Academic Programs

In this program, students will learn about the intellectual and social origins of Africana studies as a discipline and its major objectives, concepts, theories, subject/content areas, perspectives, and concerns. In addition, AWS majors can expect to learn about the African, African American, and Caribbean history, literature and culture in a variety of classes offered within the Africana-world studies program. The major may be combined with teaching certification in elementary education (Early Childhood P-3 and/or Elementary K-6).

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

In this program, students will learn about the intellectual and social origins of Africana studies as a discipline and its major objectives, concepts, theories, subject/content areas, perspectives, and concerns. In addition, AWS minors can expect to learn about the African, African American, and Caribbean history, literature and culture in a variety of classes offered within the Africana-world studies program.

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

The American Studies Minor is an 18-credit inter-disciplinary program that combines United States history, politics, literature, and culture.

The Department of History prepares students for future roles as global citizens and for various career opportunities as educators, researchers, legal professionals, public servants, curators, and media and business professionals, to name a few.

In this program, students will be provided a comprehensive understanding of human nature and humankind. The program takes the broadest view of what it means to be human, integrating the study of biology and culture, history and cross-cultural comparison, system and conjuncture. With its global perspective and holistic approach, anthropology not only provides a solid liberal arts education, but prepares students for a wide range of jobs and careers. A major in anthropology allows students to develop a special awareness of the complexity of human nature, culture and cultural differences, and equips them with a variety of methods to address basic human processes and problems.

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

The interdisciplinary nature of anthropology makes it an ideal minor for students in other programs who seek an appreciation of different cultural perspectives in this age of global trade and economics.

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

This concentration prepares students for employment in a wide variety of professional fields while providing them opportunities to effect positive changes in their community. In their junior year, students will have access to a wide range of internship opportunities that can help them forge valuable connections to employers. Applied sociology allows students to do good by doing well.

The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice prepares students for careers in social work and social services, community relations, policy analysis, government, law enforcement, community corrections, prison and jail programs, juvenile corrections and youth services, court operations, victim advocacy, private security, legal professions, and many more.

Within the BA, majors are offered in art history and studio art. Certification for teaching is also offered. Both our BA and BFA degrees are planned to enhance visual perception, cultivate independent thinking, and prepare students for a variety of careers that require a keenly developed sensitivity in the visual arts.

The Department of Art will prepare you for careers in a variety of exciting creative fields, including animation and game design; advertising and graphic and web design; photography, film, and video; certified art education; fine artistry and arts advocacy in galleries and museums; and textile and wallpaper design.

A minor in Asian studies supplements an undergraduate education with an understanding of Asian languages, cultures, and literature. This multidisciplinary approach can round out a student's education while adding value to his or her undergraduate degree.

The Department of Languages and Cultures prepares students for jobs in multiple fields such as education, government, nonprofit work, communications, legal, diplomacy, business, healthcare, advertising, marketing and social media. In particular, K-12 Spanish teachers are needed in New Jersey and across the United States, and bilingual Spanish skills are increasingly in demand for both local businesses and international commerce.

The Certificate in Behavioral and Social Science Research Skills is a 12-credit program that prepares students for careers in social science research in various industries like social advocacy organizations, local government agencies, scientific consulting services, grantmaking services, and professional organizations. Students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to perform various tasks and responsibilities in behavioral and social science research, such as data collection, data management, data analysis, and report writing. The certificate is designed for degree-seeking and non-degree seeking students who are pursuing research careers in behavioral and social science.

The Department of Psychology provides the opportunity for degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department prepares students for employment in areas such as social services, education, health, and research fields, as well as graduate education in diverse fields of study.

Communication minors are available in communication studies, film studies, international cinema, journalism, media studies, public relations, theatre and comedy, and visual communication.

The award-winning Department of Communication helps students unlock their creative potential in fields such as communication studies, media studies, journalism, film, video, audio and radio production, public relations, and theatre and comedy.

The broadcast journalism track gives students an overview of the theory and history of television news, and focuses on the research, writing, and production skills associated with putting together the various parts of a TV network-style news program. Students learn to: write and produce TV news stories, both in the newsroom and also using cameras, editing and sound equipment; do "live" video reports from remote locations; assemble a news show rundown; supervise preproduction of a TV news program; and supervise the program as it airs. In this way, students are prepared for internships at the major TV news networks and ultimately for TV industry jobs.

Accelerated Program:

• 4+1 Broadcast Journalism BA to Professional Communication MA

The award-winning Department of Communication helps students unlock their creative potential in fields such as communication studies, media studies, journalism, film, video, audio and radio production, public relations, and theatre and comedy.

