$2.5M in A&S New Frontier Grants supports bold projects
A&S faculty members will delve into questions ranging from quantum computing to foreign policy development and from heritage forensics to effects of climate change.
Read More
Near East, Middle East, Southwest Asia & North Africa
Near Eastern Studies
Study the languages, literatures, cultures, religions and history of regions from ancient Sumer to the modern Middle East.
Popular Destinations
Near Eastern Studies News
Nexus Scholars Program expands research opportunities to 101 students
This summer, 101 students in the College of Arts and Sciences will take part in groundbreaking research on campus with 61 faculty as part of the Nexus Scholars Program.
Read More
Alumni Spotlight: Neala Gollomp '07
Neala Gollomp graduated from Cornell in 2007 with a dual degree in Near Eastern Studies and Government. She is currently Senior Director, Product at Roku where she is responsible for the core experience across the Roku platform and The Roku Channel.
Read More
'I got to hold a million-year-old rock'
Hannah Master is an archaeology and Near Eastern studies major.
Read More
'I was exposed to a multiplicity of backgrounds, thoughts and opinions'
Danielle Greco Near Eastern Studies and Fine Art major
Read More
2023 Language Awards in a Middle Eastern language
Department faculty nominate undergraduate students each semester to receive awards for excellence in a Middle Eastern language. We congratulate this year's recipients!
Read More
Alumni Spotlight: David Greenky '07
After graduation from Cornell University David Greenky spent four years working at a company dealing with international security with a focus on the Middle East, traveling often to Israel and the Gulf States.
Read More
Lecture to explore how understanding history of anti-semitism can help us today
On April 20, Director of the Institute for Advanced Study, David Nirenberg, will give a talk on the history of anti-semitism and how it can help us understand debates about anti-semitism today.
Read MoreCourses of Interest
Fall 2023
Introduction to Islamic Civilization offered TR 2:55-4:10 p.m. 3 credits. D. Powers
The Jewish Bible-Old Testament in Context offered MW 10:10-11:25 a.m. 3 credits. L. Monroe
Wondrous Literatures of the Near East offered TR 11:40-12:55 p.m. 3 credits. D. Starr
Histories of Afghanistan offered R 2:00-4:30 p.m. 3 credits. S. Golestaneh
More Information
Engage and Learn
Major in Near Eastern studies
Interested in exploring the languages, literatures, cultures, religions, and history of the Middle East from antiquity to the modern day? Consider pursuing a major in Near Eastern studies.
We also offer undergraduate minors in Arabic and Near Eastern studies.
Study a Middle Eastern language
Take Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, or Persian to fulfill the College of Arts & Sciences language requirement!
We also offer instruction in some of the ancient Middle Eastern languages like Akkadian, Biblical Hebrew, Hieroglyphic Egyptian, and Sumerian.
See all of the Middle Eastern languages taught in the department.
Recent Publications
Foster Child
A Midcentury Jewish American Boyhood
Isaac Kramnick
Edited by: Ross Brann
Occasional Publications of the Program of Jewish Studies and the Department of Near Eastern Studies #7, 2022
Available for purchase at the Cornell Store