The program encompasses advanced course work, the writing of independent research papers at the seminar level, the successful completion of written candidacy examinations, an oral examination followed by admission to candidacy for the degree, original research, and ultimately the submission and defense of a dissertation that is a contribution to scholarly knowledge.

The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at the Ohio State University offers Master of Arts (MA) degrees and Doctoral (PhD) degrees. Some of our graduate students have a PhD as their final goal. Of these, the majority come to our program for both the Master's and the PhD in sequence. Some students come for a PhD having earned their Master's at another university and may be granted advanced standing on account of their prior graduate studies. We also accept students for just the Master's degree, whose final goal is not necessarily a PhD but a career making use of expertise in Near Eastern languages and cultures.