The Undergraduate Concentration in
Ancient Civilizations and Biblical Studies

The division of Ancient Civilizations and Biblical Studies offers instruction at the introductory to advanced levels in the languages, literatures, histories, cultures, and religions of the ancient Near East (Anatolia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Israel, Jordan and Syria).  The concentrator can select one of four programs in the division:  Ancient Mesopotamia, Hebrew Bible/Ancient Israel, Ancient Egypt and New Testament/Early Christianity.

The course ACABS 100, Peoples of the Middle East, is a prerequisite to the ACABS concentration.  The ACABS concentrator is required to complete four semesters of language.  The languages for which four semesters of instruction are offered include Akkadian, Classical Hebrew, and Classical Greek (through Classical Studies).  Fourth term proficiency in Classical Hebrew or Classical Greek satisfies the language requirement of the College of LS&A.  In place of the four semesters of one language, the concentrator can select one of the following language options:  one year of Akkadian followed by one year of Sumerian; or one year of Classical Hebrew followed by one semester of Aramaic and one semester of Ugaritic; or one year of Classical Hebrew followed by a year of Classical Greek; or one year of Middle Egyptian and a year of one of the following languages:  Classical Greek, Classical Hebrew or Akkadian.

In addition to the four semesters of language, the ACABS concentrator must elect six additional courses in the languages, literatures, histories, cultures, and religions of the ancient Near East.  These six divisional elective courses are to be selected from the four course levels: no more than one each at the 100 level, 200 level, and 300 level, and at least three at the 400-500 level.  The concentrator must also complete two elective cognate courses outside the division of concentration  Students are strongly encouraged to take ACABS 425/ AAPTIS 425/ HJCS 425: Near Eastern Studies Capstone Seminar as a cognate. The cognate courses must be approved by the concentration advisor.

Faculty

Gary Beckman, Professor of Hittite and Mesopotamian Studies
Gabriele Boccaccini, Professor of early Christian studies and middle Judaism

Marjorie Fisher, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Egyptology
Charles Krahmalkov, Professor of ancient Near Eastern languages
Piotr Michalowski, Professor of Mesopotamian studies
Janet Richards, Associate Professor of Egyptology
Brian Schmidt, Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible and ancient West Asian cultures
Terry Wilfong, Associate Professor of Egyptology
Norman Yoffee, Professor of Mesopotamian studies

Course Requirements

1.      The Prerequisite Course to the Concentration

100 Peoples of the Middle East (4) (RE, HU)

2.  Courses to Fulfill Language Requirements 

Akkadian and Sumerian
411 Introduction to Akkadian I

412 Akkadian Texts

511 Introduction to Sumerian

512 Sumerian Texts

610 Akkadian Literary Texts

611 Akkadian Documents

Classical Hebrew and Northwest Semitics

101 Elementary Classical Hebrew I (LR)

102 Elementary ClassicalHebrew II (LR)
201 Intermediate Classical Hebrew I (LR)

202 Intermediate Classical Hebrew II (LR)

483 Aramaic I

484 Aramaic II

581 Ugaritic I

582 Ugaritic II

Classical Greek (Classical Studies)

(385)-101 Elementary Greek (LR)

(385)-102 Elementary Greek (LR)
(385)-301 Second-year Greek (LR)

(385)-302 Second-year Greek (LR)

Middle Egyptian

485 Introduction to Middle Egyptian I

486 Introduction Middle Egyptian II

585 Advanced Middle Egyptian

3.  The Divisional Elective Courses

Level 100
121  Introduction to the Tanakh/ Old Testament (HU)

122 Introduction to New Testament

181 Introduction to the History of the Ancient Near East (HU)

Level 200

200 Introduction to World Religions: The Near East

221 Jesus and the Gospels (HU)
261 Ancient Egypt: Religion and Culture

266 Before the Bible: The Phoenicians
277 The Land of Israel/ Palestine through the Ages (HU)

281 Ancient Egypt and Its World

283 The Beginnings of Christianity

291 Topics in ACABS

292 Seminar in ACABS

Level 300
307 The Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke (texts in Koine Greek)
308 The Acts of the Apostles (texts in Koine Greek)