The communication studies concentration provides students with the opportunity to study human interpersonal communication from behavioral, humanistic, and scientific perspectives. This includes instruction in the theory and history of communication, the development and application of intercultural and international communication practices, as well as relational, team, and leadership communication competencies in business, education, and social settings. Enhanced competency in written and oral expression is supported through the examination of oral and nonverbal and current technology-based messaging formats.

Accelerated Program:

• 4+1 Communication Studies BA to Professional Communication MA

The award-winning Department of Communication helps students unlock their creative potential in fields such as communication studies, media studies, journalism, film, video, audio and radio production, public relations, and theatre and comedy.

The journalism track prepares students for professional careers in the newspaper and related industries and for advanced study. In a fast-moving digital era, the curriculum enables students to become sophisticated consumers of news media and includes instruction in news writing, reporting, editing, and media law/ethics. Emphasis is placed on integrating new media throughout the concentration's curriculum. Students prepare for internships and entry-level positions at on-line news organizations as well as at traditional newspapers through writing for the student newspaper, The Pioneer Times, an excellent training ground for future journalists.

Accelerated Program:

• 4+1 Journalism BA to Professional Communication MA

The award-winning Department of Communication helps students unlock their creative potential in fields such as communication studies, media studies, journalism, film, video, audio and radio production, public relations, and theatre and comedy.

The media production track introduces students to the methods and techniques used to create aural/visual messages in a variety of mass media. Sequences of introductory and advanced courses in theory and practice of film, television, and radio provide students a comprehensive understanding of the aesthetics and techniques of media production and prepare them to function as professionals in different media fields. The production facilities in the concentration allow students hands-on practice in two television studios, a radio station, a film production lab, a digital audio production lab, and several digital video and audio editing rooms.

The award-winning Department of Communication helps students unlock their creative potential in fields such as communication studies, media studies, journalism, film, video, audio and radio production, public relations, and theatre and comedy.

The media studies track takes a generalist approach to understanding the social, economic, political, cultural, aesthetic, legal and ethical dimensions of communication media. Courses are designed to introduce students to an international and multicultural appreciation of the role of media technologies in a global society. Students have the opportunity to blend their critical studies in media with hands-on creative studies through elective media production courses. Students considering careers in the various media industries would benefit from this broad understanding and the program's emphasis on the critical analysis of the role of media in a society characterized by rapid media change.

Accelerated Program:

• 4+1 Media Studies BA to Professional Communication MA

The award-winning Department of Communication helps students unlock their creative potential in fields such as communication studies, media studies, journalism, film, video, audio and radio production, public relations, and theatre and comedy.

The public relations track prepares students for careers in a variety of increasingly integrated marketing communications industries. Public relations knowledge and skills apply to virtually all industries and interest areas. Careers in public relations-related fields continue to grow faster than the national average and are listed as a top-8 growth industry by Fortune magazine. Public relations programs help support an organization's business objectives and increase corporate reputation, drive sales and even build a brand. We offer a rigorous public relations curriculum which includes integrated communication planning, digital and social media marketing, strategic multiplatform writing, event promotion, and program development.

Accelerated Program:

• 4+1 Public Relations BA to Professional Communication MA

The award-winning Department of Communication helps students unlock their creative potential in fields such as communication studies, media studies, journalism, film, video, audio and radio production, public relations, and theatre and comedy.

Theatre and comedy students focus on the arts of theatre and comedy, both academically and experientially. In theatre classes, such as Acting, Directing, and Playwriting, students learn historical and contemporary theories of theatre as they act in improvisations and scenes, direct fellow students, and write staged plays. In comedy classes, such as the Fundamentals of Comedy Writing and Performing: Stand-up I, they learn theories of comedy as they write and perform their final stand-up exam at Gotham Comedy Club in New York City; in Sketch Comedy Writing and Performing, they replicate the process by which Saturday Night Live skits are developed and enacted. Live performance, writing, research, and collaborative learning are the hallmarks of this program as students develop skills in presentation and creativity, and learn how to utilize them in all media.

The award-winning Department of Communication helps students unlock their creative potential in fields such as communication studies, media studies, journalism, film, video, audio and radio production, public relations, and theatre and comedy.

The major in Community Development and Social Justice is structured around experiential-learning opportunities that underscore a need for multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches to social problems, governance and policy, cultural identity and building diverse communities, conflict negotiation and participative democracy.

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

The 12-credit Certificate in Creative Writing program is designed for those who want to explore the art of writing poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The program is open to adult learners with at least a high school diploma, as well as undergraduate students attending community college or university.

The possibilities for English majors are vast—ranging from careers in law, publishing, public relations, and teaching, to marketing and sales, copywriting, social media marketing, grant writing, and many more. A degree in English can prepare you to excel in virtually any kind of private sector business; federal, state, or local government; non-profit organizations; or even to start your own business.

