ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES:
MASTER'S
MASTER OF ARTS IN BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
The Master of Arts in Biblical Languages is offered jointly
by the Department of Ancient Studies and the Department of
Old and New Testament. It is a two-year residential or non-residential
degree which includes course work and a thesis. Admission
requirements are a Bachelor's degree in a related field, which
must include at least four semesters in Greek or Hebrew (preferably
as a major).
Aims of programme
- to equip students with an advanced knowledge of Greek,
Hebrew or Aramaic (Biblical languages),
- to equip students with a sophisticated knowledge of and
insight into the factors that bear on the interpretation
and translation of the source texts of the Bible;
- to equip students with the ability to incorporate the
above in an accountable way in the critical use of existing
linguistic descriptions, interpretations and translations
of the source texts of the Bible, and
- to propose creative solutions for the description, interpretation
and translation of problematic constructions in the source
texts.
Audience
The audience of this program is primarily users of the Bible
who are involved with research, teaching, interpretation,
translation and/or publication of Biblical texts in professional
capacities. This includes teachers, lecturers in Biblical
languages or Old and New Testament or ancient cultures, translators
and translation consultants, specialists in Biblical information,
and also ministers, pastors, priests, rabbis and lecturers.
Entrance requirements and qualifications
Year One
The entrance requirement is a Bachelor's degree with Greek
or Hebrew as major. Students who offer another language or
related subject (e.g. Biblical Studies) as major, with Greek
or Hebrew on a second year level, can be admitted after supplementary
work.
Year Two
The entrance requirement is a pass mark for the first year
of the program. The qualification obtained is a Master's degree.
General structure and content
The programme extends over a minimum of two years. Four compulsory
modules are followed in the first year and two in the second
year. In the second year, one major research module may also
be followed instead of two modules.
Option 1
Year one: Module 1/1=25%, Module 1/2=12.5%, Module 1/3=6.25%,
Module 1/4=6.25%
Year two: Module 2/1=25%, Module 2/2=25%
Option 2
Year one: Module 1/1=25%, Module 1/2=12.5%, Module 1/3=6.25%,
Module 1/4=6.25%
Year two: Module 2=50%
YEAR ONE
Module 1/1: Advanced Study of a Biblical Language (25%)
The contents on this module include: the history of the language;
the history of the study of the language; analysis and description
of the language on the level of morphology, syntax, semantics,
textual linguistics, pragmatics and socio-linguistics; the
literary interpretation of texts in the language. (Although
a student will normally specialize in one language, someone
with the necessary undergraduate training may combine Hebrew
and Greek. Contact the Department for more details.)
Module 1/2: General linguistics (12.5%)
The aims of this module are to broaden students' knowledge
of the relevant grammatical phenomena in the different linguistic
domains and to introduce linguistics as the macro-science
in terms of which these phenomena are studied. In this module
students are required to read prescribed technical literature
and to complete short written assignments. These aim to develop
students' ability to handle a scientific point of view in
an academically accountable fashion and to enable them to
deliver work of the high standard required for the academic
world on an advanced level.
Module 1/3: Study of Culture (Methodology and Contents) (6.25%)
The contents of this module depends on the chosen language.
Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic students follow a module on the
cultural-historical background of the Old Testament. Greek
students follow a module on the cultural-historical background
of the New Testament.
Module 1/4: Biblical Exegesis (History, Theory and Practice)
(6.25%)
The contents of this module depend on the chosen language.
Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic students follow a module on the
exegesis of the Old Testament. Greek students follow a module
on the exegesis of the New Testament. The emphasis in both
modules is on the practical application of linguistic phenomena
in the exegesis of a text.
YEAR TWO
In the second year options are available. Students can choose
between two semester modules or a year module.
Two semester modules
(2x25=50%)
Students are introduced in a structured manner to the
methods and problematics of one of two fields of specialization;
either Bible translation or literature. |
First semester-module 2/1(25%)
In this module students have a choice between (1) Bible
translation and (2) literature:
1. Bible translation
Two sub-modules are followed in this module: Theory
of translation and Bible translation. 2. Literature
Two sub-modules are followed in this module: Old and/or
New Testament genres and study of literature. |
Second semester research module 2/2
(25%)
The student embarks upon a research project that contains
an empirical, conceptual and methodological inquiry
of limited scope in terms of a motivated theoretical
framework. The aim of this project is to show that a
problem in the chosen language can be identified and
that a solution for this problem can be proposed. The
results of this project is presented in a comprehensive
research assignment. |
One year module 2 (50%)
The student embarks upon a research project that contains
an empirical, conceptual and methodological inquiry
of limited scope in terms of a motivated theoretical
framework. The aim of this project is to show that a
linguistic, literary or textual problem in the chosen
language can be identified, that relevant technical
literature can be conveyed accurately and in a coherent
fashion, and that a solution for this problem can be
proposed. The project is designed by the student in
cooperation with a study leader. The results of this
project are presented in a thesis.
|
Contact Prof Christo van der Merwe for more details
E-mail:
Tel: 021-8083655
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