Best institutions to study Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
A general program that focuses on one or more of the Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic languages of the ancient and modern Middle/Near East, Western Asia, North Africa, and Europe.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 34 Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.1100, a specialization of Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages (CIP 16.11), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs
A general program that focuses on one or more of the Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic languages of the ancient and modern Middle/Near East, Western Asia, North Africa, and Europe. Includes instruction in philology; linguistics; dialects and pidgins; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages program offers a comprehensive study of the languages, literatures, and linguistics of the Middle/Near East, Western Asia, North Africa, and Europe. This program is designed for students interested in exploring both ancient and modern languages and their cultural contexts. Students in this program will engage in philology, linguistics, and literature, preparing them for diverse applications in business, science, technology, and more. This program is ideal for those who wish to deepen their understanding of Middle/Near Eastern languages and their significance in various fields.
Core coursework in this program emphasizes skills such as speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Students will also gain knowledge in foreign languages, customer service, and public safety, equipping them with essential tools for effective communication and translation.
Credentials awarded
What Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship16 graduates / yr · 5 institutions47%
- Bachelor's degree10 graduates / yr · 4 institutions29%
- Master's degree8 graduates / yr · 3 institutions24%
Graduates over time
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 27 |
| 2013 | 56 |
| 2014 | 66 |
| 2015 | 67 |
| 2016 | 55 |
| 2017 | 62 |
| 2018 | 64 |
| 2019 | 59 |
| 2020 | 53 |
| 2021 | 45 |
| 2022 | 39 |
| 2023 | 27 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 34 |
Top 6 institutions for Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 12 | 80% | — |
| 2 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 11 | 96% | $27,025 |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor's | 4 | 97% | $22,055 |
| 4 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 83% | $41,986 |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 89% | — |
| 6 | The Catholic University of America Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 79% | $27,724 |
Offered in 6 states
Where Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates come from. Each state links to all Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 1 | 12 | Indiana University - Bloomington12 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 11 | Yale University11 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 4 | University of Pennsylvania4 / yr |
| California | 1 | 3 | Pepperdine University3 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 3 | The University of Texas at Austin3 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 1 | The Catholic University of America1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with a median wage of $59,440. The job outlook for these roles shows little or no change, with an annual opening of approximately 6,900 positions. A typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.1100
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Interpreters and Translatorsprimary SOC 27-3091 | $60,170 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~6,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1124 | $79,350 | -0.2% Little or no change | ~1,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
- Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
- Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
- Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
- Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
Tools and technology used
Other Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages (CIP 16.11).
- Arabic Language and LiteratureCIP 16.1101198 graduates / yr39 institutions
- Middle/CIP 16.1199
Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 73 graduates / yr11 institutions - Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 16.110365 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Hebrew Language and LiteratureCIP 16.1102partial data20 graduates / yr6 institutions
See all Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in this field.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as interpreters, translators, or foreign language and literature teachers.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change with about 6,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?+
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics is CIP 16.1100 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages (CIP 16.11). NCES defines it as: A general program that focuses on one or more of the Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic languages of the ancient and modern Middle/Near East, Western Asia, North Africa, and Europe. Includes instruction in philology; linguistics; dialects and pidgins; literature; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
How many institutions offer Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 34 credentials in the year. That is 8.7% of all Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages graduates.
How much do Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,170 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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