Graduate Program Near Eastern Studies

The graduate program in Near Eastern Studies prepares students for academic and research careers in one or more of the following areas: ancient Near Eastern studies (including archaeology); Arabic literature; biblical studies; early Christianity; Hebrew literature; Islamic studies; Judaic studies and the modern Middle East. All students admitted to the program are expected to earn a doctoral degree, with the option of earning a master’s degree along the way. Completion of the Ph.D. Program normally requires three years of full-time course work at Cornell and several additional years of dissertation research and writing. Our students spend an average of six years in our graduate study program.

As a student in our graduate program, you will work closely with faculty who specialize in a wide range of languages, literatures, cultures, religions and historical periods, from ancient Sumer to the modern Middle East. You may also work with members of the wider Graduate Field of Near Eastern Studies, which includes scholars whose main appointment is in other departments and programs at Cornell but who are able to supervise dissertations of Ph.D. students in Near Eastern Studies.

We expect our students to demonstrate broad knowledge of theory and scholarship across relevant sub-fields, advanced research skills, ability to produce and communicate original, publishable research, and effective teaching.

Although every student’s particular in-depth course of study will vary according to his/her historical and disciplinary interests, we expect students to take advantage of the opportunity to appreciate the sweep and breadth of the Near East, both past and present. For example, students interested in modern history are strongly encouraged to acquire a background in pre-modern history and culture, and students interested in a particular Near Eastern literary or religious tradition are advised to investigate another Near Eastern tradition.

We expect our students to demonstrate mastery in the language or languages of the main texts that are directly related to the topic of their dissertations. Students are advised to determine their field of concentration in their first year, and to consult their advisors about linguistic requirements.

The graduate program is designed to accommodate the specific needs, backgrounds, and objectives of individual students. Upon entering the program, the Ph.D. student chooses two or three faculty members to serve on the Special Committee; the chair of the committee, an expert in the student's main field of concentration, will become the candidate's dissertation advisor. The other members of the committee represent the sub-fields in which the student also has a strong interest and will become competent to teach. Together, the Special Committee members and the student fashion a program of courses and advanced research that is tailored to student's individual needs.

Colloquia occur at least once a month during the academic year and NES graduate students are required to attend. First and second year grad students should try to schedule classes outside of this time. Required readings will be uploaded to a Cornell Box shared file and distributed at least one week before the seminar.

Research resources are an important concern for any dissertation writer. Cornell’s library system contains nearly five million volumes and is among the leading university research libraries in the United States.

Admitted Ph.D. students are guaranteed five years of full funding from Cornell, which will cover tuition, living stipend and health insurance. This includes four summer living stipends. Normally, during your first and final years of study you will receive a fellowship, with no teaching responsibilities. In other years, your financial aid package will require you to serve as a TA in a lecture course or to teach your own First-Year Writing Seminar.

Many students are able to extend the period of time during which they are funded with internal or external grants.

All applicants to the field are expected to have had at least two years of undergraduate study in one Near Eastern language or the equivalent.

Students are strongly encouraged to contact the faculty they would like to work with to make sure that they are accepting graduate students and will be on campus to supervise their work

Submit all application materials online by January 15. This dealdine is FIRM, no late applications or additional materials are accepted.

If your native language is not English, you must submit a TOEFL score. The minimum scores are Writing: 20, Listening: 15, Reading: 20, Speaking: 22. The institutional code for the TOEFL and GRE is 2098. See graduate school information regarding tests scores - GRE, TOEFL.

Transcripts are uploaded to the on-line application; please black out SSN numbers. Official paper transcripts will be required prior to matriculation.

Cornell University expects all applicants to complete their application materials without the use of paid agents, credentialing services, or other paid professional assistance. The use of such services violates University policy, and may lead to the rejection of application materials, the revocation of an admissions offer, cancellation of admission, or involuntary withdrawal from the University.

For any questions or concerns regarding your application, contact Christianne Capalongo, NES Graduate Field Assistant . You are advised to please contact the Graduate Field Assistant before the deadline to make sure that all of your required documents for the application have been received. Applicants are informed of the admission decision by late February and are expected to notify the field of their acceptance before April 15.

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