female student holding instrument at excavation site.

m.a. archaeology and biblical studies

gain professional experience and develop core archaeological skills all while connecting your work to a spiritual foundation with lipscomb’s masters in archaeology and biblical studies program. prepare for a terminal degree that leads to a career as a biblical archaeologist, and acquire the necessary knowledge to practice bible archaeology in the field or to teach in a humanities-based discipline. this archaeology degree is rooted in:

core knowledge: develop understanding of concepts, terms and theories, and explore the disciplines of archaeology and biblical archaeology, specifically how these disciplines interface.
skill acquisition: learn in a real-world setting by participating in a field school overseas in the middle east. process and handle material culture in at least two lab courses.
career orientation: become a competitive and attractive candidate for a ph.d. program through primary research, membership in professional organizations and presentations at national and regional meetings of the profession.
lifelong learning: cultivate a plan and ethos for learning for life with an emphasis on adapting to the changing modern world.

complete more than 200 hours of internship work in field schools, museum studies or lab work along and participate in at least one excavation season. guided by leaders in the field, you will develop your ability to design and independently pursue a viable research project through your thesis work. with hands-on experience in and research capabilities, you will graduate as an active member of the scholarly archaeological guild.

what is biblical archaeology?

the 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 master's of archaeology program is based on the truth and research of the bible. students will work in conjunction with the hazelip school of theology to merge the ideals and intersections of archaeology and theology.

archaeology and biblical studies program outcomes

lipscomb’s master’s in archaeology and biblical studies prepares students to be contributing members to academic conversations in archaeology, history, theology and more. as a graduate, you will have had the opportunity to conduct primary research and present your work at scholarly conferences, such as american schools of oriental research, society of biblical literature, and southeastern commission for the study of religion among others.

upon completion of this bible archaeology program, students will have acquired these academic skills and experiences:

archaeological material studies
museum studies and lab work
development and presentation of primary research
integration of social science and biblical studies
knowledge of methods and theories in archaeology
spiritual development in a christian community

archaeological dig

language requirement

the study of languages is required for the master's of archaeology and biblical studies. prerequisites for the program require six units of either biblical hebrew or new testament greek. students are not required to have completed these languages upon acceptance into the program, but they are required to have taken these language requirements by the completion of their graduate program.

thesis work

lanier center for archaeology

students have full access to the resources of the lanier center for archaeology (lca), including the various research projects and museums that contribute to archaeological research on the campus of 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 . the lca is made up of faculty in the department of archaeology as well as other departments in the college of liberal arts & sciences and the hazelip school of theology. its main purpose is to support archaeological research and field projects in the ancient near east.

why earn your degree at lipscomb?

as a student in the archaeology program, you will have access to substantial resources, formative professional experiences and leaders in biblical archaeology. with excavation sites in israel, egypt, cyprus, and kazakhstan, you will be able to travel globally and learn in the field. you will study from six museum collections and two archives available through the lanier center. supported by our esteemed faculty, you will also have the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research and publish your work in established academic journals.

admissions requirements

ready to apply? let’s get started. we’re here to help at every step. applicants to the program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and submit the following for admission review and enrollment:

completed and submitted online application
cv detailing applicant's academic work, experience and scholarly achievement (publications, professional presentations, etc.) that has prepared the applicant to benefit from the program.
$50 non-refundable application fee
official college transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities (including graduate, if applicable)
two recommendations: at least one from a university professor and one from either a supervisor/employer or character reference (pastor, priest, mentor).
undergraduate gpa of at least 3.0
a research paper providing evidence of your academic work or 750-1000 word essay about your career, your interest in archaeology, and how you would use the skills and learnings from our program professionally or personally.
interview with faculty (on campus, virtually or by phone)

for transcripts, electronic copies can be emailed directly from your undergraduate institution to gradadmissions [at] lipscomb.edu (gradadmissions[at]lipscomb[dot]edu).

if you are having a hard copy mailed, have it sent to:
世界杯2022预选赛录像回放
graduate admissions
one university park drive
nashville, tn 37204

international students

courses

archaeology and biblical studies, m.a.

tuition & aid

program tuition is $950* per credit hour.

lipscomb also offers interest-free monthly payment plans depending on the length of each semester.

