Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures
College of Arts & Sciences
The Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures provides a liberal arts education in new global realities and their connections specifically to history of culture in the Middle East and Central Asia. A detailed and critical knowledge of ancient and modern languages of these regions is of utmost importance for a better understanding of their rich cultural heritages, and development of language skills requires cultural-historical knowledge.
Major category: Open
Curricular options: Comparative Cultures, Hebrew Bible & Ancient Near East, Languages and Literature
Topic(s): Arts, Humanities and Design
websiteDegree requirements
Applicant type
Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)
Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).
Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring / summer
Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.
- Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
- Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
- Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
- UW college and school graduation requirements
Department admission information
Departmental application deadline: Students in good academic standing may declare the major at any time, including on their application for admission to the UW.
Please contact the department for details about the application process.
Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for the major before transfer.
Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.
Courses recommended for the major:
- Courses in any discipline that deal with the Middle East.
- Courses in writing, history, literature, comparative religion, French and German are also recommended.
- Students should begin their studies in Middle Eastern languages as soon as possible.
Entering transfer information:
Total undergraduates: 10
Total from Washington community colleges: 2