Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
The Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations is devoted to providing students with a unique learning experience. Offering Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, and Turkish, as well as courses in ancient history and civilizations and the modern Middle East, our department prides itself on a unique configuration and blend of professors focused on both research and teaching. We are the only department in the United States that has two professors who have won the national "Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award" from the Archaeological Institute of America (Cline in 2005 and Friedland in 2012). We are also one of the few, if not the only, department in the United States to offer both a major in Classical Studies and a major in Arabic Studies.
Our curriculum strengthens a student's ability to communicate, reason, and understand the social, cultural, and physical environment of the ancient and modern worlds. The department fosters careful and creative thinking in our students, based in the linguistic, cultural, and historical roots of the rich, varied, and strategically important societies of the Mediterranean basin.
Utilizing the diverse resources of the Washington, D.C. area in fulfilling our linguistic and cultural mission, we provide students with field trips to and assignments at local museums, walking tours of Classical Washington, promotion of foreign films and lectures, and cultural programs and internships at embassies. We have arranged internships at Washington institutions, including magazines and professional journals, National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, Dumbarton Oaks, the Middle East Institute, and other area resources. Our students have opportunities to study abroad, most recently in Greece, Italy, Israel, Morocco, and Europe, and are assisted in finding opportunities to participate in excavations around the world
Professors E.A. Fisher, E.H. Cline (Chair)
Associate Professors M. Esseesy (Teaching)
Assistant Professors M.D. Ticktin, E.A. Friedland, A.M. Smith II, M.M. Kassab (Teaching),J.J. Tobkin (Teaching), P. Minuchehr, S. Loomis, C. Jorgensen, A. Ofengenden, K. Wasdin
Teaching Instructors S. Marcus, N. Taher, E. Oraby
Explanation of Course Numbers
- Courses in the 1000s are primarily introductory undergraduate courses
- Those in the 2000–4000s are upper-division undergraduate courses that can also be taken for graduate credit with permission and additional work
- Those in the 6000s and 8000s are for master’s, doctoral, and professional-level students
- The 6000s are open to advanced undergraduate students with approval of the instructor and the dean or advising office