Faculty of Theology

Degree Programs

Bachelor minor degree program in Ancient Near Eastern Cultures of Pre-Islamic Palestine/Israel

Do the foundations of our culture interest you? Are you fascinated by the intersections between the Near East and the West? What about working with languages and pictures? Do you fancy an interdisciplinary perspective beyond your horizon? Does the possibility of a degree program at four institutes in Fribourg and Bern interest you?

Palestine/Israel is located at the intersection of three continents. Ancient trade routes between Egyptian Mesopotamia and the Arabian Mediterranean cross there. To this day, the small, divided nation containing four climate zones and hosting various lifestyles remains a bone of contention among superpowers. Simultaneously, decisive civilizational, cultural and religious impulses that have greatly impacted Europe and modernity originated in this area. The Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Near Eastern Cultures of Pre-Islamic Palestine/Israel degree program grapples—unbiased by religious orientation—with these specific roots of our culture, which we can examine at a deep level thanks to modern research areas like archaeology, epigraphy, iconography and the study of religion.

Basic information
Degree: -
Number of credits:

Degree programs for students from other faculties:

  • Minor 60 or 30 ECTS
Options for combination:
several; see Bachelor Major
Duration:
The duration complies with the Bachelor Major
Language: German
Beginning of studies: Fall or spring semester

Course Content

Palestine/Israel is located at the intersection of three continents. Ancient trade routes between Egyptian Mesopotamia and the Arabian Mediterranean cross there. To this day, the small, divided nation containing four climate zones and hosting various lifestyles remains a bone of contention among superpowers. Simultaneously, decisive civilizational, cultural, and religious impulses that have greatly impacted Europe and modernity originated in this area. The Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Near Eastern Cultures of Pre-Islamic Palestine/Israel degree program grapples—unbiased by religious orientation—with these specific roots of our culture, which we can examine at a deep level thanks to modern research areas like archaeology, epigraphy, iconography and the study of religion.

The degree program builds on subject-knowledge-sharing within the framework of BEFRI between the Institutes for Old Testament and New Testament Studies at the Faculty of Theology and the Institute of Archeological Sciences at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Bern, and the Department of Biblical Studies and the Institute for Language of the Biblical World and Eastern Christianity at the University of Fribourg.

A bachelor minor (15, 20, or 60 ECTS points) and a master minor are offered and open to students of other faculties. The program is mainly designed for students of ancient and modern history in the Middle East, philology, the study of religion and theology.

Program Design

  • Archeology of Palestine/Israel and greater Syria in the pre-Hellenistic Age, the Hellenistic Roman Period, and Byzantine Period,
  • Iconography and history of religion in Palestine/Israel and the pre-Islamic Near East,
  • Languages, epigraphs, and literature of the pre-Islamic Near East and Egypt, and the transmission of the Hebrew Bible,
  • Historical geography of Palestine/Israel and greater Syria in the pre-Islamic Age including the economy and social history

Possible Combinations

In principal, the minor course of study is open to students of all fields of study. The program is mainly designed for students of ancient and modern history in the Middle East, philology, the study of religion and theology.

Students of other fields of study may attend all bachelor level classes as elective courses, provided there are no further prerequisites in the course description (for instance, necessary language skills). 

Deadlines

Special dates

Information on examination dates can be found at the faculty examination secretariat website.