The Center for Middle Eastern Studies offers a two-year graduate program in Middle Eastern Studies leading to a master’s degree in Regional Studies—Middle East. The program provides rigorous training in foreign language study as well as intensive emphasis on academic research and writing. Students enrolled in the AM program may choose to write a master's thesis, but a thesis is not required to complete the degree; those considering further graduate study are strongly encouraged to write a master's thesis.

Language Requirement
Intensive language study is an integral part of the program. Students are required to take four semesters of coursework in their chosen Middle Eastern language:

• Arabic
• Hebrew
• Persian
• Turkish

Students who are native speakers will be required to study a second language.

Course Requirements
Sixteen courses are required to complete the degree. Academic research and writing skills are emphasized in both the students’ elective and required coursework. In their first semester, all students are required to take the CMES proseminar NEC 200a "Approaches to Middle Eastern Studies," a writing-intensive course on “great books” in Middle Eastern studies. Students intending to write a thesis must take NEC 200b, "Middle East Studies Research Seminar," a course in research methods during the spring semester of their first year.

Additional Course Requirements include:

• One course in medieval (pre-1500) Middle Eastern history
• One course in modern Middle Eastern history
• One course related to the Middle East in anthropology, economics, history of art and architecture, government, law, or religion
• Seven elective courses, one of which must be a seminar

The flexibility of the course requirements is one of the program’s core strengths. It allows students with a range of different interests to tailor a degree program best suited to their own professional goals. Students are encouraged to take courses in different departments at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and to cross-register at the other Harvard graduate schools (Law, Business, Education, Government, etc.)