Student studies in A.D. White Library

Academics

The Department of Near Eastern Studies serves as the central hub of teaching and research on the ancient Near East and Modern Middle East for Cornell University. We offer courses on a wide array of subjects important for understanding the breadth of Near/Middle Eastern civilizations, including archaeology, culture, history, language, literature, and religion.

We take an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Near/Middle East by exploring the languages, literature, cultures, religions and history from antiquity to the modern day. 

In this section

students eat outside

Graduate Colloquium Series

Colloquia occur at least once a month during the academic year. Discussions focus on readings provided by a guest speaker. This series is open to department graduate students and faculty. Colloquia in Spring 2021 will be held online.
students in social distanced classroom

Language Placement Exams

The department offers instruction in four modern languages which can be taken to fulfill the College of Arts & Sciences foreign language requirement:
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