Near Eastern Studies Major Requirements
(Also see Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree.)
The ancient Near East is where history begins. It is where the first crops were sown, the first towns built, and where writing was first invented. The origins of Western culture are to be found in its great civilizations, from the three great monotheistic religions—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—to everyday aspects of our life that we take for granted, such as the alphabet and marking time by hours and minutes. The Near Eastern studies major can be the focal point of a broad liberal arts education, as well as a basis for graduate study. An undergraduate major can specialize in one of the four main areas of specialization of the department - Egyptology, Assyriology, Northwest Semitic languages and literatures (including the Hebrew Bible), and Near Eastern Archaeology and Art - or in the civilizations of the ancient Near East in general.
Students must earn a “C-“ or higher grade in all courses used to satisfy major requirements and courses may not be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Courses taken at another institution that are not directly equivalent to a JHU course may not apply towards the major without permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Writing and Communication in the Major
Students must complete at least 6 credits of Writing and Communication foundational ability coursework in one major. For this major, students would be able to fulfill this requirement by completing the required course AS.130.420 Seminar in Research Methods in Near Eastern Studies and selecting a 3 credits of elective course in the major that is designated as Writing and Communications course.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Introductory Courses | ||
Select two of the following: | 6 | |
Ancient Middle Eastern Civilizations | ||
Medicine in Ancient Egypt | ||
Gods and Monsters in Ancient Egypt | ||
AS.130.140 | ||
A (Virtual) Visit to the Louvre Museum: Introduction to the Material Culture of Ancient Egypt | ||
Giving Birth and Coming to Life in Ancient Egypt: The Tree and the Fruit | ||
Diplomacy and Conflict in the Ancient Middle East | ||
Upper-Level Core Courses | ||
Select two of the following: | 6 | |
History of Ancient Syria-Palestine | ||
History: Ancient Syria-Palestine II | ||
History of Ancient Mesopotamia (when offered) | ||
History of Mesopotamia II (when offered) | ||
AS.130.420 | Seminar in Research Methods in Near Eastern Studies | 3 |
Four 300-level courses in a focus area of art and archaeology, history and culture, or language 1 | 12 | |
Three Near Eastern Studies courses at any level 2 | 9 | |
Total Credits | 36 |
- 1
Students pursuing the language focus area need to select four courses from the following languages: Akkadian, Arabic, Ancient Egyptian, Biblical Hebrew, Modern Hebrew or Sumerian. These may not be 300-level. The Art and Archaeology courses are identified by the POS-Tag NEAR-ARTARC and the History and Culture courses are identified by the POS-Tag NEAS-HISCUL.
- 2
Courses in Near Eastern Studies (AS.130.xxx) that are at least 3 credits each.
Note: AS.130.420 Seminar in Research Methods in Near Eastern Studies - This writing seminar covers different selected topics in order help students develop skills in specific research areas such as critical reading, analysis, interpretation, and writing. Specific topics vary each semester. AS.130.420 Seminar in Research Methods in Near Eastern Studies is required of NES Majors, but is also open to non-majors who have taken at least one 100-level and one 300-level Near Eastern Civilization course, or with the consent of the instructor. It is recommended that NES majors take the class during their sophomore or junior years. When it is not taught, students may substitute this class for a Writing and Communications, research-based seminar at the 400 level in NES with the consultation and approval of the DUS.
Sample Program of Study
A typical path toward degree completion might include the following sequence of courses:
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
Near Eastern elective at any level #1 | 3 | Required intro course #1 | 3 |
3 | 3 | ||
Second Year | |||
First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
Required intro course #2 | 3 | Near Eastern elective at any level #2 | 3 |
Course in focus area at 300 level #1 | 3 | ||
3 | 6 | ||
Third Year | |||
First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
Required upper level core course #1 | 3 | Required upper level core course #2 | 3 |
AS.130.420 | 3 | Course in focus area at 300 level #2 | 3 |
6 | 6 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
Course in focus area at 300 level #3 | 3 | Course in focus area at 300 level #4 | 3 |
Near Eastern elective at any level #3 | 3 | ||
6 | 3 | ||
Total Credits 36 |
Honors
Those seniors wishing to be considered for departmental honors may choose to write a senior thesis. A student must maintain a 3.5 GPA in the major (through the junior year) to be eligible for departmental honors. It is advisable for such students to contact a faculty member to supervise the thesis during the spring semester of their junior year and to notify the department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies. The student should then register for two semesters of independent study in the senior year. The student will need to complete the thesis and submit it for approval to their faculty advisor in the final semester of their coursework.