humans to humans, the interpreter of the Scriptures has to carefully examine what the inspired authors intended to say and what God chose to say through their statements, in order to understand the message He communicated to us… » (Dei Verbum, 12).

Objectives
The major objectives of The Institute of Biblical Sciences are the following:
- Train people to live and preach the word of God according to the teachings of the Church, while guaranteeing a high academic standard
- Organize lectures and conferences on biblical and theological themes.

Diplomas
The Institute of Religious Studies delivers the following diplomas:

* A university diploma in Biblical Theology (equivalent to a maitrise)
* A Bachelor degree in Biblical Theology (equivalent to a master)
* A Maitrise in Biblical Theology (equivalent to a master)

2- The Institute of Religious Studies
The orientation of the Institute of Religious Studies is inspired by the recommendations of the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council concerning the relationship between the Church and non-Christians: »…In its task in promoting unity and charity among humans and even peoples, the church identifies what people have in common and what makes them live their destiny together. « (Nostra, aetate, N° 1)

Objectives
Initiate students to logical thinking and help them develop their intellectual abilities. Present the most important data on the different religions in the world especially Islam and Christianity.
Promote the Islamo-Christian dialogue while examining its historical background and present conditions and probing its chances and prospects.
Cooperate with the institutions that support this orientation and implement common projects in this respect.

Diplomas
The Institute of Religious Studies delivers the following diplomas:
* A university diploma (3 years)
* A Bachelor degree in Religious Studies (4 years)
* Maitrise in Religious Studies (5 years and a thesis)

II- The Faculty of Theology and Pastoral Studies
The faculty offers a degree in religious studies according to the Second Vatican Ecumencial Council and the post synod Papal Exhortation entitled Hope for Lebanon: « In fact, confronting faith, our contemporaries need an organized training, a serious religious culture and a strong spiritual life. » (N° 39)

Objectives
The faculty aims at training laymen and to prepare them for catechism teaching and pastoral activities. This has become imperative in the Middle East in general and in Lebanon in particular. Consequently it does its best to provide the faithful with a high quality theological and pastoral training while stimulating them to become efficient pastoral representatives of the Church in the regional context.

Diplomas
The Faculty of Theology and Pastoral Studies delivers the following diplomas:
* A university diploma (3 years)
* A Bachelor degree (4 years)

* Maitrise in:
- Theology Studies
- and or Pastoral Studies (3.5 credits in addition to a thesis)

III- The Faculty of Engineering with its three departments: Computer, Telecommunications, and Multimedia Engineering
At the dawn of the third millennium, we are rapidly integrating ourselves in the era of communication. Computers are everywhere. Networks are developing. The Internet is emerging as a platform for the convergence of computer science.

Information technology is gradually infiltrating in the entire economic fabric. It has become an integral part in the development of administrations and businesses.

Objectives
We are convinced that our challenge is to create a position for Lebanon in the world computer map. Our principal aims are to train:

Network designers, project managers and highly qualified engineers
* who have good knowledge in computers, networking, and telecommunications;
* who are familiar with the problems of businesses and the market;
* who have a great potential for adaptation to new technologies.

Those are supposed to be the managers and leaders in the Internet market, electronic commerce, and data processing.

Job opportunities: a training geared toward the market
As a first job, our graduates will have the positions of research engineers who will conceive and set up new products, or finalize optimization procedures that require competence in the fields of computer science, systems, networking, telecommunications, the Internet and multimedia.

We can add to the list:
* Computer service companies
* Programmers
* Telecommunications operators.

Our graduates can also find jobs in the industrial and financial sectors such as banks.

Some new jobs related to the Internet:
* Internet/ Intranet developer
* Web designer: who designs web pages. The graphic designer also needs programs for graphs and electronic coloring.
* Webmaster who manages the website
* Internet/ Intranet project manager who supervises the project. He develops the architecture that responds to the needs of the information system in question.


IV- The Faculty of Nursing
A bachelor degree in Nursing is delivered after 4 years of study. The faculty aims at training multidisciplinary nurses who can demonstrate autonomy, responsibility, initiative and adaptation to different conditions.

Objectives
After four years or forty-eight months of study, the students will be able to do the following:

* acquire the necessary information in order to understand the health needs at the personal level and at the collective level;
* develop one’s aptitude to act efficiently in a multidisciplinary health group including :

- preventive action
- curative action
- rehabilitation

* develop one’s potential to adapt to different work environments, scientific progress and techniques and job requirements;
* undertake research projects to enchance one’s knowledge in the field as a sign of maturity;
* Offer care to patients as a natural outcome of promoting and maintaining positive health conditions.

