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Course Descriptions

Semester Course Schedule Long-Term Program Dates Short-Term Program Dates Entrance Requirements Course Descriptions

GEO 617 Regional Explorations in the Historical Geography of the Land of the Bible - Credit Hours: 3

Semester normally offered: Fall

Course Description

An investigation of select regions of the land of ancient Israel based upon geographical, historical and archaeological research. The course is conducted as a seminar with significant student input. Open to second-year M.A. students.

Course Equivalencies

This course fills equivalencies in the following areas:  

  • Historical Geography
  • History
  • Bible

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

  • describe the work and contribution of significant scholars involved in the exploration and research of nineteenth and early twentieth century Palestine;
  • describe the nature of an ancient source in its historical and geographical context(s);
  • explain the methodology of regional exploration in the land of ancient Israel, including factors that define the nature and borders of a region and the interaction of one region with another;
  • synthesize textual, geographical, historical, archaeological and cultural data in order to develop a working understanding of any given region in the land of ancient Israel during the biblical period.

Field Study

Three days of interactive field studies to a region emphasized in the course (e.g. the Shephelah or the Jezreel Valley). Each site visited is handled by the student, seminar-fashion.