Ph.D. students in Semitics select a pathway focused upon either the Ancient Near East or the Christian Near East, and identify a "major language" and a "minor language" that they will emphasize in the course of their studies. The Ph.D. program requires an additional 30 credit hours of coursework beyond the 30-cr M.A. as earned here at Catholic University, although it is also possible for students to begin at the doctoral level if they are able to transfer credit from an M.A. earned elsewhere. 

Ancient Near East students usually specialize in Aramaic and Hebrew, and several different forms of both languages are offered (Old, Official, Qumran, and Targumic Aramaic; Epigraphic, Qumran, and Mishnaic Hebrew).  Students in this program can also pursue Akkadian and Ugaritic, and they are further encouraged to take a year of Greek.

Christian Near East students typically specialize in Arabic, Coptic, or Syriac; they may also take Armenian, Georgian, and South Arabian.  Before attempting their comprehensive exams, they are required to take--or to have taken before beginning their program--a year of Greek.

Ph.D. students are encouraged in addition to take two courses, ordinarily 6 cr, outside the department with the consultation of the advisor. These two courses may be taken at the graduate or advanced undergraduate level, and should complement the student's interests and be chosen according to their background and training, although the two courses need not be in the same subject area. This requirement may be fulfilled by courses at the graduate or advanced undergraduate level. Relevant topic areas might include (for example) biblical studies, theology, early Christian studies, English, modern languages, comparative literature, history, economics, or politics.