Near Eastern Studies is a multi-disciplinary department focusing on the region known as the Near or Middle East, which includes the Arab world, Iran, Israel and Turkey, providing a full range of language courses in Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Hebrew (through Judaic Studies).

NES offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Arts (MA) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in NES, providing courses in Anthropology, Art and Architecture, Geography, History, Linguistics, Islamic Studies, Literary Studies, Mass Culture and Media Studies, Minority Studies, and Political Science. NES offers, in conjunction with other departments, a Dual MA in Near Eastern Studies and Journalism, a Dual MA in Near Eastern Studies and Library Science, and a Dual PhD in Near Eastern Studies and Anthropology. Minor Programs in Near Eastern Studies are offered for PhD students in other departments.

MA students enroll for- (1) A thesis track, requiring three years of a Middle Eastern language and a thesis; or (2) A pre-professional track or 'general track', requiring two years of a Middle Eastern language and a final departmental paper. See the thesis Graduate page for information on thesis concentrations of study.  

Concentrations at the doctoral level are available in the fields of: 

• Critical Studies in Modern Middle Eastern Culture and Society
• Islamic Studies
• Linguistics of Middle Eastern Languages
• Middle Eastern Literatures (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish)

For more information about the Near Eastern Studies program at The University of Arizona, please contact us by e-mail: neareast@u.arizona.edu