Brown is one of the premier institutions for the study of Egyptology, Assyriology and the history of ancient science. Our Ph.D. students train in the foundational areas of our disciplines: the languages, literatures, history and material culture of Egypt and Mesopotamia in their wider environment.
In addition to philology and critical research methods, our students also master the archaeological sequence, art and architecture, and repertoires of material culture found across the ancient Near East and north Africa.
Brown's doctoral program in Egyptology and Assyriology offers in–depth disciplinary training that allows our students to pursue focused research in any one of our core fields through three Ph.D. tracks: (1) Assyriology (2) Egyptology, and (3) History of the Exact Sciences in Antiquity. We also encourage creative interdisciplinary work and have close connections with allied programs at Brown, including Ancient History, Anthropology, Classics, Religious Studies, and the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World. The program is dedicated to training professional scholars and effective teachers for a wide variety of educational settings, such as research universities and institutes, museums, and teaching colleges focused on the liberal arts.
Additional Resources
Substantial departmental funding for graduate students' research; dedicated research space for graduate students; access to strong library facilities and study collections at Brown; colloquium series, postdoc program, and visiting scholars from around the world create a stimulating intellectual environment; teaching and professional development opportunities.
Application Information
Application Requirements
GRE Subject:
Not required
GRE General:
Not required
Writing Sample:
Required (in intended area of specialization – not to exceed 20 pages). Students selected for preliminary approval will be invited to interview before being accepted into the program.
Dates/Deadlines
Application Deadline
Completion Requirements
All tracks require three years (six semesters) of full–time study consisting of coursework and appointments as a teaching assistant/fellow or proctor; reading competence in two modern research languages (usually German and French); comprehensive exams; Ph.D. qualifying projects; dissertation with oral defense; three semesters (minimum) teaching experience. Tracks have specific requirements that are spelled out in the Graduate Handbook.
Alumni Outcomes
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Leadership
Contact and Location
Department of Egyptology and Assyriology
Mailing Address
Box 1899