Introduction to the academic field of Islamic Studies.

Advanced studies in Middle Eastern languages.

Examines Aramaic translations of the Hebrew bible that contain many exegetical deviations from the Hebrew text, and provide a glimpse of Jewish theology at the time of their composition.

Study of the eastern Aramaic dialect that was spoken in the ancient Near East until the Muslim occupation. Examines the use of the dialect as a vehicle for Christianity in the East; its use in poetry, science, and philosophy; and its influence on Arabic. Covers the essentials of Syriac grammar for the purpose of reading Syriac texts.

Study of the fourth-century language of the Semitic people who lived in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea. Covers the alphabet and grammar needed for reading translations of the Bible and other texts.

Study of the West Semitic languages from the city of Ugarit in what is now Syria, which was spoken from the fourteenth through twelfth century BC. Covers the essentials of grammar needed for reading Ugaritic texts.

Introduction to the study of Akkadian, the principal language used in ancient Assyria, Babylonia, and their environs. Explore Old Babylonian grammar and the cuneiform writing system.

Continue the study of Akkadian and Old Babylonian grammar, syntax, and signs.

Read Akkadian texts from a variety of genres and time periods, including Assyrian and Babylonian letters and royal inscriptions.

Read Akkadian texts from a variety of genres and time periods, including Standard Babylonian literary texts.

Covers the grammatical structure of a number of ancient and modern Semitic languages (such as Akkadian, Biblical Hebrew, Ethiopic, and Modern Aramaic) and of the family of languages as a whole.

Study foundational and emergent scholarly works and critical approaches in the study of Christian origins and the books of the New Testament in their ancient Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts.

Examine the Semitic languages and review the basic features of their phonology, morphology, and syntax.

Examine the gendered experience of religion in Late Antiquity using the evidence of artistic record, with a primary focus on the Mediterranean world.

Examine the literature and material culture of Second Temple Judaism (circa 520 BCE to circa 135 CE) in dialogue with recent scholarship on Jews and Judaism in Persian, Hellenistic, and early Roman contexts.

Examine the literature and history of Judaism from the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple in 70 CE to the early Middle Ages, with a primary focus on classical Rabbinic Judaism as well as mystical and other writings beyond the canon.

Examines the issues that are current in one major area of Hebrew Bible scholarship.

Examines a biblical book (e.g. Song of Songs) or subject (e.g. Jubilee) applying history, philology, literary theory, poetics, history of interpretation, and linguistics.

Supervised individual study of selected problems in Middle Eastern languages and cultures.

Preparation of a report to fulfill the requirement for the master's degree under the report option.

Teaching under the close supervision of a faculty member; weekly group meetings with the instructor, individual consultation, and reports throughout the teaching period.