Students in this program will learn fundamental facts about how the criminal justice system operates in the United States, how and why criminality varies across people and places in the US and around the world, and policies intended to reduce crime and/or punish perpetrators.

The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice prepares students for careers in social work and social services, community relations, policy analysis, government, law enforcement, community corrections, prison and jail programs, juvenile corrections and youth services, court operations, victim advocacy, private security, legal professions, and many more.

The Certificate in Cultural Competence is an academic credential designed to enhance professional qualifications. The program is designed to attract individuals in the business, education, health and other social service areas with an interest in and need for additional knowledge and skills around the concept culture, cultural identity and diversity, intercultural understanding, multiculturalism and difference, and the cultural aspects of globalization.

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

Students have the option to concentrate in either literature or writing. Our literature program spans historical periods and movements of British, American, and European literature, as well as courses in Caribbean, South American, African, Native American, and Indian literature. Our writing program includes courses in fiction writing, business writing, nonfiction, and critical writing. In this program students will gain an understanding of both the historical significance and the contemporary need for strong writing and analytical thinking skills in a pre- and post-industrial world.

Accelerated Programs:

• 4+1 English BA to MFA
  The Department of English offers an accelerated BA to MFA program that allows high-achieving students to complete a BA degree in English (Writing Concentration) and an MFA in Creative & Professional Writing in five years.
  
  
• 4+1 English BA (Education Track) to MAT Secondary Education: English Certification

The possibilities for English majors are vast--ranging from careers in law, publishing, public relations, and teaching, to marketing and sales, copywriting, social media marketing, grant writing, and many more. A degree in English can prepare you to excel in virtually any kind of private sector business; federal, state, or local government; non-profit organizations; or even to start your own business.

Students have the option to concentrate in literature, creative writing, or critical and professional writing. Each of these minors offers students a core of literature and writing courses to develop close reading and writing skills, and opportunities to explore literary periods, or hone creative writing (both fiction and nonfiction) and professional writing skills, respectively.

The possibilities for English majors are vast--ranging from careers in law, publishing, public relations, and teaching, to marketing and sales, copywriting, social media marketing, grant writing, and many more. A degree in English can prepare you to excel in virtually any kind of private sector business; federal, state, or local government; non-profit organizations; or even to start your own business.

The ethics degree provides students with training in ethical frameworks and methods that benefit them in both future professional duties and personal decision-making. Awareness of ethical issues helps prepare students for employment in a global marketplace. It also prepares students for graduate professional studies in a variety of fields. The major brings together a community of students interested in practical, contemporary problems such as the recent collapse of the stock market and global financial systems, the nature of professionalism, stem cell research, whether people have a right to healthcare, and what we owe to future generations. The ethics major is structured to explore involved global issues from the perspective of the individual and personal responsibility, as well as organizations and social responsibility.

In the Department of Philosophy, students gain valuable skills that make them highly employable in a wide range of fields. Students are prepared to pursue a variety of career paths including business, non-profit management, technical writing, law, education, higher education, government, research, and marketing, among others. The philosophy major also provides outstanding preparation for graduate school.

A minor in Ethics offers provides students with the opportunity to take courses that study theory, empirical research and analysis. Minoring in Ethics will train students in ethical frameworks and methods to ensure successful execution of both future professional duties and personal decision-making. This minor complements a variety of majors, including nursing, public health, business, finance, pre-law, and majors across the humanities.

In the Department of Philosophy, students gain valuable skills that make them highly employable in a wide range of fields. Students are prepared to pursue a variety of career paths including business, non-profit management, technical writing, law, education, higher education, government, research, and marketing, among others. The philosophy major also provides outstanding preparation for graduate school.

The BFA degree is oriented for those students whose objectives are inclined toward liberal arts training within a most rigorous professional studio arts program. Both our BA and BFA degrees are planned to enhance visual perception, cultivate independent thinking and prepare students for a variety of careers that require a keenly developed sensitivity in the visual arts.

Concentrations: Sculpture and 3D Design - Photography - Painting, Drawing and Printmaking - Graphic and Interactive Design - Animation and Multimedia - Interdisciplinary.

The Department of Art will prepare you for careers in a variety of exciting creative fields, including animation and game design; advertising and graphic and web design; photography, film, and video; certified art education; fine artistry and arts advocacy in galleries and museums; and textile and wallpaper design.

Forensic Studies is an interdisciplinary minor encompassing five departments. Students take courses in forensics, criminal justice, psychology, law, and the natural sciences. This program integrates different theoretical perspectives regarding the identification and collection of evidence, laboratory analysis, criminal behavior, crime scene investigation, civil liberties, and constitutional law.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

A primary purpose of this program is to enable students and professionals to gain awareness and knowledge of how sex, gender and sexuality intersect with other identity categories such as ‘race’, class, disability, religion, nationality, age, and ethnicity within and across cultures, and throughout history. Courses in this 12-credit certificate will focus on an understanding of the biocultural interrelatedness of sex, gender and sexual orientation, interrogating the ways in which biological aspects of sexuality and gender are imbued with social meanings and institutionalized within a variety of public and private sectors of society.

