This team-taught First Year Seminar will introduce students to the various disciplines and interdisciplinary groups of the School of American and International Studies: American studies, anthropology, history, international studies, literature, philosophy, political science, and world languages. Our disciplinary areas are various, but all are part of a liberal arts curriculum and concern the human experience in its local and global context.

This course will prepare students for the kind of academic inquiry expected at college and seeks to foster openness including a willingness to challenge assumptions and to acknowledge error. It strives to introduce students to the complexities of cultural interaction and foster the ability to think critically about such encounters. The goal is transformation, not mere transmission of knowledge—we seek to instill in our students a lifelong love of learning so that they will become active learners who own their education.

Our theme for this course is "Encounters with the Other." This course asks what it means to recognize something outside ourselves as "other." How do concepts of sameness and difference inform our conception of ourselves and our communities? What happens when we encounter "others"? What does it mean to recognize the "other" in ourselves? We will consider these and related questions as we investigate how the various disciplines and interdisciplinary groups represented in the School of American and International Studies explore such issues.

This course will meet weekly. During the first half of the class period we will meet as one large group where different ideas, topics, and methodologies from the several disciplines and interdisciplinary groups of AIS will be presented to the whole class. During the second half of the class period we will meet in individual sections to discuss the issues presented to the whole class, often from the particular disciplinary viewpoint or focus of that section.

Download Full Syllabus: Encounters with the Other: Introduction to Liberal Studies (PDF)

This team-taught First Year Seminar will introduce students to the various disciplines and interdisciplinary groups of the School of American and International Studies: American studies, anthropology, history, international studies, literature, philosophy, political science, and world languages. Our disciplinary areas are various, but all are part of a liberal arts curriculum and concern the human experience in its local and global context.

This course will prepare students for the kind of academic inquiry expected at college and seeks to foster openness including a willingness to challenge assumptions and to acknowledge error. It strives to introduce students to the complexities of cultural interaction and foster the ability to think critically about such encounters. The goal is transformation, not mere transmission of knowledge—we seek to instill in our students a lifelong love of learning so that they will become active learners who own their education.

Our theme for this course is "Encounters with the Other." This course asks what it means to recognize something outside ourselves as "other." How do concepts of sameness and difference inform our conception of ourselves and our communities? What happens when we encounter "others"? What does it mean to recognize the "other" in ourselves? We will consider these and related questions as we investigate how the various disciplines and interdisciplinary groups represented in the School of American and International Studies explore such issues.

This course will meet weekly. During the first half of the class period we will meet as one large group where different ideas, topics, and methodologies from the several disciplines and interdisciplinary groups of AIS will be presented to the whole class. During the second half of the class period we will meet in individual sections to discuss the issues presented to the whole class, often from the particular disciplinary viewpoint or focus of that section.

Download Full Syllabus: Encounters with the Other: Introduction to Liberal Studies (PDF)

This team-taught First Year Seminar will introduce students to the various disciplines and interdisciplinary groups of the School of American and International Studies: American studies, anthropology, history, international studies, literature, philosophy, political science, and world languages. Our disciplinary areas are various, but all are part of a liberal arts curriculum and concern the human experience in its local and global context.

This course will prepare students for the kind of academic inquiry expected at college and seeks to foster openness including a willingness to challenge assumptions and to acknowledge error. It strives to introduce students to the complexities of cultural interaction and foster the ability to think critically about such encounters. The goal is transformation, not mere transmission of knowledge—we seek to instill in our students a lifelong love of learning so that they will become active learners who own their education.

Our theme for this course is "Encounters with the Other." This course asks what it means to recognize something outside ourselves as "other." How do concepts of sameness and difference inform our conception of ourselves and our communities? What happens when we encounter "others"? What does it mean to recognize the "other" in ourselves? We will consider these and related questions as we investigate how the various disciplines and interdisciplinary groups represented in the School of American and International Studies explore such issues.

This course will meet weekly. During the first half of the class period we will meet as one large group where different ideas, topics, and methodologies from the several disciplines and interdisciplinary groups of AIS will be presented to the whole class. During the second half of the class period we will meet in individual sections to discuss the issues presented to the whole class, often from the particular disciplinary viewpoint or focus of that section.

Download Full Syllabus: Encounters with the Other: Introduction to Liberal Studies (PDF)

This team-taught First Year Seminar will introduce students to the various disciplines and interdisciplinary groups of the School of American and International Studies: American studies, anthropology, history, international studies, literature, philosophy, political science, and world languages. Our disciplinary areas are various, but all are part of a liberal arts curriculum and concern the human experience in its local and global context.

