BA Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at University of Washington

Programme overview

The Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures provides a liberal arts education in new global realities and their connections specifically to history of culture in the Middle East and Central Asia. A detailed and critical knowledge of ancient and modern languages of these regions is of utmost importance for a better understanding of their rich cultural heritages, and development of language skills requires cultural-historical knowledge.

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures | Duration: 72 credits | Location: Seattle, WA, United States

What you will study

72 credits; Gateway Course (5 credits): MELC 101; MELC 201 and MELC 202/RELIG 240; Two years of Biblical Hebrew or its equivalent as evidenced by examination. Alternatively a student may satisfy this language requirement by combining a minimum four quarters of Biblical Hebrew with two quarters of other ancient Near Eastern languages, including Aramaic, Ge'ez, hieroglyphic Egyptian, Coptic, Akkadian, second-year Greek, or other appropriate languages as approved by adviser and/or faculty (30 credits)

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students in good academic standing may declare this major at any time.

Domestic applicants: USD 12,664 a year (2026-27). Resident rate. Seattle campus, full-time, Autumn+Winter+Spring quarters, rate band "Undergraduate" Undergraduate rate for tuition-based programs. Tuition only (operating + building fee); excludes technology fee, services & activities fee, IMA bond and fac Source

International applicants: USD 44,580 a year (2026-27). Non-Resident rate. Seattle campus, full-time, Autumn+Winter+Spring quarters, rate band "Undergraduate" Undergraduate rate for tuition-based programs. Tuition only (operating + building fee); excludes technology fee, services & activities fee, IMA bond and Source

First-year entry quarters: Autumn (begins late September), Winter (begins early January; not open to international first-year applicants), Summer (begins mid-June; most degree-seeking students apply for Autumn). Spring quarter is not open to first-year applicants.

Transfer entry: Autumn and Summer quarters; Spring quarter transfer admission is open only to applicants to specific departments in engineering and computer science.

First-year applications for Autumn (and Summer) open August 15 and close November 15; notification March 1-15. Winter applications open August 1 and close September 1, with notification in November and December. The UW does not offer early decision or early action. Apply through the Common App.

First-year application fee is $85 for U.S. students (fee waivers available) and $95 for international students (no fee waivers). Application requires a Common App essay and a self-reported academic record in STARS. SAT/ACT scores are not required for most applicants; homeschooled applicants and applicants from schools without letter or numeric grades must submit SAT or ACT scores. International applicants submit TOEFL or IELTS scores meeting the minimum English proficiency requirement.

Transfer applications for Autumn and Summer open December 15 and close February 28; notification May 1 to June 30. Transfer application fee is $85 (U.S., fee waivers available) or $95 (international, no fee waivers). SAT/ACT scores are not required for transfer applicants.

Apply through the official page: https://admit.washington.edu/apply/

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