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

This 12-credit certificate in Genealogy and Family History is open to anyone interested in exploring genealogical research and family history. In their various coursework for this certificate program, students will learn how to effectively research and analyze a variety of historical source materials, including census data, oral histories, maps, town records, military records, personal letters and diaries, and material culture.

The Department of History prepares students for future roles as global citizens and for various career opportunities as educators, researchers, legal professionals, public servants, curators, and media and business professionals, to name a few.

The Department of Languages and Cultures prepares students for jobs in multiple fields such as education, government, nonprofit work, communications, legal, diplomacy, business, healthcare, advertising, marketing and social media. In particular, K-12 Spanish teachers are needed in New Jersey and across the United States, and bilingual Spanish skills are increasingly in demand for both local businesses and international commerce.

The Healthcare Ethics certificate is a 12-credit interdisciplinary program that can be added to any major. This certificate program provides students with training in critical reasoning, ethical frameworks and methods, and applied healthcare ethics coursework to ensure successful execution of both future professional duties and personal decision-making.

In the Department of Philosophy, students gain valuable skills that make them highly employable in a wide range of fields. Students are prepared to pursue a variety of career paths including business, non-profit management, technical writing, law, education, higher education, government, research, and marketing, among others. The philosophy major also provides outstanding preparation for graduate school.

History majors can undertake a guided independent study in an approved subject of their choice; intern as curators and archivists at local museums and historical societies; participate in the activities of the History Club; and earn membership in the university's chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the international history honor society.

Accelerated Program:

• 4+1 History BA to MAT Secondary Education: Social Science Certification

The Department of History prepares students for future roles as global citizens and for various career opportunities as educators, researchers, legal professionals, public servants, curators, and media and business professionals, to name a few.

The History Minor is an 18-credit program. History has important links to other fields of study, including political science, philosophy, literature, economics, law, criminal justice, and social justice.

The Department of History prepares students for future roles as global citizens and for various career opportunities as educators, researchers, legal professionals, public servants, curators, and media and business professionals, to name a few.

The primary goal of the minor in international cinema is to provide students with a multi-cultural approach to the study of the history and aesthetics of the world cinema with a particular emphasis on issues of ideology, ethnicity, race, and gender across cultures.

The Department of Languages and Cultures prepares students for jobs in multiple fields such as education, government, nonprofit work, communications, legal, diplomacy, business, healthcare, advertising, marketing and social media. In particular, K-12 Spanish teachers are needed in New Jersey and across the United States, and bilingual Spanish skills are increasingly in demand for both local businesses and international commerce.

The interdisciplinary minor in international studies prepares students to engage with the concepts, ideas, and analytical tools necessary to understand relations among nation-states and between states and no-state actors. It will introduce students to various explanations of state behavior, whether economic, diplomatic, or cultural, in the context of history and contemporary and current events. Students will explore vital topics such as war, cooperation, foreign policy, international law, diplomacy, political economy, human rights, and cultural/perceptional issues that shape state behavior.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

The major in Latin American and Latinx studies is designed to bridge the gap, in the production of knowledge, between the lived experiences of the Latin American and Latinx populations in the Americas. The program provides a greater understanding of diversity in keeping with the University’s mission of providing a climate of diversity and equity in educational excellence. In doing this, Latin American and Latinx studies helps students develop a multidisciplinary understanding of the politics, economics, psychology, history and literature of Latin America and of Latinas and Latinos in the United States.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

The minor in Latin American and Latinx studies provides students with an abbreviated survey of the interdisciplinary Latin American and Latinx studies program. The minor exposes students to some of the core elements of the Latin American and Latinx studies program, which has courses offered by 11 different departments and programs (i.e., Africana world studies, art history, anthropology, English, geography, history, languages and cultures, political science, psychology, women’s and gender studies, and Latin American and Latinx studies) across the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

For Returning Adult Learners
The only program of its kind in New Jersey, the innovative BA in leadership and professional studies lets you combine your work and life experiences and create an individualized degree path that prepares you for a prominent professional role. This affordable program:

• Allows you to focus on your career goals while building competencies in communication, collaboration, negotiation, and emotional intelligence.
• Utilizes insight from leaders to develop a curriculum that helps you become a top-level candidate for various opportunities and promotions.
• Offers supportive resources such as mentors, a success counselor, and faculty advisors.
• Includes a capstone project in which you will showcase advancement toward your leadership goals.