Job opportunities
The bachelor degree in Nursing enables future nurses to hold administrative positions in nursing care in hospitals and elsewhere

1- Hospital departments:
* Medicine
* Surgery
* Cardio-thoracic surgery
* Cardiology
* Intensive care
* Otolaryngology
* Ophtalmology
* Obstetrics and gynecology
* Pediatrics
* Neonatal care
* Emergency
* Operating theatre suite, and others

2- Extra-hospital services:
* Medical and social centers
* Schools
* Insurance
* Factories (industrial medicine)
* Radiotherapy, and others

The holder of a B.S in nursing can participate in research in the field, in training and education.

V- The University Technological Institute of Dental Prosthetics
Dental Prosthetics is the art of:
* restoring existing teeth
* replacing extracted teeth with artificial ones

In most cases, dental prosthetics is necessary to improve the chewing ability and the esthetic aspect of the mouth.
In 1986, the Antonine Order founded The Odontology Technical Institute, a unique institution in Lebanon, to train dental technicians.
In 1996, the institute whose graduates number over 450, became an integral part of the university.

Objectives
The major objective of a dental tehnician is to implement the work requested by the dentist in a competitive and satisfactory manner.
The technical training and general culture provided by the university allow the technician to take into consideration the qualitative needs of each individual.
In fact, after three years of study, the students will be able to do the following:
Produce fixed and removable dentures and other necessary prosthesis
Communicate with dentists and dental specialists

Job opportunities
* Dental technician
* Laboratory supervisor
* Company manager
* Salesperson of dental products

VI- The Higher Institute of Music
At the dawn of the third millennium, musical education is still loyal to its original mission, namely to awaken and develop in the human being a very specific thing, the synergy between passion and reason.
The institute offers a multididisciplinary curriculum in music that meets your objectives and career plans.

Objectives
Along with the reforms in the educational curriculum, art courses related to music have occupied some considerable space in private and public schools.
Considering the training of good citizens a challenge, we are convinced that instruction in music should be assumed by highly qualified professionals.
The Higher Institute of Music ensures such a high standard which allows our graduates to teach at schools and universities and to work in the field of musical studies.

Degrees
The Higher Institute of Music delivers the following degrees :
- Teaching diploma in musical studies (4 years)
- Teaching diploma in music (4 years)


VII- The Institute of Physical Education and Sports
It is high time we recognized the real significance of physical education and sports and its importance in the training of the individual.
In fact, it is the only discipline that has the advantage of establishing a direct physical contact between the trainer and the trainee.

Objectives
At the end of the fourth year, the student is expected to do the following:

* Develop the proper way to facilitate interaction with the students
* Plan, realize, evaluate, and supervise activities
* Acquire the ability to adapt body movements to the needs and physical potential of the students while considering their physical and social environment.
* Combine the instruction of knowledge to the extracurricular milieu and assume a leading role in the development of supplementary educational projects, especially those that have to do with the promotion of health.
* Master different communication techniques
* Master the curriculum, the disciplinary course material, the meticulous learning process while promoting the integration of knowledge, good manners, and know-how by the student.

Job opportunities
The teaching diploma prepares the future instructor for the following:

* Teaching physical education and sports to primary, internmediate and high school classes
* Organizing sports contests
* Coordinating the physical activities and sports in institutions
* Doing graduate studies like the master’s degree (DESS), a DEA, or a Ph.D in physical education.


VIII- The Oriental Research Center (CERO)
After the creation of the university, The Conseil Generalice decided to establish an organic link between the university and the CERO. The measure was judicious as it allowed the newborn university to integrate the immense patrimony, the merits and the aquisition of an institution known for its accomplishments at the cultural, pastoral and scientific levels.
Founded in 1987 upon the initiative of Reverend Father Maroun Atallah and as an extension of the same dynamism that characterizes The cultural Movement in the Saint Elie monastery in Antelias, the CERO soon gained an international reputation, especially with the publication of the first Arabic periodical, Our Liturgical Life, which was soon followed by The Youth and Halleluia.In addition to the publications, a bustling pastoral activity, some pilgrimages to different areas that were inhabited by the early Christians of the East, the CERO organized various international symposiums on Syriac patrimony and culture.
The sixth symposium was held in 1998 for the first time under the aegis of The Antonine University. This was also the case of the first symposium on Oriental Christianity which took place in April 2000 and which mobilized hundreds of young people around the theme: The Expectations of the Youth.