UNISA Biblical Archaeology Course Module 2025-2026
Major Combinations:
Level 5 OTS1502, ECH1501
Level 6 OTS2602, ECH2602, ECH2603
Level 7 OTS3702, OTS3703, OTS3705, ECH3701, ECH3702
Honours:
Focus on Old Testament period:
HPHBA81, HRHBA85, HBA4802, HBA4803, HBA4804, HBA4806 and or CHS4801.
Focus on New Testament period:
HPECH81, HRECH86, ECH4802, ECH4803, ECH4804, ECH4805 and or CHS4801
| Understanding the Old Testament through Archaeology – OTS3705 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to relate archaeological and historical geographical information to the Old Testament. This module will be useful to people who are interested in the historical background of the Bible. |
| Biblical Archaeology of the Late Bronze Age, Iron Age and the Babylonian and Persian Periods – HBA4802 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the archaeological periods relevant to Old Testament history up to and including the Hellenistic period. The fact that these periods cover some of the most problematic eras in Biblical history, like the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelite settlement, the Early Monarchy and the period of the Philistines, the aim of the module is to make an in depth investigation of these periods from an archaeological perspective. The period covered stretches from approximately 1500 BCE to 200 BCE. |
| Applied Biblical Archaeology – HBA4803 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To equip students with skills to apply the knowledge they gathered from Biblical Archaeology critically to popular literature, film and video productions, art works, stage performances, sermons, etc. based on biblical history and culture. The module further aims to sensitize students to become aware of how the modern media, film industry, journalists, artists, and clergy sometimes abuse and distort the history and cultural practices from the biblical period to serve their own agendas. Finally, the aim is to allow students to discover that knowledge gained from Biblical Archaeology is applicable and still valuable today. |
| Biblical Archaeology and Every Day Life in the Biblical World – HBA4804 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To introduce students to everyday-life in Biblical times as informed by Biblical Archaeology. It is an attempt to present a picture of Israelite life experienced by ordinary families during the Iron Age, stretching from about 1250 to 586 BC. It aims to kindle students imagination and deepen their understanding of the chronological and cultural gaps that separate the world of the Bible from the present-day world we live in and the life style we are accustomed to. Awareness of this gap serves as a precautionary measure against reading the Bible in a literalist way as if it speaks a universal language for all times. Everyday life as informed by Biblical Archaeology in this context refers to archaeological finds that shed light on ancient Israel; living conditions regarding town life, home life, country life, industrial and military life, and civil and professional life. Pictorial images (iconography), created by means of seals and scarabs, as well as art objects like stone reliefs and monuments are most effective tools to assist our understanding of the general living conditions of ancient cultures. |
| An Orientation to Biblical Archaeology – HBA4806 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To introduce those students who have not majored in Biblical Archaeology to the archaeology and cultural-historical background of the Old and New Testament worlds. Furthermore, students are presented with archaeological terminologies, dating systems, excavation techniques and a variety interpretations of archaeological data needed for an in depth study of Biblical Archaeology. |
| Research Proposal in Biblical Archaeology – HPHBA81 |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To expose students to research done in the field of Biblical Archaeology since the end of the nineteenth century. Students will be introduced to various approaches to the interpretations of archaeological data, its relation to the text of the Hebrew Bible and the relevance thereof for post-modern Biblical research. Students will further (1) investigate different research methodologies (2) develop their own research methodology (3) design techniques to identify viable research topics for investigation and (4) improve their ability to do independent research in the field of Biblical Archaeology. The module further aims to enable students to understand the different ‘schools’ of scholars doing research in Biblical Archaeology and to adjudicate them critically. |
| Research Report in Biblical Archaeology – HRHBA85 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 36 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To assist and guide students to: 1. formulate a workable research proposal for a small research report related to the themes of the three honours modules (content modules) they completed; 2. design a structure for the research essay, which will focus on a clearly demarcated scope, appropriate methodology and literary review; 3. present, under the guidance of a supervisor, a written research essay that will prepare the student fully to embark with confidence on further research reports in this field. |
| Introduction to Early Christian Literature, Theology, History and Archaeology – ECH1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
|
Co-requisite: CGM1501 |
| Purpose: To introduce students to the scientific study of early Christian documents; to facilitate competence in the use of early Christian literature in contemporary meaning making and identity formation; and to facilitate knowledge of the context for the origins of Christianity, and the early history of Christianity up to and including the second century C.E. Qualifying learners are able to describe and explain the contents, composition history, and message of the corpus of early Christian literature as well as interpret the Bible competently. |
| Introduction to Biblical Archaeology – OTS1502 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to understand the history of the subject of Biblical Archaeology; understand and use the basic excavation techniques; know the geography of Palestine and a selection of major discoveries made in the biblical world. |
| Daily Life in Early Christianity – ECH2602 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to describe and demonstrate understanding of daily life in New Testament times. Students who have completed this module will be able to better read, understand and interpret the documents produced in this era. |
| Illness, Health and Healing in the Early Christian World – ECH2603 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to describe, compare and evaluate faith healing, exorcisms and other folk healings in early Christian communities. They will gain an understanding of illness, health and healing in the New Testament and early Christian documents as well as the role of health care systems in society. Students credited with this module will be able to analyse the role of a variety of health care practices in the formation and maintenance of religious communities in particular and society in general. |
| From Dan to Beersheba: an Archaeological Tour through Ancient Israel – OTS2602 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To gain knowledge of the occupation history, excavation history, and Bible-related history of eight well-known biblical cities. |
| Death, Tombs and Burials in the Early Christian World – ECH3701 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To facilitate knowledge about the archaeological and textual evidence regarding tombs, death and afterlife beliefs in the New Testament and early Christianity and to critically reflect on mourning and burial practices. Students will be able to compare, describe and evaluate these beliefs and practices in historical and cross-cultural instances as well as in contemporary communities where early Christian documents function as master narratives and identity creating symbol systems. |
| Religion, Worship and Prayer in the Early Christian World – ECH3702 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To facilitate understanding the religious landscape of the early Christian world, and how religious practices contribute to community formation and identity construction. Students will be able to describe, compare and evaluate the role of magic, sacred places and holy persons in the documents and artifacts of early Christianity as well as in contemporary Christian communities. |
| Excavating a Biblical City – OTS3702 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to understand how archaeological excavations create knowledge of ancient societies. They will be able to read and interpret archaeological reports on the excavations of a specific city from the Old Testament world. Moreover, they will be able to interpret various archaeological finds in terms of the historical period (e.g. the Middle or Late Bronze Age, phases of the Iron Age, the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman Periods) in which it was manufactured or from which it originated. |
| The Bible and African Cultures – OTS3703 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable learners to explore an intercultural interpretation of the Bible by discovering parallels between the cultural world of the Bible and African and Western manners and customs. |
