College Schools, Departments & Programs

Near Eastern Languages and Cultures

Introduction

The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (NELC) offers a major leading to the B.A. degree with tracks in Arabic, ancient Egyptian, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish, as well as minors in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Islamic Studies, and Near Eastern Civilization. Courses are also available to students in other disciplines who wish to acquire a working knowledge of a Near Eastern language or satisfy a foreign language requirement. Courses in Near Eastern literatures and cultures, many of which are open to students with no knowledge of these languages, may be used in conjunction with other disciplines such as linguistics, English, comparative literature, and folklore to satisfy Breadth of Inquiry requirements. All courses can also be taken as electives.

The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures is affiliated with the new School of Global and International Studies (SGIS), which prepares students for opportunities in any international field they choose, whether they plan to work in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors. The School has a dual focus that sets it apart. On the one hand, it teaches the languages and histories of strategically important regions of the world. IU has long been a leading university for studying the cultures of communities around the world, and SGIS seeks to maintain and build upon this proud tradition. At the same time, SGIS also examines crucial contemporary issues that transcend borders. Areas of focus include security, trade and development, global governance, and human rights. SGIS prioritizes a pragmatic, nonpartisan understanding of some of the most challenging issues of our times. Perhaps no one exemplifies the approach and impact that SGIS hopes that its alumni will have better than two of its distinguished faculty members, former Representative Lee Hamilton and former Senator Richard Lugar.

SGIS provides its students with unmatched opportunities. Students have the opportunity to study in a state-of-the-art building at the center of campus. The ratio of faculty to undergraduate majors is seven-to-one, and virtually all SGIS faculty teach undergraduates. Over 60 percent of SGIS students study abroad, for which SGIS offers a wide range of scholarships. Finally, SGIS has top-notch academic and career advisors who develop close relationships with the students.

Majors, Minors, and Programs
Contact Information

Near Eastern Languages and Cultures
Indiana University
GISB Third Floor East, GA 3050
355 North Jordan Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405-1105

(812) 855-5993
nelc [at] indiana [dot] edu

http://www.indiana.edu/~nelc/