UNISA Biblical Studies Course Module 2025-2026
Major combinations:
NQF Level 5: OTS1501, ECH1501
NQF Level 6: ECH2601; Any two of OTS2601, OTS2603 or OTS2604
NQF Level 7: ECH3703, ECH3704, ECH3705, OTS3701, OTS3704
For Honours in Biblical Studies: students should do the BA Honours in New Testament or Old Testament.
| Introduction to Early Christian Literature, Theology, History and Archaeology – ECH1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
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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 Ancient Israelite Literature – OTS1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
|
Co-requisite: CGM1501 |
| Purpose: To introduce students to the history and literature of ancient Israel; get a sense of the flow of ancient Israelite history; facilitate competence in the use of the literature in contemporary meaning making and interpret the Old Testament competently. |
| Text Interpretation, Theory and Method – ECH2601 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: ECH1501 & OTS1501 |
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| Purpose: To facilitate knowledge of theories of interpretation of New Testament and early Christian literature, as well as knowledge of the context relatedness of interpretation. Qualifying learners are able to use methods of interpretation and thus become competent social agents and interpreters of Christian resources. |
| The Bible, Creation and Ecology – OTS2601 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: ECH1501 & OTS1501 |
|
| Purpose: To introduce students to biblical creation narratives and creation theology and provide them with an elementary background to ecology. Certain implications of these fields of study are explored and these will enable students to critically participate in current debates on the relationship between science and faith and to contribute to discourses concerning ecological issues. |
| Life Orientation: Biblical Perspectives – OTS2603 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To assist students in gaining knowledge and honing skills that will enable them to use the Bible meaningfully in the process of life orientation. It is aimed at students’ personal lives, and at situations in schools in which they act as facilitators of the learning area called `Life Orientation’. |
| The Bible and the Eradication of Poverty – OTS2604 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to make a contribution to the eradication of poverty through a better understanding of people’s experiences of poverty in the present-day world and in ancient Israelite societies, as well as by studying various biblical perspectives on poverty. |
| The Bible and Human Development in Post-Colonial Africa – ECH3703 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To facilitate knowledge of how different ways of interpreting the Bible can be used to facilitate human development in post-colonial Africa. Students credited with this unit standard are able to integrate methods of Biblical interpretation and theories of people centred development. They are able to design practical models for development in Africa in which religious aspects are integrated. This learning is of interest to students engaged in development studies and activities involving social change. |
| Construction of Bodies, Gender and Sexuality in Early Christianity – ECH3704 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: Firstly to acquire knowledge on how the Graeco-Roman culture produced early Christian bodies and how early Christian experience, knowledge and bodies were interrelated. Secondly, students who complete this module can critically assess contemporary attitudes towards constructions of bodies. Furthermore, students will be able to understand and evaluate how bodies and religion interact in the formation of culture, and integrate this knowledge in historical studies concerned with the body, such as History, Classical Studies, Anthropology or Cultural Studies. This module complements approaches concerned with the health of the body, such as the Health Sciences and Psychology. Lastly, it provides a critical dimension to transformational approaches, such as Gender Studies, Philosophy and Ethics. |
| Early Christian Spirituality – ECH3705 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: This module is useful to people who have a desire to develop insight into the diversity of spiritualities in early Christianity. The purpose of the learning experience is to develop a historical consciousness, which is facilitated through an exposition of various modes of being spiritual. Qualifying learners are able to recognize and compare six modes of spirituality and critically evaluate contemporary spiritualities, and are able to engage in contemporary dialogue on spiritual diversity. |
| Politics, Power and Prophecy in Ancient Israel – OTS3701 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: 2 of OTS2601, OTS2602, OTS2603, OTS2604, ECH2601, ECH2602 & ECH2603 |
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| Purpose: To enable students to view the politics of ancient Israel holistically, and to gain an understanding of the role of the prophets in issues such as the use of power and social justice. This module will be useful to people who are interested in religion, politics, the Bible (in particular the Old Testament), spirituality and the church. |
| The Bible and Sexuality – OTS3704 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to understand current discourses about sexuality and sexual relationships and to compare these with discourses, experiences and practices which existed in ancient Israel; to interpret various Old Testament texts in order to gain an understanding of how the ancient Israelites viewed sexuality and how this influenced their discourses, relationships and practices. Qualified students can interpret selected Old Testament passages dealing with sexual practices and experiences and relate these to contemporary discussions about sexuality, sexual relationships and practices. |
