History of Ancient Mediterranean Civilizati (S2-PRK-HAMC)(in Polish: History of Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, stacjonarne, drugiego stopnia) | |
second cycle programme full-time, 2-year studies Language: English | Jump to: Opis ogólnyOn 1 October 2023, the Faculty of History of the University of Warsaw will launch a completely new programme History of Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations. It is a two-year M.A.-level programme distinguished by its interdisciplinarity. The core curriculum is based on history (70%), archaeology (20%) and studies on cultures and religions (10%). The obligatory canon of knowledge includes general education classes on the ancient world (e.g., Mesopotamian, Greek and Roman history, ancient literature and philosophy) and can be broadened as suits individual interests through additional modules on early Christianity and literature, ancient Judaism, women and gender history, the history of ancient slavery and marginalized groups, and the plurality of legal systems among other topics. The offer of tailor-made courses includes workshops to develop research competencies, such as reading groups and the intensive, practical training in a choice of ancient languages (e.g., Greek, Latin, Aramaic, Akkadian, Coptic or Hebrew) to enable students to read and interpret ancient sources in their original languages. Students will also choose from a wide variety of courses including epigraphy, papyrology, numismatics, ancient historiography, the interpretation of cuneiform texts, or specialized classes in source criticism or the editing of ancient texts. An additional module focuses on developing competences in digital humanities and academic writing. The diverse workshops in the module offers training in the use of digital tools for text processing, in particular tools for editing and and processing data used professionally by historians, papyrologists, epigraphers and numismatists. A distinctive feature of this programme is field training: not only practical geodata collection, but also an engrossing, Mediterranean tour funded by the Faculty. The small size of our courses fosters a collaborative educational environment and provides the opportunity for individual mentoring. All the above mentioned activities lead to the achievement of the primary objective of our programme: students’ proficiency in conducting high-quality research using a wide range of methods and tools. Our students will receive qualifications which will improve their profile in the demanding labour market. The central skills developed in our program–critical thinking, interrogating sources and searching out new perspectives–are desirable not only in the research sector, but also in education in its broadest sense. Graduates will also be equipped with unique qualifications for careers in the preservation of cultural heritage, museology, and the public sector, including central administration and careers in politics as well as in local administration. The skills inculcated in the programme will also prove applicable in the NGO sector, especially organizations focused on cultural heritage or cultural diversity. Our graduates may also aspire to careers in publishing, media & public relations, and diplomacy and international institutions. Skills such as database management and graphics processing will come in handy in today’s digital job market. Alumni will gain all necessary skills for professional research work including in digital techniques and operation of specialized software and equipment. They will be prepared for positions in prestigious international research projects and field missions that require these specialized skills in addition to factual knowledge of the era, and in applying for their own research grants. The studies conclude with a diploma in ancient history. |
Qualification awarded:
Access to further studies:
Learning outcomes
1. History of Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations:
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: the graduate knows and understands
in-depth history and specificity of research on antiquity (from the Late Bronze Age to Late Antiquity), methods and methodologies of history, archaeology and studies on culture and religion related to this era, including in particular methods of source criticism, historical inference and stages of research; in-depth knowledge of the history, culture and religion of the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean basin; typology of sources used in the study of the history of ancient civilizations; detailed specialist terminology in the field of research on the history, culture and religion of the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean basin; the role of various scientific disciplines (history, archaeology, cultural and religious sciences) and auxiliary fields (epigraphy, papyrology and numismatics) in the study of antiquity and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to the reconstruction of the history of ancient civilizations; the specialized terminology of these humanities, as well as the need to use them in scientific communication; the geography of the ancient world and material remains, allowing for the reconstruction of the history of ancient civilizations in the Mediterranean basin; instruments of the palaeographic and philological research, used in work with manuscripts, tablets and inscriptions produced by ancient civilizations in the Mediterranean basin; the cultural heritage of antiquity, important for the identity of modern civilizations and societies of the Mediterranean basin, as well as the possibilities of the ethical use of knowledge about antiquity in various forms of non-academic activity, especially for the purpose of initiating and coordinating activities of public interest and entrepreneurial activities using knowledge in the field of the ancient culture of the Mediterranean.
ethnic, cultural, ideological, political and other conditions of conducting research on antiquity and the changeability of these conditions in time and space, as well as the impact of these conditions on one’s own research attitude and the attitudes of other researchers; the concept of copyright and the principles of intellectual property protection in the researcher’s professional work.
Skills: the graduate is able to
independently seek, select, organize and critically evaluate sources and studies on a selected issue in their own research work; independently formulate complex research problems, select and modify research methods and tools to solve them, using specialized information and communication techniques; independently conduct criticism, analysis and interpretation of published and unpublished sources using the appropriate methodology and research instruments, including adapting available instruments to their own research needs; use an ancient Mediterranean language at a sufficient level to permit reading and interpreting sources; develop a digital edition of a written; source in accordance with accepted scholarly standards; construct complex written and oral scholarly statements, present them in accordance with the standards of the scholarly debate among various circles of recipients; popularize knowledge about ancient history and culture; integrate knowledge from various disciplines (history, archaeology, cultural and religious studies), auxiliary fields (epigraphy, papyrology and numismatics) and other humanities disciplines for their own cognitive purposes; follow the progress of research in their discipline, independently acquire knowledge and expand skills, develop interests, and support other people in this area; organize work in a team, cooperate with partners with different competences within the team and manage the work of the team in the process of carrying out tasks in the field of research on antiquity and the dissemination of knowledge; present their conclusions and opinions orally and in writing, as well as take part in discussions using specialist vocabulary for research on antiquity in English at least at the B2+ level or higher.
Social competences: the graduate is ready to
disseminate historical, archaeological and cultural knowledge on the heritage of antiquity among various audiences in order to raise awareness of the importance of this cultural heritage in modern societies and the need to protect it; take actions to protect historical, cultural and material heritage and inspire others to take actions to achieve this goal; recognize the importance of knowledge about antiquity in shaping the identity of contemporary local and religious communities in the Mediterranean and in ancient Mesopotamia; care for the ethos of the researcher of antiquity by respecting the standards of scientific work and ethical standards in research work, as well as take actions to ensure that others comply with these principles; for the possibility to use knowledge about the cultural heritage of antiquity in a socio-economic environment; critically assess their knowledge and use expert opinions in the case of problems whose solution is beyond their competence.
2. History of Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, MA programme (second-cycle studies), 4 semesters, 120 ECTS.
3. basic disciplines: 99 ECTS, practical classes 103 ECTS, elective classes: 82 ECTS