Christian Thought in the Humanities (BA) -Traditional

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 310 History and the Christian Imagination (3)
• History Electives – choose 5 courses for 15 additional credits
• HIS 201 – US History I
• HIS 202 – US History II
• HIS 203 – Ancient History
• 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 280 – World Wars
• HIS 301 – Arab-Israeli Conflict
• HIS 302 – American & French Revolutions: The Birth of the Modern Era
• HIS 303 – The American Civil War
• HIS 304 – American Religious History
• HIS 305 – Renaissance and Reformation
• HIS 480 – Dawn of the American Century: Progressivism and Pragmatism

This specialization provides a substantive preparation for students in the philosophical, theological, and theoretical foundations to political engagement and the political process. They study the philosophical foundations for understanding politics in the pursuit of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful; the theological bases for a Christian approach to faithful political engagement; and the examination of contemporary political approaches.

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

• POL 305 – Politics and the Christian Imagination (3)
• Political Science Elective (100/200) (3)
• Political Science Specialization Electives (15)

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 choose 6 courses from below for a total of 18 credits:

• LAN 202 Creative Writing
• LAN 204 Advanced Public Speaking
• LAN 235 Writing in Service to Others
• LAN 265 Professional Writing for the Helping Professions
• LAN 311 Writing for News Media
• LAN 316 Scriptwriting for Stage and Screen
• LAN 317 Grant Writing Essentials
• LAN 335 Freelance Writing
• 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 340 Literature and the Christian Imagination (3)
• Survey Elective: choose 2 courses for total of 6 credits
  • LIT 101 Poetry, Fiction, and Drama
  • LIT 202 World Literature
  • LIT 205 Contemporary American Literature
  • LIT 222 Nonfiction: Essays and Memoirs
  • LIT 229 The Short Story and Novella
  • LIT 230 Dramatic Literature
  • LIT 240 Literature for Children and Young Adults
• Upper-Level Elective: choose 3 courses for a total of 9 credits
  • LIT 305 Science Fiction
  • LIT 307 African American Women Writers
  • LIT 321 C. S. Lewis
  • LIT 325 American Literature before 1865
  • LIT 326 American Literature 326 to Present
  • LIT 327 Major British Writers
  • LIT 328 Shakespeare
  • LIT 330 Women Writers