*note: graduate tuition rates may increase annually, effective at the start of the summer term.

types of aid

student loans

federal stafford loan

a borrower must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least six semester hours and must be working toward a degree or certificate. loans must be actively accepted in mylipscomb in order to be applied as an expected payment to the student bill. stafford loans will not pay until the student has completed both entrance counseling and the master promissory note at studentloans.gov. loans will not be credited to accounts until 30 days after classes begin or when a student begins the sixth credit hour, whichever comes last.

graduate plus loan

private loans

in addition to the federal loans outlined here, you may consider private loans made by banks and other financial institutions. it is recommended that private loans only be considered in instances where funding is needed in addition to any federal loans, as interest rates may be higher. eligibility for these loans requires a credit check, and students are often required to have a cosigner to qualify.

contact information

graduate and adult admissions, admin

evan richardson
director of graduate enrollment
(615) 966-5004
evan.richardson@lipscomb.edu

1,000+

total artifacts

program highlights

field and publication projects

our program creates opportunities for professional, hands-on experience. students are asked to excavate history in our four active field projects and develop personal research from two publication projects embedded in their coursework.

networking

both our deeply connected faculty and our experiential learning opportunities offer myriad ways for you to form relationships with leaders in the industry. these connections will serve and support you throughout your career.

ph.d. preparation

many individuals pursue a master of arts in archaeology and biblical studies with the goal of obtaining a ph.d. we have implemented a rigorous program to ensure that any student who graduates from our program is a competitive candidate for a doctoral program.

nashville, tn

a big city. an even bigger opportunity. we consider nashville, tennessee, an extension of our classroom, and as a leading city in many industries, that means you’ll gain experience and insight you won’t find anywhere else.

small class sizes

you’ll have opportunities to engage in meaningful discussion, receive one-on-one faculty mentorship and ask difficult questions in our small class sizes. plus, you’ll feel supported in a tight-knit learning community.

alumni and student stories

savanna henning - m.a. '22/current ph.d. student

"archaeology is one of the greatest adventures of the christian faith that you can ‘dig’ into. one trip to israel, where you are able to physically connect with the bible, and i'm sure your life will be changed, for the better. the community within this program is incredible, as well, and you will be taught by professors who are known and respected in their field."

andrew cahill - m.a. '22/current ph.d. student

"this program features an array of classes taught by our extremely knowledgeable professors covering all of the wide and varied aspects of the field. everything from historical geography to ceramics analysis is covered. this is a very nurturing community where the students help and look out for one another even beyond academia. i felt accepted by the community immediately upon joining the program."

scott huff - m.a. '22/current ph.d. student

"we cover the topics treated in the contemporary academic community. there is a serious focus here on contributing to the field in research and academic conference participation. we are also instructed by well-connected professors, each with decades of leadership and field experience."

average students per class

our faculty

steven ortiz

director, lanier center for archaeology

dr. steven ortiz is the director of the newly established lanier center for archaeology at 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 where he is also a professor of archaeology and biblical studies. he was...
meet steven ortiz
thomas davis

professor and associate director

dr. tom davis has forty years of experience as an archaeologist, working extensively in cyprus, the near east, egypt, central asia, and the united states. he started his archaeological career...
meet thomas davis
mark janzen

associate professor

dr. mark janzen is associate professor of archaeology and ancient history at 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 . he received his phd from the university of memphis (ancient history). his primary research interests are...
meet mark janzen

10:1

faculty to student ratio

career paths

archaeologists

as contributing members of the scholarly guild, archaeologists participate in excavation projects, work in museums and conduct research in the lab. many also teach archaeology or another humanities-based discipline.

postsecondary teachers

postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and technical subjects beyond the high school level. they may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.