Masters degree in Biblical Archaeology

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Charles, Jan 17, 2004.

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  1. Charles

    Charles New Member

    I may begin a UNISA masters degree much earlier than anticipated. One of my current professors has suggested that I may be ready for the program detailed below.

    The MA is far more focused than the BA and will certainly be a greater challenge.

    In any event I will complete my classes for the current semester before deciding whether to apply for the MA.

    Dear Students,

    The purpose of this letter is to supply undergraduate and postgraduate students in Biblical Archaeology and Biblical Studies with more detail about our Masters Programme in Biblical Archaeology which has recently been introduced at Unisa. It will be ready for the 2004 academic year. This is a programme that many students have been waiting for and we are thrilled to officially announce that the Departments of Old and New Testaments at Unisa from now onwards also offer a Masters Degree in Biblical Archaeology.

    In his letter we supply answers to questions we suppose students as this stage may have. We hope we can answer most of them. If you still have unsolved questions, please feel free to contact me, Prof Coenie Scheepers at the Department of Old Testament at Unisa (012 4294711) or e-mail me at [email protected].

    If you are enthusiastic about the fascination of Biblical Archaeology, this Master's is for you.

    Here follows the information as stated on page 88 of the 2004 Unisa Calendar, number 4 for Postgraduate Qualifications.

    MASTERS DEGREE IN BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
    Admission Requirements
    Three different categories of students may obtain admission to the MA degree in Biblical Archaeology:
    Category A: Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree with Biblical Archaeology (or equivalent subject) as a major.
    Category B: Applicants with any Bachelor’s degree.Category
    C: Applicants with an appropriate Honours Bachelor’s degree.
    Curriculum
    PART 1
    · Applicants from categories A and B must complete five papers from the list of papers (see below) for a total of 120 credits (5 X 24 = 120 credits).
    · Category A applicants have to pass any five papers, excluding the introductory paper HBA401-F.
    · Category B applicants have to pass any four papers plus the introductory paper HBA401-F· Category C applicants have to pass the introductory paper HBA401- for non-degree purposes.


    PART 2
    · After completion of the required number of papers by candidates from Categories A, B and C as stipulated in part 1 above, a full dissertation of approximately 180 pages must be completed (120) credits).Transitional ArrangementsStudents who have completed papers for BA (Honours) Biblical Studies with the Biblical Archaeology option, will be credited.
    Completion of the curriculum1 The full dissertation may only be completed once the required papers have been passed.
    2 The MA in Biblical Archaeology may not be completed in less tan two years (except for applicants in Category C).
    3 After completion of this degree a candidate can be admitted to a Doctoral programme (DLitt et Phil) in Biblical Archaeology.
    Intermediate QualificationAfter completion of the five papers, an applicant from Category A or Category B may exit the programme and will be awarded an Honours BA degree in Biblical Archaeology.
    PAPERS
    HBA401-F : An orientation to biblical archaeology (introductory paper) (24 credits)
    HBA402-G : Biblical archaeology of the Late Bronze, Iron Age and the Babylonian and Persian period (24 credits)
    HBA403-H : Biblical archaeology of the Hellenistic and Roman periods (24 credits)
    HBA404-J : Biblical archaeology and religion (24 credits)HBA405-K : Applied biblical archaeology (24 credits)HBA406-L : Contextualising biblical archaeology (24 credits)HBA407-M : Biblical archaeology and the historical Jesus (24 credits)
    HBA408-N : Biblical archaeology and every day life in the biblical world (24 credits)RecommendationStudents interested in archaeological fieldwork are advised to include in their study programme courses in Archaeology, offered by the Department of Anthropology, Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Studies.

    After reading through the above, you may need clarity regarding the following issues:

    1.Transitional arrangements and credits

    Apart from the information about the transitional arrangements as stated above, the following detail can be added for more clarity.

    • Students who have passed any of the following three papers of the Biblical Studies honours (HBS 404-Y, HBS405-3, HBS408-6) and would like to continue with the MA in Biblical Archaeology, will be fully credited for the papers they have completed. These three papers are fully accepted for credits in the Biblical Archaeology MA. If a student for instance has completed 2 of these papers, he/she will only need to complete another 3 papers from the list of papers in the MA to complete part 1 of the programme.

    • Students who have completed 9 of the undergraduate modules in Biblical Archaeology as part of their B degree do not have to register for the introductory paper HBA401-F. They can select any other 5 papers from the list.

    • Student who have completed a B degree without a post graduate qualification, need to register for HBA401-F as well as 4 other papers from the list.

    • A student with any Honours, Master's or Doctoral degree, have to register for HBA401-F for non-degree purposes after which he/she can continue with the dissertation.

    2. How to enroll?

    Information regarding the registration for the programme can be obtained from Mr Andre van Heerden at the post-graduate student affairs department on the Unisa main campus. His contact details are:

    e-mail: [email protected] Tel: (012) 429 4191

    I hope this information will answer all the possible questions. Please contact me if you need any more detail.

    Best wishes for the festive season and may you have a lovely new year.

    Regards

    Prof Coenie Scheepers
     
  2. AlnEstn

    AlnEstn New Member

    Interesting, I am doing a structured M.Th. through SATS that is very similar to this. I have to complete 6 papers and a thesis.
     
  3. AlnEstn

    AlnEstn New Member

    Do you know if they will be offering a doctorate in biblical archaeology?
     
  4. Charles

    Charles New Member

    Yes. From part 2 above:

    "3 After completion of this degree a candidate can be admitted to a Doctoral programme (DLitt et Phil) in Biblical Archaeology."
     
  5. AlnEstn

    AlnEstn New Member

    Charles,
    Oops, I missed that. I have been to their sight, and also saw some mention of the doctorate. I think this is something I may want to look into. Thanks.
     
  6. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    bumpity...
     
  7. Koolcypher

    Koolcypher Member

    He's baaaack.....[​IMG]
     

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