This course will prepare students for the kind of academic inquiry expected at college and seeks to foster openness including a willingness to challenge assumptions and to acknowledge error. It strives to introduce students to the complexities of cultural interaction and foster the ability to think critically about such encounters. The goal is transformation, not mere transmission of knowledge—we seek to instill in our students a lifelong love of learning so that they will become active learners who own their education.

Our theme for this course is "Encounters with the Other." This course asks what it means to recognize something outside ourselves as "other." How do concepts of sameness and difference inform our conception of ourselves and our communities? What happens when we encounter "others"? What does it mean to recognize the "other" in ourselves? We will consider these and related questions as we investigate how the various disciplines and interdisciplinary groups represented in the School of American and International Studies explore such issues.

This course will meet weekly. During the first half of the class period we will meet as one large group where different ideas, topics, and methodologies from the several disciplines and interdisciplinary groups of AIS will be presented to the whole class. During the second half of the class period we will meet in individual sections to discuss the issues presented to the whole class, often from the particular disciplinary viewpoint or focus of that section.

Download Full Syllabus: Encounters with the Other: Introduction to Liberal Studies (PDF)

Course Description: The Contemporary Arts Interdisciplinary Seminar is a team-taught course designed to introduce students to the four disciplines represented in the School of Contemporary Arts: Communication Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.

Art and the World We Live In
This class will explore and analyze where the arts and the physical world intersect. This will be accomplished by reviewing the work of a diverse group of artists and the techniques they use in their creative process. We will also explore the nature of human artistic expression. This will include consideration of both how and why human beings create. These studies, and the discussions they inspire, will help us consider a number of questions. The fundamental questions we will ask and attempt to answer are:

• How do artists change the world in which they live?
• How does the world we live in impact our creative impulses and artistic expression?
• How do artists integrate, collapse, or extend the work of scientists, academics, and philosophers?
• What are the moral and political realities facing artists whose work extends toward the social or political spheres?
• How do we situate the work of artists who operate intentionally on the periphery of acceptable conduct?

Using elements that students can observe or experience in their own lives, students will create projects that express their own ideas. Formal concerns common to all the disciplines, such as rhythm, form, interpretation, composition, stylization, etc. will be analyzed as they apply to the different disciplines, and they will be used in the creation of individual and group projects.

Art in the World We Live In will be presented in a large lecture/viewing format, providing a common knowledge base for all sections. These will be followed by smaller group sessions where the large presentation will be discussed and analyzed. Collaborative and individual projects will be assigned and graded in the smaller groups. Use of technology (web-based, digital photography, video equipment, etc.) and project realization will be emphasized to enhance group communication, writing and creative skills.

Download Full Syllabus: Contemporary Arts' First-Year Topics (PDF)

Course Description: The Contemporary Arts Interdisciplinary Seminar is a team-taught course designed to introduce students to the four disciplines represented in the School of Contemporary Arts: Communication Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.

Art and the World We Live In
This class will explore and analyze where the arts and the physical world intersect. This will be accomplished by reviewing the work of a diverse group of artists and the techniques they use in their creative process. We will also explore the nature of human artistic expression. This will include consideration of both how and why human beings create. These studies, and the discussions they inspire, will help us consider a number of questions. The fundamental questions we will ask and attempt to answer are:

• How do artists change the world in which they live?
• How does the world we live in impact our creative impulses and artistic expression?
• How do artists integrate, collapse, or extend the work of scientists, academics, and philosophers?
• What are the moral and political realities facing artists whose work extends toward the social or political spheres?
• How do we situate the work of artists who operate intentionally on the periphery of acceptable conduct?
  

Using elements that students can observe or experience in their own lives, students will create projects that express their own ideas. Formal concerns common to all the disciplines, such as rhythm, form, interpretation, composition, stylization, etc. will be analyzed as they apply to the different disciplines, and they will be used in the creation of individual and group projects.

Art in the World We Live In will be presented in a large lecture/viewing format, providing a common knowledge base for all sections. These will be followed by smaller group sessions where the large presentation will be discussed and analyzed. Collaborative and individual projects will be assigned and graded in the smaller groups. Use of technology (web-based, digital photography, video equipment, etc.) and project realization will be emphasized to enhance group communication, writing and creative skills.

