Why Study the Humanities at Maranatha?

Since its founding in 1968, Maranatha Baptist University has had a rich tradition of emphasizing the need for every student to have a strong foundation in the humanities.

What Are the Humanities?

In contrast to other disciplines such as math and science, the humanities are the disciplines in which we study the things that make us human—subjects like language, literature, philosophy, and history.

More specifically, the humanities explore where we have been (history, art, literature), where we are going (cultural, moral, and philosophical trends), and what we are (universal human nature).

Why Should You Consider Becoming a Humanities Major at Maranatha?

  1. The humanities major allows you to explore what it means to be a human being made in the image of God.

Our postmodern society sees human beings basically as biological machines produced by random chance. This secularist view has affected areas like education, healthcare, business, and politics, making them difficult and dangerous territory for Christians to navigate without a strong humanities foundation.

At Maranatha, we believe that the secularist view of humankind is wrong. You are not a machine, but a human being. You are made in the image of God. And as a human being, you have inherent dignity and worth.

At Maranatha, we explore how a Biblical view of humankind works itself out in fields such as healthcare, education, and business.

And in your humanities courses, you will explore other aspects of our humanity such as . . .

  • creativity and imagination
  • emotion and a sense of beauty
  • the ability to use language
  • our longing for meaning in life
  • what it means to live in a community
  • the role of stories in nations, communities, and institutions

As we explore these aspects of our God-given humanity, we develop a sense of humaneness that impacts everything we do. We learn to see our neighbor as a unique creation who bears the image of God.

This affects the way we do business, the way we see healthcare, the way we teach in schools, and the way we do everything we do.

You won’t get this perspective at a public college. 

  1. The humanities major will help you understand and engage with your culture.

Culture changes with time. The values that were prominent in our culture just ten years ago are different from the values society holds today. And in ten more years, culture will be very different from what it is today.

Because of the increasing speed of cultural change, you need a deep understanding of the past. And studying the humanities will help you gain that sense of the history of ideas.

As you develop a sense of history, you will understand the present better, and you’ll become more effective as salt and light in a godless culture where only now matters.

As a humanities student, you’ll explore not just the “what” of culture, but also the “why.” You’ll explore difficult ethical questions. You’ll discuss how people make sense out of life using stories. You’ll become a deeper thinker and a more articulate writer. And you’ll become equipped to impact this culture with truth.

  1. The humanities major will prepare you for graduate school.

Our graduates are consistently accepted into graduate programs because Maranatha’s humanities program thoroughly prepares its graduates for graduate school. Our alumni can think critically, they can do scholarly research, and they can communicate in both writing and in speech.

As a humanities major, you’ll have the opportunity to take a senior-level capstone course where you will choose a topic that you’re interested in. Then you’ll research that topic in depth and present your findings in a scholarly forum. Our graduates consistently say that this capstone experience has changed their life.

  1. The humanities major will help you gain the skills that top employers are looking for.

Surveys of top companies show that employers want to hire college graduates with these qualities:

  • The ability to think critically
  • The ability to communicate clearly in writing and in speech
  • The ability to adapt to a changing world
  • A strong sense of ethical responsibility

Overall Benefit of the Humanities Major

The Maranatha humanities program is specifically designed to help you gain these job skills, to prepare you for grad school, and to help you become a lifelong learner who impacts your culture for Christ. The internship and capstone opportunities of this major are fantastic, and allow you to develop a strong resume. The major can help you build your network and prepare you for an exciting career. And most of all, the humanities major can help you become more useful to Christ—for a lifetime.

 

Mr. Nathan Huffstutler teaches literature and writing courses in Maranatha’s Department of Humanities. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he has written essays, book reviews, and poetry for various journals and websites. He lives in Watertown with his wife, April, and their three daughters.