The Honors English and History Program aims to enable its students to:

• acquire a knowledge and understanding of the ways in which literature and language reflect social, cultural, and spiritual contexts and the process of redemptive biblical cultural change;

•  think critically about the relationship between historical and literary texts, with particular attention to the nature of evidence, styles of logical argument, and changing critical methodologies of the two disciplines;

• develop the skill of critical thinking, drawing on technical and critical skills in historical and literary investigation and exposition, and an increased sensitivity to the human and worldview issues at the heart of the analysis of literature and of the past;

• engage and enhance critical skills, imagination and creativity as an intrinsic part of an intense learning experience;

• acquire skills, which are transferable to a wide range of employment contexts and life experiences for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.

 
Honors Program Outcomes

 A. Knowledge and understanding of:

• past societies and historical processes over a considerable chronological and geographical range;

• the structure, levels, and discursive functions of the English language;

• how primary evidence is employed in historical argument and literary analysis;

• the development of English and History as academic disciplines, and the development of worldview interpretations; the role played by such conceptual frameworks and models in the investigation of past societies and their literatures, and the theoretical foundations of the disciplines.

• exercise critical judgment and undertake biblical analysis;

• argue persuasively, winsomely, and biblically;

• approach problems with creativity and imagination;

• develop the exercise of logical challenge to fallacious claims, utilizing the Word of God and reasonable refutation.

C. Practical skills: the ability to:

•  write well for a variety of audiences and in a variety of contexts;

• engage in oral discussion and argument with others, in a way that advances peace and the understanding of problems at issue, along with corresponding appropriate redemptive approaches and solutions;

• ensure, often working independently, that the fullest range of evidence and wisdom can be brought to bear on a problem;

• develop research skills to this end for the glory of God and advancement of His Kingdom.

D. Transferable skills: the ability to:

• find information, organize and deploy it;

• draw on such information, and with analytical intelligence and biblical wisdom, consider and solve complex problems, in ways that are imaginative, yet sensitive to the spiritual and physical needs of others;

• work well independently, with a strong sense of self-discipline, but with the ability to work constructively in cooperation with others;

• effectively structure and communicate ideas in a variety of written and speaking formats;

• plan and organize the use of time effectively.