Classical and Near Eastern Religions and Cultures Ph.D.

Classical and Near Eastern Religions and Cultures (CNRC) is an interdisciplinary department that brings together faculty and graduate students who might in other settings be dispersed among a wide range of programs. CNRC is dedicated to philological and literary training as well as the examination of material culture and incorporation of theoretical models in the study of antiquity. The Religions in Antiquity Ph.D. focuses on comparative, historical, and literary study of the religious texts and practices of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. Students work across a range of cultures, time periods, and places, as shown in coursework and exams. Students will build (1) theoretical sophistication in the study of ancient religion; (2) language competencies that will enable graduates to work with a wide range of primary sources; (3) their understanding of the full range of cultural and historical dynamics inherent in ancient religions; and (4) interpretive skills that draw on a wealth of available literary, epigraphic, papyrological, visual, and material primary sources. The program also works with the Center for Premodern Studies, the Center for Jewish Studies, and the Program in Religious Studies to provide further interdisciplinary opportunities for graduate students.