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

Legal studies equips students with the skills necessary to succeed in law school or any law-related career. Our courses emphasize critical reading, writing skills, verbal communication, and research proficiency. Legal studies promotes the values of public service and social justice, while helping students build a strong foundation for a legal education. Students are exposed to important facets of the law and the legal profession, such as: case law analysis, statutory construction, constitutional interpretation, and jurisprudence.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

Legal studies equips students with the skills necessary to succeed in law school or any law-related career. Our courses emphasize critical reading, writing skills, verbal communication, and research proficiency. Legal studies promotes the values of public service and social justice, while helping students build a strong foundation for a legal education. Students are exposed to important facets of the law and the legal profession, including: case law analysis, statutory construction, constitutional interpretation, and jurisprudence. The Legal Studies Minor is an abbreviated version of the major.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

A minor in linguistics can be both intellectually rewarding and practical. A background in linguistics develops knowledge about the human capacity to acquire and use language, as well as about the formal systems that make up human and artificial languages. A background in linguistics will develop your ability to understand and analyze many facets of language and communication. This ability can be applied to the study, for example, of English grammar and style, or of foreign languages, or of child and adult speech and language acquisition. Linguistics can illuminate language diversity and change or serve to make sense of computer science and logic. A minor in linguistics will directly benefit students majoring in communication disorders, English, foreign languages, philosophy, communication, education, anthropology, psychology, cognitive science, liberal studies, and computer science.

The Department of Languages and Cultures prepares students for jobs in multiple fields such as education, government, nonprofit work, communications, legal, diplomacy, business, healthcare, advertising, marketing and social media. In particular, K-12 Spanish teachers are needed in New Jersey and across the United States, and bilingual Spanish skills are increasingly in demand for both local businesses and international commerce.

The minor in Middle East studies prepares students to understand and engage with a region of great cultural, economic, and political importance. This is an interdisciplinary program, with courses drawn from eight different departments (languages and cultures, art, Asian studies, geography, history, philosophy, political science, and sociology) across two different colleges (College of the Arts and Communication and College of Humanities and Social Sciences).

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

Led by an experienced faculty, the minor in Music & Entertainment Industries program is structured to provide the background you need to secure a career in the music and entertainment business.

Our outstanding Department of Music prepares you for careers in classical performance, jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, music and entertainment industries, and popular music. Our music students work directly with world-renowned faculty who are also in-demand performers. They benefit from exceptional student performance opportunities with ensembles, both on campus and throughout the New York metropolitan area. They also gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art music production and recording studios.

The jazz studies program is unique among college programs, offering an emphasis on small-group playing and a genuine commitment to the jazz tradition. One of the nation's five longest-running jazz degree programs, its faculty are all top New York professionals. Students currently come to the jazz program from 23 US states and six foreign countries.

Accelerated Programs:

• 4+1 Jazz Studies (Performance) BM to Jazz Performance MM
• 4+1 Jazz Studies (Performance) BM to Jazz Arranging and Composing MM

Our outstanding Department of Music prepares you for careers in classical performance, jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, music and entertainment industries, and popular music. Our music students work directly with world-renowned faculty who are also in-demand performers. They benefit from exceptional student performance opportunities with ensembles, both on campus and throughout the New York metropolitan area. They also gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art music production and recording studios.

The music education program is designed to provide future music educators with a solid basis for professional success as a teacher through courses in performance, theory, music history, music education, education, and liberal studies.

Our outstanding Department of Music prepares you for careers in classical performance, jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, music and entertainment industries, and popular music. Our music students work directly with world-renowned faculty who are also in-demand performers. They benefit from exceptional student performance opportunities with ensembles, both on campus and throughout the New York metropolitan area. They also gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art music production and recording studios.

Billboard Magazine, the top trade magazine for the music industry, has listed William Paterson University in New Jersey as having one of the top music business programs in the country.

Our outstanding Department of Music prepares you for careers in classical performance, jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, music and entertainment industries, and popular music. Our music students work directly with world-renowned faculty who are also in-demand performers. They benefit from exceptional student performance opportunities with ensembles, both on campus and throughout the New York metropolitan area. They also gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art music production and recording studios.

This program, for students who possess both exceptional performance abilities and aspirations, demands an intense commitment to both music practice and academics.

Accelerated Program:

• 4+1 Music (Performance) BM to MAT Secondary Education: Music Certification

Our outstanding Department of Music prepares you for careers in classical performance, jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, music and entertainment industries, and popular music. Our music students work directly with world-renowned faculty who are also in-demand performers. They benefit from exceptional student performance opportunities with ensembles, both on campus and throughout the New York metropolitan area. They also gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art music production and recording studios.

The William Paterson University Sound Engineering Arts program offers students the essential combination of the technical, theoretical, practical and musical areas of the audio arts.

