Department of Arts & Sciences
The Arts and Sciences department delivers the core courses for LBC undergraduate students so that they meet accreditation standards set for graduation with Associates’ and Bachelors’ degrees. More than that, the A&S department creates academic space for students to connect their biblical training with their degree fields so that they learn how to integrate the Bible into the way they think, live, and act. It delivers arts courses designed to cultivate in students a desire for the good, true, and beautiful, as revealed in Christ. It delivers science courses to broaden students’ understanding of nature, humanity, and God. At a bible college, the A&S department puts the “world” in students’ biblical worldview.
Department Mission
The Arts and Sciences Department serves the LBC community by teaching courses in the traditional liberal arts disciplines so students will attain the wisdom to see that Christ is the way the truth and the life, and upon the knowledge of him build a Christian philosophy of life. Department faculty teach students not only a wide range of subjects but also the time-tested patterns of human thought which belong to the traditional arts and science disciplines. These academic disciplines provide students a holistic way of thinking so that they develop a healthy curiosity, the ability to discern truth, and the desire to seek God. Students who complete the Arts and Sciences curriculum will develop a robust Biblical worldview so that they grow into humble yet capable leaders who faithfully serve God in the church and society. In addition, students will, through the study of creation and human cultures, cultivate in themselves an appreciation for diverse expressions of beauty and for the value of knowledge so that they will more intentionally pursue a deeper love for God and their neighbors.
Department Vision
Arts: Human beings experience the world in the effort to find meaning in themselves and their natural and cultural contexts. The arts explore the intricacies of human experiences--self, society, nature, ideas, human creation, and culture. Knowing God, knowing oneself, and knowing others leads to thoughtful scholarship and fulfilled lives characterized by wisdom, worship, and love.
- 1.The arts cultivate a posture of curiosity, deepening a desire for the true, good, and beautiful.
- 2.The arts equip students to be professionally versatile, preparing them for holistic servant leadership and creative collaboration, while providing the tools to express themselves through polished oral and written communication.
Math and Sciences: The natural sciences and mathematics reveal truth concerning the created universe and systems of knowledge. They are unique paths of discovery that broaden our understanding of God and man in order to further the gospel and engage with cultural conversations. These disciplines empower students to be critical consumers of scientific information, practical problem-solvers through logical scientific and mathematical inquiry methods, and inspired stewards of God-given resources and themselves.
- 1.Evaluate and construct logical arguments, in order to develop awareness of the assumptions and implications that exist in any system of knowledge.
- 2.Synthesize mathematical and scriptural truths evident in the observed structure of the universe, the abstract structure of mathematical systems, and biblical descriptions of God’s nature and man’s purpose.
Department Outcomes
Students will:
1. Develop rhetorical skills that reflect God's redemptive purposes.
2. Research and synthesize qualitative and quantitative information, primary and secondary sources, and cultural artifacts that are necessary to inform logical reasoning
3. Evaluate diverse cultural contributions to art, music, literature, and the sciences in light of a biblical worldview.
4. Trace how the Arts and Sciences have shaped and continue to influence human thought and behavior.
5. Cultivate principles for a life of creativity, cultural engagements, and biblical decision making in order to be a redemptive presence in the world.
Department Chair
Daniel R. Spanjer, Ph.D
Daniel Spanjer graduated from Nyack College with a BA in History and from Reformed Theological Seminary (Orlando) with an MA Theology, and a Ph.D. from the University at Albany in 2016. He has been teaching history at LBC since 2008 and been the chair of the Arts and Sciences Department since 2017. He also serves the college as the director of the Alcuin Society, a scholarly organization which serves campus faculty. Dan serves as an elder at Wheatland Presbyterian Church and as a member of the Board of Governors for Veritas Academy. Most importantly, he is married to Tara Spanjer with whom he has three wonderful daughters: Meghan, Emily, and Katelyn.