General provisions

The course is given as an independent course. The course can be counted to the minor subject Assyriology in a Bachelor's degree.

Entry requirements

Assyriology A and at least 22.5 credits from Assyriology B

Learning outcomes

The education intends to give specialisation and broadening of the ability to read and interpret Akkadian cuneiform texts.

Further to give a certain increased ability to read and interpret Sumerian cuneiform texts and/or an advanced knowledge of the older history and culture of the Near East.

On completion of the course, the student should to deserve the grade Pass at least be able to:

• master an extended selection of basic cuneiform sign from different periods (module 1-3);
• master a specialisation of Akkadian phonology, morphology, and syntax (module 1-3);
• transliterate, transcribe read, translate and analyse grammatically and content-wise cuneiform texts in Akkadian (Standard Babylonian, Old Babylonian and possibly other dialects) of some different genres (module 1-3);
• write a minor essay or a short academic paper (module 4) over an especially studied problem and thereby
• under supervision carry out a short study departing from a non-trivial problem within the subject area;
• under supervision find for the assignment relevant literature, and read and make correct reviews of relevant parts of this literature;
• present the results of this study in writing in an essay structured in accordance with the problem, the results and the supporting argumentation, written on a more or less grammatically correct prose;
• follow established formal conventions regarding structure and typography and in a correct way quote and refer to sources and write references and bibliography;
• present and discuss such a study for an audience of equal students orally;
• in modules where applicable, master a degree of specialisation of Sumerian phonology, morphology, and syntax and be able to transliterate, read, translate, and grammatically and content-wise analyse cuneiform texts in Sumerian of some different content-based types on an elementary level (module 1-3);
• in modules where applicable, account for principles of historical processes, archaeology, culture and/or religion in the ancient Near East, mainly in Mesopotamia (module 1-3);
• in module where applicable, master the essentials of another ancient language or another dialect and its phonology, morphology, and syntax and be able to read, translate and make an elementary grammatical and content-based analysis of simple texts in this language (module 1-3)

Content

The course consists of the following four modules:

Module 1 Standard Babylonian text (7.5 credits)

With regard to which courses are taught during the current semester the student in consultation with examiner may choose one of the following, previously not studied modules:

Standard Babylonian historical text I (=Assyriology B, module 1)

Standard Babylonian literary text I (=Assyriology B, module 1)

Standard Babylonian historical text II: Reading of 350 lines of historical text from Assyria

Standard Babylonian literary text II: Reading of 350 lines of Standard Babylonian literary or religious text

If three of these modules have already been completed, another of the alternatives under module 3 can be chosen as module 1.

Module 2 Old Babylonian text (7.5 credits)

With regard to which courses are taught during the current semester the student in consultation with examiner may choose one of the following, previously not studied modules:

Old Babylonian letters and documents I (=Assyriology B, module 3, alternative) or

Old Babylonian laws and historical text I (=Assyriology B, module 3, alternative)

If one of these modules has already been completed under Assyriology A, module 3, or Assyriology B, module 3 or 4, one of the alternatives under module 3 can be chosen as module 2.

Module 3

With regard to field of interest and with regard to which courses are taught during the current semester the student in consultation with examiner will choose one of the following optional courses that have not been studied previously.

Old Babylonian laws and historical text I (7.5 credits) (= module 2, alternative)

Old Babylonian laws and historical text II (7.5 credits)

Old Babylonian letters and documents I (7.5 credits) (= module 2, alternative)

Old Babylonian letters and documents II (7.5 credits)

Sumerian II (7.5 credits)

Standard Babylonian historical text II (7.5 credits) (= module 1, alternative)

Standard Babylonian historical text III (7.5 credits)

Standard Babylonian literary text II (7.5 credits) (= module 1, alternative)

Middle Babylonian letters and documents I (7.5 credits)

Ancient Near East: Archaeology and art (7.5 credits)

Ancient Near East: History (7.5 credits)

Ancient Near East: Religion (7.5 credits)

Other language or other dialect in the ancient Near East (7.5 credits)

For the optional courses see above module 1-2, including optional course or the separate introductory courses on the Ancient Near East, respectively.

Module 4 Specialised course (7.5 credits)

In consultation with examiner, the student chooses an advanced course with Akkadian or Sumerian text or within cultural history. In this course, a short essay or minor paper is normally included.

Instruction

The student's independent learning activities are of crucial importance for the work on the course. Participation in all the teaching is recommended. Good preparations for and active participation in each lecture is required when studying language and text.

Assessment

To receive the grade Pass with distinction on the whole course, it is required that this grade has been received on at least 22.5 credits.

The course has moments of examination in accordance with the following:

Subcourse 1: the subcourse has two moments of examination;

1. continuous oral and written tests;

2. written examination.

For the grade Pass (G), Pass is required in both moments. For the grade Pass with distinction (VG), Pass with distinction is required in moment 1, as well as at least +/- 5% in moment 2. A high degree of preparation for and active participation at every lecture is contributory to the grade in moment 1.

Subcourse 2: the subcourse has two moments of examination:

1. continuous oral and written tests;

2. written examination.

For the grade Pass (G), Pass is required in both moments. For the grade Pass with distinction (VG), Pass with distinction is required in moment 1, as well as at least Pass with distinction +/- 5% in moment 2. A high degree of preparation for and active participation at every lecture is contributory to the grade in moment 1.

Subcourse 3: The subcourse includes language moments and has two moments of examination:

1. continuous oral and written tests;

2. oral final examination.

For the grade Pass (G), Pass is required in both moments. For the grade Pass with distinction (VG), Pass with distinction is required in moment 1, as well as a result in moment 2 that, after an aggregate of expertise in both moments, is estimated to correspond to a higher grade. A high grade of preparation for and active participation at every lecture is contributory to the grade in moment 1.

Other course types are examined in accordance with the syllabus for the topical course.

Subcourse 4: An essay of 10-15 pages. Submission occurs at the end of the course, the exact date for submission is announced by the teacher at the start of the course.

The course examination consists of the venting and defence of the student's essay, as well as the opposition of another student's essay. The form of the latter may vary depending on the availability of topical essays. The essay is written in english or swedish. Venting is performed in english or swedish. After venting, the student will have agreed upon a period of time with an examiner (normally two-three weeks) to submit a final version of the independent work, in which comments submitted during the venting have been considered.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other regulations

The course may not be included in a higher education qualification as an independent course if equivalent parts have been studied within another course that is included in the higher education qualification.