Our outstanding Department of Music prepares you for careers in classical performance, jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, music and entertainment industries, and popular music. Our music students work directly with world-renowned faculty who are also in-demand performers. They benefit from exceptional student performance opportunities with ensembles, both on campus and throughout the New York metropolitan area. They also gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art music production and recording studios.

The bachelor of arts with popular music emphasis examines contemporary popular music from a global perspective and through the study of social media and songwriting.

Our outstanding Department of Music prepares you for careers in classical performance, jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, music and entertainment industries, and popular music. Our music students work directly with world-renowned faculty who are also in-demand performers. They benefit from exceptional student performance opportunities with ensembles, both on campus and throughout the New York metropolitan area. They also gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art music production and recording studios.

The music major at William Paterson University offers a platform for surveying the professional musical landscape. Students learn about all areas of the music world: performance, business, education and technology while interacting with students and professionals in those respective areas.

Our outstanding Department of Music prepares you for careers in classical performance, jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, music and entertainment industries, and popular music. Our music students work directly with world-renowned faculty who are also in-demand performers. They benefit from exceptional student performance opportunities with ensembles, both on campus and throughout the New York metropolitan area. They also gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art music production and recording studios.

The musical studies minor at William Paterson University offers a platform for surveying the professional musical landscape including performance, business, education and technology.

Our outstanding Department of Music prepares you for careers in classical performance, jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, music and entertainment industries, and popular music. Our music students work directly with world-renowned faculty who are also in-demand performers. They benefit from exceptional student performance opportunities with ensembles, both on campus and throughout the New York metropolitan area. They also gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art music production and recording studios.

Philosophy investigates many aspects of our thinking and experience. In classes such as ethics, logic, and aesthetics, philosophy examines procedures and standards, if there can be any, for proper behavior, thinking, and feeling. Metaphysics examines the nature of space and time and the conditions of experience. Epistemology looks at how we know what we think that we know and the limits of knowledge. Many areas of our experience have separate philosophical inquiries dedicated to furthering our ability to discuss and understand them: language, art, education, religion, science, love, gender, mind, history, politics, law, and mathematics. Many famous thinkers have offered advice on how to pursue inquiry or catalogued the results of their own efforts, and the department offers regular seminars in the work of a single thinker, such as Plato, Aristotle, Spinoza, Kant, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, among others.

In the Department of Philosophy, students gain valuable skills that make them highly employable in a wide range of fields. Students are prepared to pursue a variety of career paths including business, non-profit management, technical writing, law, education, higher education, government, research, and marketing, among others. The philosophy major also provides outstanding preparation for graduate school.

A minor in Philosophy offers a rich variety of traditional courses in Ancient Greek, medieval, modern, nineteenth and twentieth century philosophy, along with specific courses in philosophical areas such as logic, ethics, political and social philosophy, philosophy of mind, theory of knowledge, philosophy of language, philosophy of religion, philosophy of art, existentialism, phenomenology, metaphysics, as well as Eastern philosophy and religion. Many of these courses are chosen by non-majors as part of their liberal studies, general education requirements, or free electives.

In the Department of Philosophy, students gain valuable skills that make them highly employable in a wide range of fields. Students are prepared to pursue a variety of career paths including business, non-profit management, technical writing, law, education, higher education, government, research, and marketing, among others. The philosophy major also provides outstanding preparation for graduate school.

The major in political science is a comprehensive social science program that allows students to build a core foundation of knowledge in both domestic and international affairs. The program is designed to provide students with the conceptual, theoretical, and research tools that will enable them to understand, participate in, and change the institutions and practices—whether on the local, national, or international level—through which people make the decisions that affect their lives. It offers students the opportunity to take a variety of courses in U.S. politics, public policy, political theory, law, international studies, political behavior, diversity studies, and political economy.

Accelerated program:

• 4+1 Political Science BA to Public Policy MA

The Department of Political Science offers students the opportunity to earn a BA in political science and a master of arts in public policy and international affairs via our five-year accelerated degree program. The program is targeted for high achieving students with a strong interest in public service.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

The minor in political science provides students with an abbreviated survey of the political science program that exposes them to some of the conceptual, theoretical, and research tools that will enable them to understand, participate in, and change the institutions and practices—whether on the local, national, or international level—through which people make the decisions that affect their lives. It offers students the opportunity to take a variety of courses in U.S. politics, public policy, political theory, law, international studies, political behavior, diversity studies, and political economy.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

The Professional Ethics certificate is a 12-credit interdisciplinary program that can be added to any major. This certificate program provides students with training in critical reasoning, ethical frameworks and methods, and professional ethics coursework to allow successful execution of both future professional duties and personal decision-making.

In the Department of Philosophy, students gain valuable skills that make them highly employable in a wide range of fields. Students are prepared to pursue a variety of career paths including business, non-profit management, technical writing, law, education, higher education, government, research, and marketing, among others. The philosophy major also provides outstanding preparation for graduate school.

