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Near Eastern Archaeology in the Bachelor's Program

Archaeology of the Near East can be studied as a profile area in the mono-bachelor's programme or as a 30 LP module in the combined bachelor's programme.

This Online Subject Selection Assistant (OSA) (in German) will give you a comprehensive insight into the Bachelor's programme in Archaeology at the Department of History and Cultural Studies of Freie Universität Berlin.

Table of Contents

  1. Mono-Bachelor in Near Eastern Arcgaeology
  2. Modules offered in the combined Bachelor's programme: Archaeology of the Near East
  3. Advice and support during your studies
  4. After the programme

Mono-Bachelor in Near Eastern Archaeology

The Bachelor's programme offers a broad basic education in the five disciplines of Egyptology, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Classical Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology and Near Eastern Archaeology. By linking the courses of the participating subjects in the integrative area of the Bachelor's programme, interdisciplinarity is promoted, which is important in research and teaching as well as in professional practice outside the university.

Near Eastern Archaeology is dedicated to the archaeology of the ancient Near East. Geographically, it extends from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Turkey and the Arabian Peninsula. Temporally, it covers the period from the beginnings of human settlement to the Islamic conquest, some 10,000 years in all. This vast area of research is known as the Ancient Near East. It examines the remains of the material culture of the Ancient Near East as historical sources and processes them in such a way that statements can also be made about the economic, social, political, religious, cultural, intellectual and art-historical aspects of the ancient cultures.

Students are introduced to the archaeological-hermeneutical methods of Near Eastern archaeology. In the course of their studies and practical training in archaeological fieldwork, students of Near Eastern Archaeology acquire an understanding of methods and theories as well as a basic knowledge of the geography, history, sites and monuments of the ancient Near East. The programme is interdisciplinary, with many links to other disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

The programme comprises the integrative area, which is independent of the chosen profile area, the profile area, the affine areas and the ABV (General Vocational Preparation) study area.

At the end of the programme, students deepen and differentiate their knowledge in a chosen area of study by working independently on a problem of their choice (Bachelor's thesis).

Modules offered in the combined bachelor's programme: Near Eastern Archaeology

As a 30 LP module programme, Near Eastern Archaeology is combined with a suitable 120 LP core subject or a 90 LP core subject and a further 30 LP module programme.

Students are introduced to the archaeological-hermeneutical methods of Near Eastern Archaeology. Over the course of the programme, students will acquire an understanding of methods and theories as well as a basic knowledge of the geography, history, archaeological sites and monuments of the ancient Near East. The programme is interdisciplinary, with many links to other disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

Advice and support during your studies

At the beginning of your studies, student mentors provide guidance and support as part of the Mentoring Programme. As you progress through your studies, mentors are available to help you with issues such as organising your studies and writing term papers or bachelor theses.

Students can also make use of individual course counselling at the institute at any time. Central advisory services at the Freie Universität Berlin are Student Service Centre (SSC) Central Study Counselling Office Psychological Counselling Office.

Central advisory services at the Free University of Berlin are:

After the programme

Bachelor's graduates have academic knowledge and practical skills that qualify them for employment or further study. Archaeologists work mainly in research and teaching at universities. Depending on their field of specialisation, they carry out testing, evaluation and creative activities based on archaeological and cultural-historical content. There are also career prospects in areas such as heritage conservation, museums and research institutions (sometimes requiring a Master's degree and/or PhD), and in non-specific professional fields such as adult education, journalism, tourism, cultural and science management, or publishing.
As not all graduates find a place in the more narrowly specialised labour market, the acquisition of additional qualifications, such as those already taught in the General Professional Skills (GPS) programme, as well as early orientation with regard to broader employment opportunities and personal application strategy are of great importance for a successful career start.

A Master's degree and, where applicable, a PhD are required for management positions and for research and teaching positions.General Professional Skills (GPS) Information on the transition from Bachelor to Master: