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MA Track in Religions in Antiquity

Home > Graduate : MA Track in Religions in Antiquity

The MA track within the graduate program in Classical and Near Eastern Studies offers a focus on religions in antiquity. The program is designed for students seeking advanced preparation in the languages, religious texts, and historical cultures of Classical and Biblical antiquity. As part of a vibrant graduate program in Greek and Latin literature, ancient philosophy, art history, archaeology, and ancient history, this track offers an exciting intellectual setting in which to undertake advanced studies in religion.

Students concentrate in one of four fields: Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East; Greek and Roman religions; Ancient Judaism; or New Testament and early Christianity.

The program includes four semesters of a primary ancient language (Greek, Hebrew, or Latin) at the graduate level, along with comparative, historical and literary study of the religious traditions of the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern world.

1. Admission requirements

Applicants should have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited US institution or its foreign equivalent in a relevant major (such as Classics, History, English, Hebrew, Philosophy, or Religious Studies), with experience in at least one ancient language (Greek, Hebrew, or Latin) sufficient to begin graduate-level reading courses in their first term.

2. Curriculum

Students follow a program that combines their chosen ancient language with advanced courses in the religions of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. Comparative analysis across the four areas of concentration is fundamental. Study of ancient literature, history, philosophy, art or archaeology offers variety and a breadth of knowledge. Further details about requirements are found in the CNES Graduate Student Handbook.

A. Requirements common to all MA students in CNES

  • Clas 5794: Introduction to Classical and Near Eastern Studies (1 credit).
  • Reading proficiency in a modern language (for this track, normally German).
  • Passing a proficiency exam in one ancient language (Greek, Hebrew, or Latin).
  • Final oral examination, based on submission of two “Plan B” research papers.

B. Additional requirements for the MA track in Religions in Antiquity

  • RelA 5700: Theory and Method in Religious Studies.
  • RelA 8310: Seminar in Ancient Religions.

Students complete eight additional courses chosen according to their needs and interests, with the following provisos:

  1. Distribution: students must take at least one course in three of these areas:
    • Hebrew Bible or Ancient Near East
    • Greek and Roman Religions
    • Ancient Judaism
    • New Testament and Early Christianity
  2. At least one class must be in the fields of art and/or archaeology.
  3. Four of the eight courses must involve substantial primary readings in a single ancient language (Greek, Hebrew, or Latin).

Sometimes one class can be used to meet more than one requirement; for example, the seminar RelA 8310 can also satisfy the appropriate area distribution requirement; a language class may meet both the language and distribution requirements.

Graduate courses that meet the area distribution requirements (B.1 above):

  • Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East
  • ANE 5001, 5002, 5003, 5501; 5502; 5503; 5701; RelA 5013; RelA 5960
  • Greek and Roman Religions
  • RelA 5071; RelA 5073; Grk 5360; Lat 5390
  • Ancient Judaism
  • ANE 5004; Heb 5111, 5112, 5131; RelA 5013
  • New Testament and Early Christianity
  • RelA 5072; RelA 5080; Grk 5121; Lat 5410

Sample of relevant graduate language courses beyond Classical Greek and Latin:

  • Akka 5011-12, Elementary Akkadian; 5300, Readings in Akkadian.
  • ANE 5713, Introduction to Ugaritic.
  • Copt 5001-2, Elementary Coptic; 5300, Readings in Coptic.
  • Grk 5121, Biblical and Patristic Greek; 5360, Greek Literature: Religious Texts.
  • Heb 4004-5, Basics of Biblical Hebrew; 4201-2, Readings in Biblical Hebrew; 5111-2,
  • Rabbinic Texts; 5131, Talmudic Texts; 5200: Book of the Bible.
  • Lat 5390, Religious Texts; 5410: Late Antiquity; 5420, Medieval Latin.
  • Skt 5001-2, Beginning Sanskrit; 5201-2, Intermediate Sanskrit; 5710, Topics.

Sample of relevant courses in art and archaeology:

  • Clas 5088-89, Archaeology in Biblical Lands; 5103, Hellenistic and Early Roman Art and Archaeology; 5108, Greek Architecture; 5112, Archaic and Classical Greek Art; 5172, House, Villa, Tomb; 5183, Art and the State; 5252, Early Christian Art in Context.

Related Information

Director of Graduate Studies
Nita Krevans
245 Nicholson Hall
216 Pillsbury Dr SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-625-8371
nkrevans@umn.edu

DGS Assistant
Kate Gallagher
245 Nicholson Hall
216 Pillsbury Dr SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-625-8371
kmg@umn.edu

Graduate Student Handbook (PDF)