Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages and Literatures: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Explore the linguistic and literary foundations of ancient civilizations through a rigorous academic focus on extinct languages of the Near East. This program delves into the written records of early religious, historical, and cultural traditions, emphasizing deep linguistic analysis and textual interpretation.

• Philology: The systematic study of language in written historical sources, focusing on the evolution, structure, and meaning of ancient texts across time and culture.
• Epigraphy: The analysis of inscriptions on durable materials such as stone, metal, or clay, providing critical insights into historical, religious, and administrative practices.
• Papyrology: The examination of ancient documents written on papyrus, offering direct access to daily life, legal affairs, and religious expression in antiquity.
• Numismatics: The study of ancient coins as historical artifacts, revealing economic systems, political authority, and cultural exchange across ancient regions.
• Textual Studies: The critical evaluation and reconstruction of ancient manuscripts, including variant readings and transmission histories, essential for accurate interpretation of religious and literary works.

Students engage with a diverse range of languages, including Egyptian and Coptic, Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Aramaic, Canaanite, Phoenician, Samarian, Ugaritic, Syriac, Mandean, Hattic, Elamite, Hurrian, Hittite, Urartian, Lydian, Luwian, Lycian, Palaic, and Sabaean/South Arabian, among others. The curriculum integrates linguistic precision with historical context, preparing learners for advanced research and scholarly work in ancient Near Eastern studies.