The Program in Ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian Studies grants MA and PhD degrees as preparation for careers in research, teaching, and museum work in these fields. Faculty members are drawn from several departments and academic units of the university and approach the region from a wide variety of disciplines and perspectives.

Students in the program will concentrate on one of the principal areas of the ancient Near East (Egypt, Mesopotamia, or the northern Levant), but the study of neighboring ancient cultures and comparative work is strongly encouraged, facilitated by NYU's impressive faculty in Classics and Biblical Studies. The small size of the program means that students will receive individual guidance and that their programs will be tailored specifically to their needs and interests. However, the tremendous resources of the larger university will be available to them.