Name of Monument:

Université Saint-Joseph (USJ)

Location:

Beirut, Lebanon

Date of Monument:

1875

History:

The Université Saint-Joseph (USJ) in Beirut evolved from a seminary founded by Jesuits in Ghazir in 1843. The Collège in Ghazir, intended to train the local Maronite clergy, relocated to Beirut in 1875 where it took the name of Saint Joseph University.

Description:

Jesuits were very active in Lebanon in the 19th century. They founded a small school in Beirut in 1839, and then a larger school in Ghazir (Keserwan) in 1855, which would be moved to Beirut in 1875 and become the Saint Joseph University. It was granted the title of "university" by the local authorities, which allowed it to issue academic degrees, mainly doctoral degrees in philosophy and theology. Various faculties were founded soon after, such as the Institute of Medicine in 1883, which would become the Faculty of Medicine in 1888, and the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy a year later. A Maternity clinic opened in 1896, followed by the Oriental College in 1902 and the School for French Law in 1913, which became the Faculty of Law in 1946. The French School in Engineering was also founded in 1913, and became the Higher Institute for Engineering in 1948.

Citation of this web page:

Hady El Hajj, Jennifer Harb, Cynthia Karaki "Université Saint-Joseph (USJ)" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monuments;AWE;lb;37;en

Prepared by: Hady El Hajj, Jennifer Harb, Cynthia Karaki
Copyedited by: Flaminia Baldwin

MWNF Working Number: LB 041