The master's degree program emphasizes the roles of anthropology and sociology in theoretical and applied research on issues of development and social change in the Middle East and other regions. It focuses on political economy, social organization, symbolism, gender, religion, theory and methodology, and Arab world studies.

The applicant of the program should be a graduate of any of the human sciences. Those who lack this background but are well qualified in other respects may be admitted provisionally. In such case they may be assigned some non-credit prerequisite courses in theory or methodology to finish in one or two semesters.