MESALC的多学科硕士学位是为寻求使用中东或南亚语言的研究生水平培训以及对中东或南亚作为地区的深入了解的学生而设计的。学生选择中东或南亚作为他们的区域重点，并选择阿拉伯语，希伯来语，北印度语，波斯语，乌尔都语或梵语作为他们的区域语言。那些被接受进入该计划的中东地区的人员必须至少具有第二年的当地语言水平。对于接受该计划的南亚方的人员，不需要任何语言培训。
MESALC's multi-dicsiplinary MA degree is intended for students seeking graduate-level training in Middle Eastern or South Asian languages and an in-depth knowledge of the Middle East (including North Africa) or South Asia. It has been used by our students either as a stepping stone to a PhD program or as a way to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for government or non-government work. Like our sister programs in East Asian Studies and European Studies, the MA program in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies emphasizes language skills and cultural knowledge and sensitivity. We try to help students get to the point of being able to understand these parts of the world from the inside. Students choose a regional focus (either the Middle East or South Asia) and a regional language (either Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Hindi, Urdu, or Sanskrit). Those accepted into the Middle East side of the program with an interest in Arabic need at least a second-year proficiency in the language, but students focusing on Persian or Hebrew may apply without previous language study. No previous language training is required for those accepted into the South Asia side of the program.