Download Full Syllabus: Contemporary Arts' First-Year Topics (PDF)

Course Description: The Contemporary Arts Interdisciplinary Seminar is a team-taught course designed to introduce students to the four disciplines represented in the School of Contemporary Arts: Communication Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.

Art and the World We Live In
This class will explore and analyze where the arts and the physical world intersect. This will be accomplished by reviewing the work of a diverse group of artists and the techniques they use in their creative process. We will also explore the nature of human artistic expression. This will include consideration of both how and why human beings create. These studies, and the discussions they inspire, will help us consider a number of questions. The fundamental questions we will ask and attempt to answer are:

• How do artists change the world in which they live?
• How does the world we live in impact our creative impulses and artistic expression?
• How do artists integrate, collapse, or extend the work of scientists, academics, and philosophers?
• What are the moral and political realities facing artists whose work extends toward the social or political spheres?
• How do we situate the work of artists who operate intentionally on the periphery of acceptable conduct?

Using elements that students can observe or experience in their own lives, students will create projects that express their own ideas. Formal concerns common to all the disciplines, such as rhythm, form, interpretation, composition, stylization, etc. will be analyzed as they apply to the different disciplines, and they will be used in the creation of individual and group projects.

Art in the World We Live In will be presented in a large lecture/viewing format, providing a common knowledge base for all sections. These will be followed by smaller group sessions where the large presentation will be discussed and analyzed. Collaborative and individual projects will be assigned and graded in the smaller groups. Use of technology (web-based, digital photography, video equipment, etc.) and project realization will be emphasized to enhance group communication, writing and creative skills.

Download Full Syllabus: Contemporary Arts' First-Year Topics (PDF)

Course Description: The Contemporary Arts Interdisciplinary Seminar is a team-taught course designed to introduce students to the four disciplines represented in the School of Contemporary Arts: Communication Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.

Art and the World We Live In
This class will explore and analyze where the arts and the physical world intersect. This will be accomplished by reviewing the work of a diverse group of artists and the techniques they use in their creative process. We will also explore the nature of human artistic expression. This will include consideration of both how and why human beings create. These studies, and the discussions they inspire, will help us consider a number of questions. The fundamental questions we will ask and attempt to answer are:

• How do artists change the world in which they live?
• How does the world we live in impact our creative impulses and artistic expression?
• How do artists integrate, collapse, or extend the work of scientists, academics, and philosophers?
• What are the moral and political realities facing artists whose work extends toward the social or political spheres?
• How do we situate the work of artists who operate intentionally on the periphery of acceptable conduct?

Using elements that students can observe or experience in their own lives, students will create projects that express their own ideas. Formal concerns common to all the disciplines, such as rhythm, form, interpretation, composition, stylization, etc. will be analyzed as they apply to the different disciplines, and they will be used in the creation of individual and group projects.

Art in the World We Live In will be presented in a large lecture/viewing format, providing a common knowledge base for all sections. These will be followed by smaller group sessions where the large presentation will be discussed and analyzed. Collaborative and individual projects will be assigned and graded in the smaller groups. Use of technology (web-based, digital photography, video equipment, etc.) and project realization will be emphasized to enhance group communication, writing and creative skills.

Download Full Syllabus: Contemporary Arts' First-Year Topics (PDF)

Course Description: The Contemporary Arts Interdisciplinary Seminar is a team-taught course designed to introduce students to the four disciplines represented in the School of Contemporary Arts: Communication Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.

Art and the World We Live In
This class will explore and analyze where the arts and the physical world intersect. This will be accomplished by reviewing the work of a diverse group of artists and the techniques they use in their creative process. We will also explore the nature of human artistic expression. This will include consideration of both how and why human beings create. These studies, and the discussions they inspire, will help us consider a number of questions. The fundamental questions we will ask and attempt to answer are:

• How do artists change the world in which they live?
• How does the world we live in impact our creative impulses and artistic expression?
• How do artists integrate, collapse, or extend the work of scientists, academics, and philosophers?
• What are the moral and political realities facing artists whose work extends toward the social or political spheres?
• How do we situate the work of artists who operate intentionally on the periphery of acceptable conduct?

Using elements that students can observe or experience in their own lives, students will create projects that express their own ideas. Formal concerns common to all the disciplines, such as rhythm, form, interpretation, composition, stylization, etc. will be analyzed as they apply to the different disciplines, and they will be used in the creation of individual and group projects.