The BA in psychology provides a broad understanding and appreciation of the field of psychology as a multifaceted discipline with both scientific and humanistic aspects. In addition to the mastery of specific course content, the program seeks to develop the student's ability to think critically about issues in the field. Moreover, the program is designed to help students: (1) integrate their knowledge of psychology with concepts and research from related disciplines, and (2) discover opportunities for application of knowledge in psychology to the solution of human problems. The program serves as preparation for graduate study in psychology or in such areas as law, social work, and public administration. In addition, the program prepares students for entry into bachelor's level careers.

The Department of Psychology provides the opportunity for degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department prepares students for employment in areas such as social services, education, health, and research fields, as well as graduate education in diverse fields of study.

Psychology is the study of mental activities and behaviors that can be applied to the betterment of a wide range of other disciplines. The minor program in psychology is designed to allow students to explore critical topics and ideas in psychology in an easily adaptable format. With hundreds of course offerings each year in more than 60 subject areas and sub-disciplines of the field, students have the capacity to select areas of interest and explore them deeply. In addition, the program seeks to develop the student's ability to think critically about concepts and research in psychology and its application to the solution of human problems.

The Department of Psychology provides the opportunity for degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department prepares students for employment in areas such as social services, education, health, and research fields, as well as graduate education in diverse fields of study.

The minor in public policy and administration introduces students to the structure, politics, process, and logistics of organizations, programs, and policies in the public sector (governmental and non-governmental). Students will critically examine the key challenges facing contemporary practitioners in the public sector and learn about potential challenges on the horizon. Thus, applied problem solving is a core component of the minor. It is expected that students will develop sound foundational knowledge of the work of the public sector and greater awareness of careers in the public sector via exposure to classic and contemporary texts and relevant case studies. This minor is especially beneficial to students who desire a program of study that allows them to apply the civic knowledge and critical thinking skills developed within the liberal arts and social sciences toward the examination of specific challenges and skills required within the modern public sector.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

In the Department of Philosophy, students gain valuable skills that make them highly employable in a wide range of fields. Students are prepared to pursue a variety of career paths including business, non-profit management, technical writing, law, education, higher education, government, research, and marketing, among others. The philosophy major also provides outstanding preparation for graduate school.

The goal of the 18-credit social justice studies interdisciplinary minor is to provide students with the opportunity to study the concept of social justice through a concentrated set of core and elective courses. By choosing courses from a variety of disciplines, the minor encourages intellectual inquiry from multiple perspectives with the goal of enhancing students' understanding of social inequities and to encourage informed citizenship.

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

The Bachelor of Social Work at William Paterson is an interdisciplinary degree program comprised of 10 required social work courses as well as courses in sociology and public health. The program culminates with a 400-hour internship experience during the fall and spring semesters of the senior year.

The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice prepares students for careers in social work and social services, community relations, policy analysis, government, law enforcement, community corrections, prison and jail programs, juvenile corrections and youth services, court operations, victim advocacy, private security, legal professions, and many more.

Students in the general sociology program will learn about patterns in social behavior and a variety of possible explanations for those patterns. There will be particular focus on inequalities by race, gender and social class.

The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice prepares students for careers in social work and social services, community relations, policy analysis, government, law enforcement, community corrections, prison and jail programs, juvenile corrections and youth services, court operations, victim advocacy, private security, legal professions, and many more.

Students majoring in sociology with a concentration in social services will take several courses specifically about the field of social work, in addition to the standard sociology curriculum. In their senior year, students concentrating in social services complete an internship in an area of the field within which they seek employment.

The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice prepares students for careers in social work and social services, community relations, policy analysis, government, law enforcement, community corrections, prison and jail programs, juvenile corrections and youth services, court operations, victim advocacy, private security, legal professions, and many more.

The Spanish for the professions minor program provides students with competency in the Spanish language while developing professional language and cultural skills. The outcomes for this minor include learning the linguistic and cultural skills necessary to facilitate written and oral professional interactions both in Spanish-speaking countries and in the USA.

The Department of Languages and Cultures prepares students for jobs in multiple fields such as education, government, nonprofit work, communications, legal, diplomacy, business, healthcare, advertising, marketing and social media. In particular, K-12 Spanish teachers are needed in New Jersey and across the United States, and bilingual Spanish skills are increasingly in demand for both local businesses and international commerce.

The Spanish program seeks to enhance its student's oral and written skills in the Spanish language, to foster a strong awareness of the multicultural and multi-ethnic Spanish speaking world, and to promote critical and communicative skills applicable to diverse professional endeavors.

