Ancient Cultures (M.A.)

Features

The Master's programme "Ancient Cultures" is supported by the Centrum Orbis Orientalis et Occidentalis (CORO). Thus, the programme combines the important pillars of subjectspecific training and interdisciplinarity within Classical Studies. Both are of decisive value for a professional qualification. In Göttingen, you can study the Master's degree "Ancient Cultures" with various specialisation subjects.

Name:: Ancient Cultures
Degree:: Master of Arts (M.A.)
Options:: Full-time studies or Part-time studies
Standard period of study:: 4 semesters
Start of studies:: Summer and winter semester
Teaching language:: German
Admission:: open

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Programme description

The M.A. Ancient Cultures is a consecutive degree programme that is divided into different study specialisations, one of which must be chosen. Building on relevant Bachelor's degree programmes, in-depth linguistic, artistic, cultural-scientific and historical knowledge of the ancient civilisations of the Mediterranean region and of early Christianity is taught.

Research and study focus in Göttingen

The specialisation "Ancient History" offers the opportunity to grasp the political and historical developments of the states of the ancient world from the advanced civilisations of the 3rd millennium BC to the post-Christian period in their variety and diversity, to get to know and explore their culture, their social structures, their monuments and lifeworlds and finally, to acquire the corresponding methodological approaches.

The specialisation "Egyptology and Coptic Studies" as well as the individual specialisations "Egyptology" and "Coptic Studies" offer the opportunity to explore the culture and society of Egypt and Sudan and to acquire the corresponding methodological approaches and the most important language skills. In the specialisation Egyptology, all cultural forms of expression are taught from the prehistory of the Nile Valley and the eastern Mediterranean region to the Roman imperial period with Egypt as an imperial province, and in the specialisation "Coptology" from the early Christian period through late antiquity and the Middle Ages to modern times.

The specialisation "Christian Cultures of the Middle East" offers the opportunity to grasp the religious and historical developments of the Christian cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean region and the Middle East in their diversity and variety, to get to know and research their culture, their social structures, their monuments and lifeworlds and, finally, to acquire the corresponding methodological approaches.

Occupational fields

Degree-holders will be qualified for work in academic teaching and research as well as in the educational field and in the cultural sector. Areas of work therefore include academic institutions, institutions of further education, museums, publishing houses and newspapers, as qualified travel guides etc.

Related and consecutive/graduate programmes

Related programmes

Features

Structure

This degree programme can be studied in 3 different profiles.

Single Honours MA totalling 78 credits (mono-master)
Joint Honours MA totalling 42 credits in combination with one module package (minor) totalling 36 credits
Joint Honours MA totalling 42 credits in combination with two module packages (minors) totalling 18 credits each

You can apply for one study profile with one study focus.

Previous education

B.A.-Degree or equivalent
At least 150 ECTS at the time of application
Eligibility: Either
- achievements in history amounting to at least 60 credits, including achievements in ancient history amounting to at least 20 credits, or
- achievements in Ancient Studies / Ancient Cultures amounting to at least 75 credits, including achievements in the field of Greek history and Roman history amounting to at least 6 credits each, but totalling at least 20 credits, or
- achievements in Egyptology, Coptology, Classical Philology, Papyrology, Classical Archaeology, Christian Archaeology, Prehistory and Early History, Ancient Oriental Studies, Cuneiform Studies, Near Eastern Archaeology, Ancient History, Medieval and Modern History, Byzantine Studies, Protestant Theology, Catholic Theology, Jewish Studies, African Studies, Arabic Studies, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Classical Studies, Gender Studies, Art History, Comparative Literature, Linguistics, Ancient Studies/Antique Cultures, Anthropology, Ethnology, European Ethnology/Folklore or Religious Studies totalling at least 50 credits, or
- achievements in the field of Coptology, Christian Archaeology or Theology amounting to at least 60 credits or
- at least 75 credits in Ancient Studies/Antique Cultures, including at least 6 credits each in Coptic Studies, Christian Archaeology and Theology, but at least 20 credits in total.

Language requirements

If your native language is not German, you must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the German language at level C1.
Applicants who provide evidence of a subject-relevant previous studies of "Ancient History" must provide evidence of knowledge of Latin to the extent of the Latinum. The proof must be provided by the end of the second semester; the enrolment is conditional until the proof of performance is provided.
Applicants who provide evidence of relevant previous studies in Egyptology and/or Coptology must provide evidence of language proficiency in Middle Egyptian or Sahidic to the extent of at least 12 C or language proficiency in Middle Egyptian to the extent of at least 12 C or language proficiency in Sahidic to the extent of at least 12 C. The evidence must be provided by the end of the second semester. The proof must be provided by the end of the second semester; enrolment is conditional until the proof of performance is provided.
The prerequisite for admission to the Master's thesis with the chosen specialisation "Ancient History" as well as "Christian Cultures of the Middle East" is also proof of sufficient knowledge of Ancient Greek (basic knowledge of at least 4 C or equivalent proof) if the topic of the Master's thesis relates to the Greek language area.

Recommended language skills

In the specialisation "Ancient History", basic knowledge of Ancient Greek as well as English and another modern European foreign language is strongly recommended.
In the specialisations "Egyptology and Coptology", "Egyptology" and "Coptology", knowledge of relevant modern specialist languages such as English and French as well as - in the case of Coptological profiling - basic knowledge of Ancient Greek is recommended.
In the specialisation "Christian Cultures of the Middle East", knowledge of the most important modern languages (such as English, French as well as Italian, Spanish, Modern Greek, Turkish and/or Arabic) as well as e.g. Coptic, Syriac, Aramaic, Amharic, Hebrew, Farsi, Ge'ez, Latin and Ancient Greek is recommended.