The Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures offers two programs — Ancient Near Eastern and Christian Near Eastern studies — that lead to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. 

Students in Ancient Near Eastern studies focus on the languages of the Hebrew Bible (Hebrew and Aramaic) with considerable course work in other ancient Near Eastern languages. The department offers more different forms of Aramaic than any other program in North America. Students in Christian Near Eastern studies can specialize in Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, or Syriac with crossover studies among these specialties.

Faculty from the department also teach courses and participate in several affiliated programs. Undergraduates, if interested in intensive language study, may enroll in Semitics department courses.