Assyriology (MA)
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Assyriology (MA) Master Discover the world at Leiden University Part of Classics and Ancient Civilizations (MA) The master's in Assyriology, a specialisation of the Classics and Ancient Civilizations programme, at Leiden University provides you with a multidisciplinary study of the languages, literatures and cultures of ancient Mesopotamia and Anatolia. Apply now Why study Assyriology at Leiden University? The master in Assyriology is a one-year programme that gives you the opportunity to study with internationally acclaimed academics immersed in the latest research and engaged in actively expanding our knowledge of the field. Your teachers are not only experts in languages and cultures of the ancient Middle East, but also active researchers engaged in innovative projects that constantly build bridges between cutting-edge research and the courses in your programme. The programme offers basic and advanced language and script training in the three major languages that were written in cuneiform (Akkadian, Sumerian 1 and Hittite). We encourage all our students to work with original clay tablets, kept at the Netherlands Institute of the Near East in Leiden. Learn more about the study programme Tailor the programme to your interests You will be able to tailor your study programme to your personal interests by creating your own combination of courses from the Assyriology programme or from other programmes within the Faculties of Humanities and of Archaeology. Check the entry requirements Study at one of our partner universities We encourage all students to consider applying for a study visit abroad. As a student of Assyriology you can join research programmes at one of our partner universities – including SOAS, University College London, Heidelberg, Würzburg and Münster. You may also benefit from the collaboration of classicists from different Universities in the National Research School in Classics (OIKOS). Find out more about the career prospects It is also possible to study Assyriology within the two-year Master’s programme Classics and Ancient Civilisations (Research). Assyriology degree Assyriology at Leiden University is an accredited degree programme. After successful completion of this programme, you will receive a master’s degree in Classics and Ancient Civilizations and the title Master of Arts (MA). Why Leiden University 2 Leiden University provides ambitious students with the most recent and innovative areas of knowledge, and offers them the freedom to develop their own area of expertise. A top-ranked programme At Leiden University research and teaching are directly linked to each other and form an inspiring and intense study environment. Therefore, Leiden University's Faculty of Humanities consistently ranks in the top 30 Humanities faculties in the THE World University Rankings, and the Res(MA) Classics and Ancient Civilizations has been awarded the label Top Programme by the Dutch National Student Survey. An internationally recognised programme Leiden University’s Assyriology programme has gained international recognition with the success of projects like the Altbabylonische Briefe in Umschrift und Übersetzung series and continues to draw funding for large collaborative projects such as the Impact of Migration project, directed by Dr. Jan Gerrit Dercksen and the Persia and Babylonia project, directed by Prof. Caroline Waerzeggers. Benefit from our extensive network In the Assyriology programme you will study with Leiden's top scholars in the field, as well as benefit from experts in our extensive international network. You have the possibility of studying in Istanbul, as well as at the Netherlands Institute for the Near East (NINO). You also have the opportunity to study research programmes at other top universities outside the Netherlands during an exchange at one of our partner universities – including SOAS, University College London, Münster, and Heidelberg. Due to the selected cookie settings, we cannot show this video here. Watch the video on the original website or Accept cookies About the programme Classics and Ancient Civilizations covers one year and can be studied in four programmes, one of them is the Assyriology programme. When you 3 choose to study Assyriology, you will both be guided through the broadness of Assyriological sub-disciplines, as well as gradually led to develop your own specific research skills. The MA CAC Assyriology comprises 60 EC, spread over two semesters. Semester 1In the first semester you will select three courses from the electives on offer in the Assyriology programme focusing for example on language acquisition (Akkadian, Sumerian, Hittite) or advanced readings of cuneiform texts, their epigraphy and their historical and archeological context. Semester 2 In the second semester you will choose one course related to your research interests. Thesis You will conclude the MA in Assyriology by writing a thesis based on a research question or hypothesis of your own formulation. Your supervisor will be a member of our small but dedicated staff of active researchers. The programme offers a wide range of electives, including: The Sumerian language, and history and culture of the third millennium BC The Akkadian language, specifically Old and Middle Assyrian, Old Babylonian, Amarna Akkadian, Neo-Babylonian and Late Babylonian, and the society and culture of these periods The Hittite language and Anatolian history and culture Cuneiform epigraphy Mesopotamian religion Trade and economy Archives and libraries Cultural contacts History of Empire Historiography For a more detailed programme, see the Prospectus. 4 Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ. Latest Research Our programme is regularly updated to reflect contemporary academic debates and the very latest insights – many of them from research conducted by lecturers on the programme. External lecturers are regularly invited to teach on specialised topics, for example, at Forum Antiquum, the Ancient Worlds Network and the national research institute OIKOS. The academically rigorous design of the programme aims to develop your skills in reasoning and critical thinking, as well as advanced abilities in independently conducting high-quality scientific research. Caroline Waerzeggers Professor of Assyriology "When you visit us at Leiden University, there is a big chance that you will find the students and staff of Assyriology reading and working together in the NINO library. Even the most obscure publications in the field are on the shelves here. And, hidden away in our vault, there are three thousand clay tablets from all paleographic phases of the cuneiform script that we can use in our classes. The nearby museum of antiquities is another great place for hands-on education. Our staff covers a variety of languages and cultures, spanning 3000 years of history, from Sumer to Babylonia and from Assyria and Anatolia. And our students? They come from all over the world and share the same passion for ancient Mesopotamia!" Willemijn Waal Researcher and University Lecturer "Hittitology is a relatively small and young discipline. Though today much is known about the Hittites and their language, many open questions remain and new – at times revolutionary – discoveries are still being made. During class, students learn to critically study and analyze the available (textual) sources and to evaluate their reliability for reconstructing the history of the Hittite Empire." 5 Extra-curricular The Classics and Ancient Civilizations programme in Assyriology offers many extracurricular opportunities to enrich your study experience. Pleyte study association Pleyte is a study association of the BA in Ancient Near East Studies and the MA in Classics and Ancient Civilizations (specializations Assyriology, Egyptology and Hebrew and Aramaic Studies). Pleyte organizes both informative and social activities, such as monthly drinks with fellow students, film nights, lectures by teachers and students, ‘make your own cuneiform tablet’ workshops and much more. Pleyte is a great way to get to know your fellow students and teachers outside of the academic setting of classes or the library. Research activities MA students from the Classics and Ancient Civilizations (and research) programme can participate in research activities of the Ancient Worlds Network Leiden, which brings together staff and graduate students in the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies (LIAS) and the Leiden University Centre for the Study of Religion (LUCSoR) working on the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern world. Expertise covers a wide range of areas and disciplines, including the study of Ancient Arabia, Assyriology, Coptic Studies, Egyptology, Hebrew and Aramaic Studies, ancient Iranian Studies, Papyrology, linguistics, the study of religions, and the history of philosophy and science. For more information, please visit the Ancient Worlds Network. Other extracurricular opportunities International archaeological field school and excavation As a Classics and Ancient Civilizations (Research) student you will be invited to take part in an international archaeological field school and excavation on the Lake of Galilee co- organised by Leiden University. Dutch National Museum of Antiquities Many of our students have done internships at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities. The museum hosts exhibitions, conferences, and public events on the ancient world, including Mesopotamia and Egypt. 6 NINO