Accelerated Program:

• 4+1 Spanish BA to MAT Secondary Education: Spanish Language Certification

The Department of Languages and Cultures prepares students for jobs in multiple fields such as education, government, nonprofit work, communications, legal, diplomacy, business, healthcare, advertising, marketing and social media. In particular, K-12 Spanish teachers are needed in New Jersey and across the United States, and bilingual Spanish skills are increasingly in demand for both local businesses and international commerce.

A minor in Spanish grants students a gateway to proficiency in the language. Courses provide students with a foundation of knowledge in Spanish language, composition, and literature. A minor in Spanish benefits students by providing them with abilities in practical as well as professional and academic communication.

The Department of Languages and Cultures prepares students for jobs in multiple fields such as education, government, nonprofit work, communications, legal, diplomacy, business, healthcare, advertising, marketing and social media. In particular, K-12 Spanish teachers are needed in New Jersey and across the United States, and bilingual Spanish skills are increasingly in demand for both local businesses and international commerce.

Within the BA, majors are offered in art history and studio art. Certification for teaching is also offered. Both our BA and BFA degrees are planned to enhance visual perception, cultivate independent thinking, and prepare students for a variety of careers that require a keenly developed sensitivity in the visual arts.

Accelerated program: 

• 4+1 Art BA (Studio) to MAT Secondary Education: Art Certification

The Department of Art will prepare you for careers in a variety of exciting creative fields, including animation and game design; advertising and graphic and web design; photography, film, and video; certified art education; fine artistry and arts advocacy in galleries and museums; and textile and wallpaper design.

The major in Urban Science and Society provides students with a deep understanding of the richness, complexities and interrelationships of the urban world and urban life. It focuses on an investigation of cities and urban life in their physical, environmental, social, cultural, economic, and political manifestations, the critical role of cities in society, the causes, prevalence, and consequences of urban challenges, and the theory and practice of addressing these challenges. The program is broadly interdisciplinary, drawing from different disciplinary frameworks, insights, perspectives, approaches, and tools to analyze and understand urban dynamics, processes, issues, problems, and policies.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

The Urban Studies minor is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the exploration of cities and urban processes through a variety of disciplinary perspectives. The program prepares students to better understand, and be able to effectively address as professionals and citizens, the complex challenges presented by urban growth and development and the rapid pace of change in 21st century cities. The minor can be combined with many majors at William Paterson University such as political science, sociology, anthropology, history, business, communication, and environmental science. A minor in urban studies provides an excellent foundation for students interested in pursuing careers in community development, law, public policy and administration, education, law enforcement, community organizing, transportation, housing and commercial development, real estate, political service, social work, journalism, and research.

The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.

The minor in visual communications enhances visual perception, cultivates independent thinking, and introduces students to the visual arts, specifically in the areas of graphic and interactive design.

The Department of Art will prepare you for careers in a variety of exciting creative fields, including animation and game design; advertising and graphic and web design; photography, film, and video; certified art education; fine artistry and arts advocacy in galleries and museums; and textile and wallpaper design.

This interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary academic program engages students with community, civic issues, and citizenship. Students develop conceptual, analytical, and critical thinking skills and opportunities for experiential learning for the study of gendered lives and experiences. They engage in feminist analyses that focuses on the centrality of gender relations, emergence and reproduction of sexism and patriarchy, production of feminist knowledge and theories, women's movements, and feminist methods of doing research. Students use an intersectional framework for the analysis of gender, race, class and sexuality (concepts), racism, sexism, homophobia/heterosexism (processes), and the organization of these processes in social institutions. They learn a social justice approach to issues of systemic oppression, resistance, change, and activism locally and globally, gaining professional skills through in-class activities and civic engagement.

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

In the women's and gender studies minor, students complete 18 credits. The minor complements all majors by providing conceptual, analytical, and critical thinking skills and opportunities for experiential learning for the study of gendered lives and experiences. The minor teaches a social justice perspective which serves in all professions, bringing awareness of diversity and oppression, thus creating citizens who are better informed as critical thinkers who can assess conditions that enable or inhibit individual and group resistance, agency, and activism in local and transnational contexts.

The Department of Community and Social Justice Studies offers a wide range of majors to help students develop critical perspectives and marketable skills to be advocates for communities and work in the public, private, non-governmental, and not-for-profit sectors, or to pursue graduate study.

A minor in world literature benefits students with courses designed to develop skills in literary and textual analysis. Students can choose courses covering literature from a variety of cultures with a focus on interdisciplinary study. This program fosters research and analysis skills while developing proficiency in foreign languages.

The Department of Languages and Cultures prepares students for jobs in multiple fields such as education, government, nonprofit work, communications, legal, diplomacy, business, healthcare, advertising, marketing and social media. In particular, K-12 Spanish teachers are needed in New Jersey and across the United States, and bilingual Spanish skills are increasingly in demand for both local businesses and international commerce.