Biblical history degrees or degrees in related fields like theology or biblical studies often have courses in the culture of various biblical time periods. To understand the biblical texts, context and information, students need to understand the historical cultures of people living at the time. For example, students might study ancient Egypt or ancient Mesopotamian culture.
Courses that study the geography in the Bible are an important part of any biblical history study. Knowing a rough estimate of where biblical stories took place can allow accurate cultural studies of the time periods and the development of cultures from the time period. For example, students might study Middle Eastern geography both in biblical history context and in modern context so that students are able to understand the conditions of the area.
Archaeology courses often go hand in hand with biblical history as historians try to find proof of biblical stories through physical evidence. The archaeology courses are often part of masters or doctoral studies rather than undergraduate studies. Students learn about the archaeology of biblical lands, findings and might even participate as a student archaeologist depending on the school and programs available.
Biblical history degree options often include learning the languages of the Bible and the languages of cultures in the geographical area. Languages vary depending on the school and the area of study. Some students might study ancient Egyptian languages while others might study Greek or Roman and still others might focus on Middle Eastern languages. The study of biblical languages or the languages around the geographic area can make the study of other courses easier and allows reading ancient biblical works.