BA in Near Eastern Studies in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

Pursuing a Near Eastern studies degree allows you to develop language proficiency while gaining deep knowledge of the historical, cultural, literary, and religious traditions spanning from ancient to contemporary times in the Near East/Middle East. You'll explore this vast region - stretching from Turkey eastward to Iran and Afghanistan, southward across the Arabian Peninsula to Yemen, and westward through North Africa from Egypt to Morocco - developing both broad cultural understanding and specialized expertise in specific areas. The program particularly emphasizes the ancient eastern Mediterranean, Mesopotamian civilizations, and the Levant and Egyptian regions. Our curriculum covers Near/Middle Eastern history, archaeology, religious traditions, languages, and literatures, examining a region that has profoundly influenced human civilization and remains geopolitically significant today. With courses spanning from antiquity to modernity, we foster interdisciplinary exploration of these cultures, prioritizing historical and literary analytical methods.