Art in the World We Live In will be presented in a large lecture/viewing format, providing a common knowledge base for all sections. These will be followed by smaller group sessions where the large presentation will be discussed and analyzed. Collaborative and individual projects will be assigned and graded in the smaller groups. Use of technology (web-based, digital photography, video equipment, etc.) and project realization will be emphasized to enhance group communication, writing and creative skills.

Download Full Syllabus: Contemporary Arts' First-Year Topics (PDF)

Course Description: The Contemporary Arts Interdisciplinary Seminar is a team-taught course designed to introduce students to the four disciplines represented in the School of Contemporary Arts: Communication Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.

Art and the World We Live In
This class will explore and analyze where the arts and the physical world intersect. This will be accomplished by reviewing the work of a diverse group of artists and the techniques they use in their creative process. We will also explore the nature of human artistic expression. This will include consideration of both how and why human beings create. These studies, and the discussions they inspire, will help us consider a number of questions. The fundamental questions we will ask and attempt to answer are:

• How do artists change the world in which they live?
• How does the world we live in impact our creative impulses and artistic expression?
• How do artists integrate, collapse, or extend the work of scientists, academics, and philosophers?
• What are the moral and political realities facing artists whose work extends toward the social or political spheres?
• How do we situate the work of artists who operate intentionally on the periphery of acceptable conduct?

Using elements that students can observe or experience in their own lives, students will create projects that express their own ideas. Formal concerns common to all the disciplines, such as rhythm, form, interpretation, composition, stylization, etc. will be analyzed as they apply to the different disciplines, and they will be used in the creation of individual and group projects.

Art in the World We Live In will be presented in a large lecture/viewing format, providing a common knowledge base for all sections. These will be followed by smaller group sessions where the large presentation will be discussed and analyzed. Collaborative and individual projects will be assigned and graded in the smaller groups. Use of technology (web-based, digital photography, video equipment, etc.) and project realization will be emphasized to enhance group communication, writing and creative skills.

Download Full Syllabus: Contemporary Arts' First-Year Topics (PDF)

This course is designed to introduce students to the college experience, and more specifically to Ramapo College life.  It will follow two paths.  The first, more traditional, track will expose students to the values and goals, the resources and demands of a college education, and provide them with a variety of tools to make the most of your college experience here at Ramapo.The second component of the course will lead students from an examination of their identities to an understanding of how these identities (role, culture, nation, gender, class), exist and intersect in a matrix of cultural economic and political relationships.

Students will analyze the philosophical premise of these identities and explore their similarities and differences through the contemporary works of women writers, films, and lectures.

The course will be organized around themes found in works by women writers from various countries and cultures. Students will become aware of global feminist issues as they emerge in the literary production of contemporary women writers of different nationalities.  A comparative analysis will show how nationality, as well as gender, race and class cut across women's definitions of themselves, their person and public lives, and affect their literary production.

The course will also acquaint students with some of the important literary movements of the twentieth century as if they are exemplified in the works listed below.

Download Full Syllabus: World Cultures from Women's' Perspectives (PDF)

Course Description: The Digital Image: Documenting Your First Year Experience is designed to introduce first year students to the world of photography and digital imaging. Students will gain an understanding of the communicative powers of photographic images as consumers and as image-makers. The technology of digital imaging will be introduced – from digital cameras to digital processing and presentation using the appropriate software.

Special emphasis will be placed in communicating and sharing (both visually and verbally) the unique experiences of first year students in a college environment. Photography is a powerful tool for communication and, as such, specific photography and writing assignments will allow students to express ideas and beliefs about their world.

Critique of student work, exposure to the world of photography in the fine and applied, relevant readings, research and presentation assignments will also complement the class.

Finally, the summer reading will be addressed through class discussions and written responses and will serve as a starting point for more interdisciplinary group discussions relating to world affairs and events.

Download Full Syllabus: The Digital Image: Documenting Your First Year Experience (PDF)

Course Description: You will study leadership and group dynamics from your experiences, leadership at Ramapo College, in history and in the media.  This First-Year Seminar will focus on you as a leader/group member.  During the semester you will analyze the following: how you interact with others, effective leadership skills, your preferences/leadership style and effective communication skills (listening, writing, speaking, etc.).  Since this course is taken during your first semester at college, together we will explore the transitions you will be facing such as: time management, stress management, writing at a collegiate level, adapting to a new environment and diversity (things all leaders face too!).  The goals of this course will be achieved through readings, discussions, group activities, viewing films, research and a project.  The class will also explore leadership opportunities on and off campus.  Throughout the semester, you will grow both individually and collectively as a member of the Ramapo College Community.

