Why major in Near Eastern Studies?

The Near/Middle East is a region that has had an important impact on the development of human history and plays a vital role in today's world community. Encompassing the Near East from ancient times to the modern period, the department's course offerings encourage students to take an interdisciplinary approach to the cultures of this region and emphasize methods of historical and literary analysis. The Department of Near Eastern Studies offers language instruction in the four main modern languages of the Near East/Middle East, as well as ancient and other less commonly taught languages. If you need to take a language placement exam in one of the modern languages, please contact the appropriate instructor. We've got incredible and enthusiastic faculty who are dedicated to their students, and passionate about their field of research. We offer a major and minor in near eastern studies, and a minor in Arabic. Find out more on the Undergraduate Study page.

Undergraduate Lunch Series

Open to all Cornell undergraduate students.

Faculty in the Department of Near Eastern Studies hold informal discussions on a topic of current relevance. Students are encouraged to bring friends and to come and go as their class schedules allow.

Lunches are typically held once a month during the regular academic year in the NES lounge, 410 White Hall.

Graduate Colloquium Series

Open to Near Eastern Studies graduate students, faculty, and faculty in the field.

Seminars typically occur once a month during the regular academic year on Monday's from 12:10-1:10 pm in 410 White Hall.