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Undergraduate Catalog

2012 - 2013

BA in Ancient Near Eastern Studies
(61–65 hours*)

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The Discipline

Ancient Near Eastern Studies deals with the history, literature, religions, and cultures of the ancient Near East from 3000 B.C. to A.D. 640. It involves study in the humanities, social sciences, and ancient scripture. Geographically the ancient Near East consists of the region currently designated the Middle East. The Ancient Near Eastern Studies major is structured to provide students with a broad understanding of the civilizations of the ancient Near East and to emphasize the study of the Hebrew Bible and related literature or the Greek New Testament and related literature in their broader ancient Near Eastern context.

Career Opportunities

The Ancient Near Eastern Studies major prepares students to pursue graduate work and an academic career in all areas of biblical and ancient Near Eastern studies. Ancient Near Eastern Studies, with its emphasis on critical reading, thinking, and writing skills, also provides quality training for students entering professional or library science programs. Additionally, an Ancient Near Eastern Studies degree offers relevant preparation for students seeking to teach seminary and institute in the Church Educational System.

Program Requirements    |    View MAP

  1. Complete the following core courses:

  2. Complete one of the following language/literature options:
    • Hebrew Bible and related literature:
      1. Complete one course from the following:

      2. Complete one course from the following:

      3. Complete the following:

      4. Complete two enrollments in the following:

    • Greek New Testament and related literature:
      1. Complete the following:
          ANES 332 : Readings in Classical Near Eastern Texts. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          ANES 332 : Readings in Classical Near Eastern Texts. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Fall Even Yrs.
          DESCRIPTION: Reading and analyzing major ancient Near Eastern texts in English translation. Methodology for dealing with potential biblical parallels.

          Course Outcomes


          CL CV 363 : Judaism and Christianity in the Classical Near East. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          CL CV 363 : Judaism and Christianity in the Classical Near East. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Fall
          DESCRIPTION: Historical and cultural contexts of early Judaism and Christianity; analysis of major Jewish and Christian texts produced in classical Near East; methodological emphasis.

          Course Outcomes


          CLSCS 430R : (Clscs-Hist) Topics in Greek and Roman History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          CLSCS 430R : (Clscs-Hist) Topics in Greek and Roman History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter
          PREREQUISITE: Cl Cv 304-Hist 247 and Greek 201 (Greek topics) or Cl Cv 307-Hist 248 and Latin 201 (Roman topics).
          DESCRIPTION: Topics vary (e.g., rise of the Greek city-state, Greek political thought, classical historiography, Rome and the Etruscans, imperial Rome).

                      : Greek City-State.
                      : Classical Historiography.
                      : Hellenistic World.
                      : Rome and Etruscans.
                      : Rise of Rome.
                      : Roman Revolution.
                      : Imperial Rome.
                      : Roman Politics.
                      : Roman Religion.
                      : Augustan Rome.
                      : Archaic Greece.
                      : Athens: Rise and Fall.
                      : 4th Century Greece.
                      : Late Roman Empire.
                      : World of New Testament.
                      : Early Christianity.
                      : Julio-Claudians.

          Course Outcomes


            Or
            HIST 430R : (Hist-Clscs) Topics in Greek and Roman History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
            HIST 430R : (Hist-Clscs) Topics in Greek and Roman History. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
            PREREQUISITE: ClCv-Hist 304 and Greek 201 (Greek topics) or ClCv-Hist 307 and Latin 201 (Roman topics).
            DESCRIPTION: Topics vary (e.g., rise of the Greek city-state, Greek political thought, classical historiography, Rome and the Etruscans, imperial Rome).

                       : (Hist-Clscs) Topics in Greek and Roman History.
                       : Archaic Greece.
                       : Greek City-State.
                       : Classical Historiography.
                       : Hellenistic World.
                       : Greek Political Thought.
                       : Rome and Etruscans.
                       : Rise of Rome.
                       : Roman Revolution.
                       : Imperial Rome.
                       : Roman Politics.
                       : Roman Religion.
                       : Augustan Rome.
                       : Archaic Greece.
                       : Athens: Rise and Fall.
                       : 4th Century Greece.
                       : Late Roman Empire.
                       : World of New Testament.
                       : Early Chrisitanity.
                       : Julio-Claudians.

            Course Outcomes


          GREEK 101 : First-Year Greek (First Semester). (4:4:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          GREEK 101 : First-Year Greek (First Semester). (4:4:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Fall

          Course Outcomes


          GREEK 102 : First-Year Greek (Second Semester). (4:4:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          GREEK 102 : First-Year Greek (Second Semester). (4:4:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Winter

          Course Outcomes


          GREEK 201 : Intermediate Greek. (4:4:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          GREEK 201 : Intermediate Greek. (4:4:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Fall
          PREREQUISITE: GREEK 102
          DESCRIPTION: Readings from Xenophon with review and continuation of grammar.

          Course Outcomes


          GREEK 302 : Classical Greek Prose. (3:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          GREEK 302 : Classical Greek Prose. (3:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Winter
          PREREQUISITE: GREEK 201
          NOTE: This course is part of a GE Mosaic. See ge.byu.edu/mosaic-list for more information.

          Course Outcomes


          GREEK 311 : New Testament in Greek: Gospels. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          GREEK 311 : New Testament in Greek: Gospels. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          PREREQUISITE: GREEK 201

          Course Outcomes


      2. Complete two enrollments in the following:
          GREEK 411R : Greek New Testament and Early Christian Greek Texts. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          GREEK 411R : Greek New Testament and Early Christian Greek Texts. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          PREREQUISITE: GREEK 302 & GREEK 311
          DESCRIPTION: Topics include Greek New Testament, the transmission and translation of New Testament manuscripts, and selections from other early Christian Greek writings.

