English & History
In the Department of English & History, we provide education opportunities in two related programs: English and Literature and History and Political Science.
About the Department
The mission of the Department of English and History is to provide educational opportunities in two related programs: 1) English and Literature and 2) History and Political Science.
The English and Literature program educates students in the fundamental concepts, knowledge, and skills relevant to the study of literature, creative writing, and professional writing within a Christian context. We seek to prepare students for employment in a broad range of professions and ministries, including but not limited to those directly related to our field. In addition, we seek to prepare students for the pursuit of advanced degrees in literature and writing, as well as other related fields such as law and library science.
The History and Political Science program shapes reflective human beings who possess both historical knowledge and the ability to read deeply, think historically and critically, and communicate well, qualities which equip them to provide God-honoring leadership in the home, church, community, and world. To do this, the program provides students with a broad-based, historically rooted education. Students gain knowledge from a variety of methodological approaches and cover a range of diverse time periods while learning about the history of the ancient world, modern Europe, the United States, and the non-Western world. Students are uniquely equipped in their understanding of the world of the Bible and the history of the Church. They also acquire skills in conducting research, writing well, and deploying critical argumentation and analysis in historical writing. This preparation equips students for whatever vocations they pursue, including but not limited to vocations in history, politics, social science teaching, law, international affairs, business, and ministry. The program offers courses in four areas—history, politics, economics, and geography.
Majors and Programs
The department offers three majors: 1) English, 2) History, and 3) Politics, History, and Economics. We encourage internship participation as well as off-campus study through the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.
I absolutely loved my time in the English department, and at UNW as a whole. The professors I had pushed me to engage widely, think critically, and interact with the world holding a sense of curiosity and wonder which has benefited me in everything I have done since. I think more practically speaking, I learned a lot about problem solving and connecting with people, both in my classes and through the leadership opportunities that I had while at school, and those things prepared me well for the environment I work in now. I am able to ask good questions when I come up against issues, think creatively about how that issue can be solved, and communicate effectively to other members of my team that are working on the same information, and that is so, so valuable.
The strong liberal arts education I received at Northwestern prepared me for the rigorous academic environment of graduate school at Oxford. The history program taught me valuable skills that I use every day, such as the ability to conduct research, process complex information, and communicate my findings in an effective way. Moreover, the integration of faith into the history program not only helped me to grow spiritually, but gave me context which has proven very helpful in the study of Christian societies such as the Byzantine Empire, which I now study.
Meet your Professors
Our faculty include historians, literary scholars, and published writers who want to help you grow in your faith and your love of history, politics, and the English language.
English & Literature
History & Related Fields
