BA Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University

Programme overview

The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations introduces students to the ancient and modern peoples, languages, cultures, and societies of the Near/Middle East. Loosely defined as stretching from Morocco in the west to Iran and Afghanistan in the east, the region is home some of the world’s great religions and civilizations. Historically, the influence of its languages, literatures and cultures has extended to Central, East and Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and North America.

Faculty: Harvard College: Arts and Humanities | Department: Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations | Study mode: full-time | Location: Cambridge, MA, United States

What you will study

The concentration offers students a multi-faceted and inter-disciplinary perspective on Near Middle Eastern cultures and languages that have been so influential throughout the world. Undergraduate concentrators develop skills in one or more of the languages of the region on their way to choosing from a wide variety of directions of study. Gateway courses include ANE 106 Ancient Mesopotamian Literature: 2000 Years of Early Storytelling (Hawkins) ANE 109: First Civilizations: History and Archeology of the Ancient Near East ANE 197 Bible and Empire (Rhyder) ANE 170 Food, Identity and the Biblical World GENED 1090 What.

Official programme page

Application information

USD 62,226 a year (2026-27). Harvard College undergraduate tuition for 2026-27, one rate for all students; excludes fees ($6,216), housing, food and health insurance. Source

Entry term is fall. Applicants choose Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision; admitted students reply by May 1.

First-year applications through the Common Application: Restrictive Early Action closes November 1 with notification by mid-December; Regular Decision closes January 1 with notification by the end of March. The application fee is $95 (fee waiver available) and can be paid online via the Common Application. Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, with exceptions only where the tests are not accessible.

Apply through the official page: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities