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Studies & Degrees in Near Eastern Studies

Near Eastern studies is the study of the languages, history, religions and cultures of the region between the eastern Mediterranean and Iran, from the first cities to the present. Yale University describes its major as exploring the history and cultural traditions of the ancient, classical and modern Middle East, including north-east Africa. The University of Chicago centres its programme on the region between the Nile and the Oxus and between the Danube and the Indus, and also includes North Africa, Islamic Spain, Central Asia and the Balkans.

"Near East" is the older name and is still used for the ancient world: Egypt, Mesopotamia, ancient Israel and their neighbours. For the modern period most departments now say "Middle East". Several departments have changed their name accordingly: the University of Chicago's programme is listed as Middle Eastern Studies, and the department at the University of Washington is called Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures.

What students learn

Language is the core of the subject, because the region is studied through its own texts. Students choose between two families of languages:

  • modern languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish
  • ancient languages such as Egyptian, Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian (Akkadian), Biblical Hebrew and Syriac

Around the language, students take courses in history, archaeology, religion (Judaism, Christianity and Islam all began in the region), literature and art. Johns Hopkins University organises its Department of Near Eastern Studies in four areas: Egyptology, Assyriology, Northwest Semitic languages and literatures (including the Hebrew Bible), and Near Eastern archaeology and art. It adds that many undergraduate courses require no knowledge of foreign languages.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. In the United States the subject is a major within a bachelor's degree. At Yale the major requires twelve term courses, including a senior research project, and students follow either a concentration in depth, built on one or two languages, or a broader concentration. At the University of Chicago the major requires thirteen courses and a research project.
  • Minor. Students of other subjects can take a shorter programme. The University of Washington, for example, offers minors in Arabic, Modern Hebrew, Near Eastern Studies, Persian and Turkish next to its three majors.
  • Master's degree and doctorate. Research in the field requires postgraduate study. The University of Washington offers an MA in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and a PhD in Near and Middle Eastern Studies. Doctoral students normally need reading knowledge of several ancient or modern languages, so the language work of the bachelor's years matters.

Where to study Near Eastern studies

SpainExchange lists 12 active schools for Near Eastern studies: 11 in the United States and one in Canada. All of them teach in English, and the languages of the region are learned from beginner level.

The schools listed in the United States include Yale University, The University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan and the University of Washington. The University of California is represented by its Berkeley, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara campuses; UCLA's catalogue lists a BA in Middle Eastern Studies. Washington University in St. Louis has a department of Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies in which, by its own description, the three fields are integrated.

In Canada, the University of British Columbia (UBC) has a Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies. It studies the languages, literature, history, religion, law and material culture of the lands around the Mediterranean and the Tigris-Euphrates river system, including Greece, Rome, Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Levant.

The departments differ in emphasis. Some concentrate on the ancient world, others on the modern Middle East, and many do both. Before applying, check which languages are taught every year and to what level. At the University of Washington, Arabic, Biblical and Modern Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, Uighur and Uzbek are offered regularly, while other languages are offered only at certain times. Many Yale majors do intensive language study abroad in the summer.

Careers

The degree does not train for one occupation. According to Yale, its majors go on to careers in government, the foreign service, international finance, museums and collections, law, education and consulting. Washington University in St. Louis reports that many of its graduates enter professional schools in fields such as law, government, journalism, international affairs and education, and that others continue with graduate study.

Work as an archaeologist or university researcher requires further degrees. In the United States, anthropologists and archaeologists typically need at least a master's degree, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in that occupation to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Near Eastern studies and Middle Eastern studies?

The two names cover largely the same region. "Near Eastern" is the older term and is common for the ancient world, while "Middle Eastern" is usual for the modern period; several departments have adopted the newer name.

Do I need to know Arabic or Hebrew before I start?

No. The languages are taught from beginner level. Students who already have some knowledge of a modern language usually take a placement test.

Which languages can I study?

Modern languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish, and ancient ones such as Egyptian, Sumerian, Akkadian, Biblical Hebrew and Syriac. The choice depends on the department.

What can I do with a degree in Near Eastern studies?

Graduates work in government and diplomacy, museums, education, law, journalism and international organisations. Archaeology and university research require a master's degree or doctorate.