Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies

One of the largest and most diverse programs of its kind, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS) is dedicated to intellectual openness and engagement with critical questions of history, literature, religion, and culture relating to the Bible and the Ancient Near East, Jewish Studies, and Arabic and Islamic Civilizations. Pursue a degree with leading scholars dedicated to the finest instruction, mentoring, and preparation for life after Brandeis.

Undergraduate Program

The major is designed to combine a broad education in the various disciplines and periods that constitute NEJS and introduce students to the critical study of Near Eastern and Judaic sources, classical and modern, within the academic context. Students may select from different tracks within the major. See our bulletin page for details.

Master's Degree Programs

Design a personalized curriculum through our diverse areas of expertise or choose to concentrate in one of these areas: Bible and Ancient Near East, Jewish Studies, or Arabic and Islamic Civilizations.

PhD Program

The PhD program is designed to train scholars and teachers in various areas of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. While doctoral students take advantage of a wide range of intellectual resources available to them, they may specialize in the areas of faculty strength in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East; Ancient and Medieval Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Studies; and Jewish history, culture, and religion through the Modern period, including the study of Israel. See our Faculty by Expertise page to