Introduction
Bachelor of Arts in Humanities
THE VALUE OF A HUMANITIES DEGREE
The goal of the study of humanities is to provide an education that serves as a foundation for the rest of your life. No university, however great, can teach you everything you need to know for your future. But the value of the Bachelor of Arts in Humanities degree is that you learn how to organize ideas, develop the ability to develop new skills and increase your capacity to solve problems and seize opportunities.
We believe the integration of the classical disciplines provided by an SSU BA degree, combined with our Christian community and our study abroad programs provides an excellent atmosphere for students to receive an education. Students whose quest is spiritual and intellectual formation will learn to think through and articulate their ideas and values within a global perspective.
HUMANITIES MAJORS
Ancient History & Religious Studies
Courses in ancient history & religious studies explore the Ancient Near East and the Mediterranean in order to understand the Judeo-Christian tradition within its historical context as well as its contemporary relevance. This informed understanding will offer significant insight into other academic disciplines and the basis for meaningful dialog with other major religions.
History
Students of history seek to understand the lives of people in the past: their ideas, motives, values, customs, circumstances, institutions, actions, and artifacts in order to discover meaning, order, and purpose. Large topics in the history of Western Civilization over the past 2500 years are explored, as well as focused regional and national themes. Students are encouraged to confront essential human questions in the context of Christian and alternative paradigms and in light of the most relevant historiography.
English
The study of English introduces students to the classics of world literature as well as to lesser-known works from antiquity to the present. Students develop an appreciation of the verbal icon and learn skills in textual analysis that enable them to become proficient readers of literature. They develop their understanding of the philosophies that shape literary world-views, and of the relationship between these world-views and the Christian faith.
Philosophy
Philosophy probes major influences throughout the history of ideas and seeks understanding of the thought of the present day. Starting with the pre-Socratic thinkers, studies in philosophy trace the line of formative influences to the present in the Western tradition, and examine also the interaction between philosophy and the Christian faith.