                      : Synoptic Gospels.
                      : Luke-Acts.
                      : Pauline Epistles.
                      : Apocalypse.
                      : Johannine Writings.
                      : New Testament Apocrypha.
                      : Apostolic Fathers.
                      : Pre-Nicene Fathers.
                      : Post-Nicene Fathers.

          Course Outcomes


  3. Complete six hours from the following elective courses:
      ANES 353R : Archaeological Fieldwork in the Near East. (1-3:Arr:Arr)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ANES 353R : Archaeological Fieldwork in the Near East. (1-3:Arr:Arr)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      PREREQUISITE: Ancient Near Eastern Studies coordinator's consent.
      DESCRIPTION: Archaeological fieldwork and corresponding field school activities in the Near East.

      Course Outcomes


      ANES 392R : Topics in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. (2-3:ARR:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ANES 392R : Topics in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. (2-3:ARR:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      DESCRIPTION: Topical studies in the ancient Near East based on student interest and faculty expertise.

      Course Outcomes


      ANTHR 351 : Archaeology and the Bible. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ANTHR 351 : Archaeology and the Bible. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall Odd Yrs.; Winter Odd Yrs.
      DESCRIPTION: Setting and context of the Bible as clarified and supplemented from archaeology, history, and related studies. Archaeological methods.

      Course Outcomes


      ARTHC 310 : Early Christian and Byzantine Art. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ARTHC 310 : Early Christian and Byzantine Art. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall
      PREREQUISITE: ArtHC 201 or instructor's consent.
      DESCRIPTION: Survey of Christian art in the Roman and Byzantine Empire from ca. 200 to 1453.

      Course Outcomes


      CL CV 310 : Classical Archaeology. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      CL CV 310 : Classical Archaeology. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      DESCRIPTION: Major excavations and antiquities of the Mediterranean region illustrating Greco-Roman history.

      Course Outcomes


      CL CV 340R : Topics in Classical Literature and Civilization. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      CL CV 340R : Topics in Classical Literature and Civilization. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      DESCRIPTION: Classical literary genres; rhetorical, philosophical, and historical writings; relationships of art and literature; or the classical tradition in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Topics vary.

                  : Greek Historians.
                  : Roman Historians.
                  : Latin Literature in Middle America.
                  : Troy in Art and Literature.
                  : Early Rome.
                  : Classic Historiography.
                  : Greek Tragedy.
                  : Greek Political Thought.
                  : Women in Antiquity.
                  : Greek Ethical Thought.
                  : Roman Religion.
                  : Roman Art and Culture.
                  : Augustan Rome.
                  : Christianity and the Empire.

      Course Outcomes


        (topic must be relevant to Ancient Near Eastern Studies. The Ancient Near Eastern Studies coordinator's approval is required)
      HIST 334 : History of Ancient Iraq. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      HIST 334 : History of Ancient Iraq. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Winter Even Yrs.
      PREREQUISITE: HIST 328
      DESCRIPTION: Examining the social and economic aspects of the rise of cities, inter-regional trade, political exchange, and imperialism in ancient Mesopotamia using primary and secondary sources. Topics include agriculture in Babylon, cities in Mesopotamia, royal courts, Assyrian trade and markets, family and kin.

      Course Outcomes


      HONRS 232R : Global and Cultural Awareness in History. (3-6:ARR:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      HONRS 232R : Global and Cultural Awareness in History. (3-6:ARR:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:On Demand
      DESCRIPTION: Global issues in current and contemporary events.
      NOTE: Fulfills Global and Cultural Awareness GE requirement.

      Course Outcomes


        (topic must be relevant to Ancient Near Eastern Studies. The Ancient Near Eastern Studies coordinator's approval is required)
      NE LG 345 : Texts and Ancient Temples. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      NE LG 345 : Texts and Ancient Temples. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Winter
      DESCRIPTION: Major ancient Near Eastern texts dealing with the temple; analysis of primary elements of ancient temple type as a place of worship.

      Course Outcomes


      NE LG 511R : Studies in Ancient Near Eastern Languages. (.5-4:4:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      NE LG 511R : Studies in Ancient Near Eastern Languages. (.5-4:4:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter
      DESCRIPTION: Grammar and reading skills.

                  : Akkadian.
                  : Aramaic.
                  : Coptic.
                  : Egyptian.
                  : Syriac.
                  : Ugaritic.

      Course Outcomes


      REL A 304 : Writings of Isaiah. (2:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      REL A 304 : Writings of Isaiah. (2:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: Honors also.
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Spring On Demand; Summer On Demand
      DESCRIPTION: Teachings and prophecies of Isaiah in light of their historical context and relevance to latter-day people.

      Course Outcomes


      REL A 392R : Special Studies in Religion: Ancient Scripture. (.5-3:ARR:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      REL A 392R : Special Studies in Religion: Ancient Scripture. (.5-3:ARR:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      OFFERED: Honors also
      WHEN TAUGHT:On Demand
      DESCRIPTION: Topical studies in religion based on student interest and teacher expertise.

                  : Writings of John.
                  : Honors: Special Studies in Religion: Ancient Scripture.
                  : Honors: Writings of John.
                  : Special Topics in the Book of Mormon. (2:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)

      Course Outcomes


        (topic must be relevant to Ancient Near Eastern Studies. The Ancient Near Eastern Studies coordinator's approval is required)
      Any Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Greek, or Biblical Hebrew courses not used in item 2 above.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.