Christian Thought in the Humanities

A history specialization will provide students an opportunity to pursue the true, the good and the beautiful through the examination of human history.  History is the story of the human effort to create lasting significance and meaning in a world poisoned by death. In each eon of history, people have engaged the struggle to make things right, even if they did not know the Creator who alone is the author, sustainer and redeemer of all things. At LBC, students will examine the human pursuit of the eternal through cultural expressions, economic development, political institutions and philosophical investigations. In this way, since God created humanity in his image, students will stretch to see, know and love God who is the good, true and beautiful, and who alone can satisfy every heart and enlighten every mind.

Students choosing to earn a specialization in History will take the following courses:

• HIS 204 Modern World: World War I to the Present
• HIS 205 Greece, Rome and the Early Church
• HIS 210 Origins and Legacies of the 1960s
• HIS 301 Arab-Israeli Conflict
• HIS 305 Renaissance and Reformation
• HIS 310 History and the Christian Imagination

A writing-rhetoric specialization will provide students the opportunity to place writing at the center of their Christian thought and humanities major. Rhetoric is a disciplined art corresponding with a process of logical thought and the creation of purposeful oral, written and visual compositions to promote understanding in the context of human experiences and interactions. A writing-rhetoric concentration equips students to think logically and communicate effectively so they become more acute, attentive interpreters of the world around. Undergirded by a growing love for God, His Word and others, this concentration equips students to be reflective, articulate thinkers and proficient writers who actively participate in current academic, cultural and professional conversations.

Students choosing to earn a specialization in Rhetoric and Writing will take the following courses:

• LAN 202 Creative Writing
• LAN 204 Advanced Public Speaking (previously LAN 480)
• LAN 317 Grant Writing Essentials
• LAN 340 Business Writing
• LAN 342 Writing on Social Issues
• LAN 350 Writing for Publication

A literature specialization will provide students with avenues to explore the good, the true and the beautiful through an examination of human creative activity in the literary arts. Literature represents the written exploration of experience—human and divine—across the centuries and across cultures, and it has both a challenging and a binding force in human civilizations since its origins thousands of years ago. Students in the literature specialization will learn ways of recognizing the technique and craftsmanship of great literary writers across time and will have the opportunity to explore the ways in which literature has shaped culture, been shaped by culture and communicated goodness, truth and beauty in ways that transcend culture. The critical thinking and cultural analysis skills developed in this specialization are broadly applicable across disciplines, but they will be particularly relevant for students who desire to go on to graduate school or seminary, as well as those who may seek careers as cultural commentators or teachers in college or private Christian schools.

Students choosing to earn a specialization in Literature will take the following courses:

• LIT 202 World Literature
• LIT 240 Literature for Children and Young Adults
• LIT 305 Science Fiction
• LIT 327 Major British Writers
• LIT 328 Shakespeare
• LIT 340 Literature and the Christian Imagination