321 History and Religion of Ancient Israel  (HU)
322 History and Religion of Ancient Judaism (HU)

323 Chrisitianity after the New Testament: The First Six Centuries (HU)

382 Introduction to Egyptian Archaeology  (HU)

393 The Religion of Zoroaster

395 Undergraduate Directed Reading

Level 400-500

413 Ancient Mesopotamia:  History and Culture
414 Mythology and Literature of Mesopotamia

415 Elementary Hittite

421 Christianity and Hellenistic Civilizations

424 The Gnostic Religion
425 Near Eastern Studies Capstone Seminar

427 The Gospel of Mark in Greek

428 The Gospel of John in Greek

429 The Letters of Paul in Greek

470 Reading the Rabbis

487 Gender and Society in Ancient Egypt

491 Topics in ACABS

498 Senior Honors Thesis

542 Literature of the Hebrew Bible

543 The Bible in JewishTradition

544 Tannaitic Literature

587 Seminar in Ancient Egyptian History and Culture: Selected Topics

591 Topics in ACABS

592 Seminar in ACABS

593 Mini Course – Topics in ACABS

4.  The Elective Cognate Courses

 
In consultation with the concentration advisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies, the student must select a minimum of two additional cognate courses outside  the division of concentration.  This may include course selections from other divisions within the department of Near Eastern Studies, and cross-listed courses.

Recommended Cognate: ACABS 425/ AAPTIS 425/ HJCS 425: Near Eastern Studies Capstone Seminar

Anthropology 383: Prehistory of Africa  (Excl)

Anthropology 409: Peoples and Cultures of the Near East and North Africa (Excl)

Anthropology 483: Near Eastern Prehistory (Excl)

Anthropology: 582: Archaeology
Classical Archaeology 323: Introduction to Field Archaeology (HU)

Classical Archaeology 365: Alexander the Great : The Making of a Legend (HU)

Classical Archaeology 422: Etruscan Art and Archaeology (HU)

Classical Archaeology 531: Aegean Art and Archaeology (Excl)

Classical Studies 456: Egypt after the Pharaohs: Public and Private Life in an Ancient Multicultural Society (Excl)

Classical Studies 476: Pagans and Christians in the Roman World (HU)
English 401: The English Bible:  Its Literary Aspects and Influences (HU)

History 444: Inner Asia, Russia and China (Excl)

History of Art 435: Art and Archaeology of Asia Minor (HU)

History of Art 437: Egyptian Art and Archaeology (HU)

History of Art 481: Art of Ancient Iran (Excl)

The NES Honors Concentration

Concentrators who qualify as candidates for Honors are those who meet the requirements for a regular concentration, maintain a GPA of at least 3.4 overall and 3.5 in the concentration, and complete the writing of a senior thesis with distinction. Honors concentrators are required to enroll in the thesis course (498) during their senior year of research and writing. Further information concerning the Honors concentration can be obtained at the departmental office (4111 Thayer Building) or at the Honors Program Office (1330 Mason Hall).

Study Abroad

The department has affiliations with several universities and programs abroad, and concentrators are strongly encouraged to spend all or part of an academic year overseas in order to further their formal training. In addition to consulting the University of Michigan's Office of International Programs, the International Center and the International Institute, concentrators should contact their concentration advisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies concerning such a course of study. A program should be decided upon in advance in order to ensure that transfer credit can be awarded and that courses will satisfy concentration requirements.

Academic Advising

Students interested in the department's concentration program in ACABS, should contact the ACABS concentration advisor through the Department's undergraduate secretary at the departmental office (4111 Thayer Bldg.), or by phone at (734) 764-0314. Students who plan to complete a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in NES must complete the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LS&A) declaration form supplied by the advisor.