近东语言和文明系（NELC）涵盖古代和现代民族，语言，文学，文化以及近东和中东社会的研究。语言包括阿卡德语，阿拉伯语，亚兰语，亚美尼亚语，巴比伦语，埃及语，希伯来语，伊朗语，波斯语，苏美尔语，土耳其语和意第绪语。NELC的师资力量举世闻名，哈佛大学在近东研究各个领域的教育资源几乎无与伦比。例如，维德纳图书馆藏有阿拉伯文，亚美尼亚文，希伯来文，波斯文，土耳其文和意第绪文学的各种藏书。对于对圣经或其他古代近东研究感兴趣或对近东考古学感兴趣的学生，可以提供各种在中东进行考古工作的机会。对现代近东政治或社会研究感
The program in Jewish History and Culture focuses on the history and literature of the Jewish people from late antiquity to modern times, and is divided chronologically into five periods: the Hebrew Bible in its Jewish interpretive context, ancient Jewish history and culture, medieval Jewish history and culture, modern Jewish history and culture, and modern Jewish literatures. While students generally choose to focus their interests by period, the program itself stresses vertical competence: all students are expected to gain some expertise in chronological periods other than their main one. As an alternative to specialization by chronological period, students may choose to focus their studies along thematic lines, for example on the history of Jewish biblical exegesis. Ability to work with classical Hebrew sources in the original is a prerequisite for admission to the program.