The Department of Near Eastern Studies offers instruction in the languages, literatures, histories, cultures and religions of the ancient Near East and the medieval and modern Middle East. The department’s language offerings provide the foundation for the academic study of the literatures, histories, cultures and religions of the region. The ancient language offerings include Sumerian, Egyptian, Akkadian, Hittite, Ugaritic, Avestan, Aramaic, and Classical Hebrew. The medieval and modern language offerings include Armenian, Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, and Uzbek.

The division of Arabic, Armenian, Persian, Turkish, and Islamic Studies (AAPTIS) offers instruction at the introductory to the advanced levels in medieval and modern Arabic, Armenian, Persian, and Turkish languages and literatures. Courses in the histories and cultures of select regions represented by these language groups are also offered as are a wide range of topics in Islamic studies.