Download Full Syllabus: The Emerging Leaders (PDF)

Course Description: The goal of this course is to establish a basic foundation of knowledge about the world and international issues. At the end of this course you will better understand the relevance of international issues to individuals in the United States including yourself as students of Ramapo College.  The course is structured in a manner that encourages you to think critically and objectively about the political, economic, and social environments of the countries and peoples of the world and will help develop the ability to discuss these observations as they relate to global affairs.  You should emerge from the course with improved research, writing and analytical skills, a firm grasp of several substantive issues and a familiarity with fundamental concepts in the study of global affairs – in short, skills and knowledge that will help you flourish at Ramapo College and beyond.

Download Full Syllabus: Perspectives on Global Affairs (PDF)

In this course, we will discuss important controversial topics in science.  The summer reading "The Last Lecture" provides a great platform to leap into this discussion and provides a critical background for many of today's controversial issues in science.

We will spend the first weeks of this course discussing "The Last Lecture" and setting up the framework for future discussions/debates.

We will use journal & newspaper articles (i.e. Science Times in NY Times), Ira Flatow's book, blogs, videos etc. as background material for in class discussions and to gain an appreciation for alternative points of view.

As part of our course work, we will develop skills in presentation software, web-development, and word processing through group projects, which will be presented to the class. We will also explore services and tools available to Ramapo students including Luminis, Writing center, TEC center, CAS etc.  The advantages of using these resources in the development of our projects and as tools for future academic work will be demonstrated.

Download Full Syllabus: Controversial Topics in Science(PDF)

This course is designed to introduce an appreciation of film as an art form. We will be discussing the artistic and technical choices filmmakers make in producing a film. We will be viewing some of the most highly acclaimed and respected films in history, giving the student a chance to analyze, critique, and discuss the films among their peers.

We will view films from different genres to contrast and compare different styles of filmmaking. Students will be responsible for writing journal-like papers on each film. After viewing every film, we will have an open forum style discussion for opinions to be shared. There will be TWO video projects during the semester the students will choose a partner and create a television segment discussing a film of their choice. Directions for the project are included on this webpage: http://192.107.108.56/portfolios/b/bressler_z/toolsviz/index.htm

The summer reading will be used as an initial focal point for in-class discussions and for written assignments during the first few weeks of the semester. We will discuss aspects of The Last Lecture as a group and we’ll use these discussions to write thoughtful responses to questions about the book. Our discussions will likely involve opinions and viewpoints that differ from your own; however, we’ll learn to steer away from feelings about the subject based upon anecdotal evidence and instead use factual data and background to support our positions.

Download Full Syllabus: Film and Television: A Critical Analysis (PDF)

Course Description: Specific topics from high school Social Studies courses are reinforced in Lies My Teacher Told Me, but from an entirely different viewpoint. This book surveys social issues misreported, ideas misrepresented, and encourages students of history to think about not only the facts, but the reporting which embellishes the presentation of certain Social Studies topics that students learned in high school.

Students will be introduced to specific topics such as the Bill of Rights and Reconstruction Amendments, Civil Rights Movement, the conquests of Christopher Columbus, and other events.  They will also become acquainted with operating Microsoft Programs including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.  In addition to assigned readings, students will be expected to complete mandatory projects including a research paper, a PowerPoint presentation, and a statistical spreadsheet.

Download Full Syllabus: American History: An Alternative View (PDF)

Course Description: INTD101-08 is an introductory course that sets the foundation for all other business courses. For example, it introduces the following disciplines: accounting, business communications, business ethics, macroeconomics, microeconomics, finance, information technology, management, marketing, quantitative analysis, and other related business subjects. The course covers topics such as types of organization or business, types of business activities, the behaviors of individuals and groups within organizations, the roles of marketing and advertising in achieving business objectives, recording business transactions, and making sound financial and investment business decisions. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to prepare budgets and business reports, and you will deliver presentations on current issues such as the stimulus package, unemployment, the housing market, the costs/benefits of war on businesses, the role of banks and other financial institutions, and many other topics of interest. You will obtain the knowledge and the understanding of business concepts to help you select and pursue a business minor that would supplement your major in another program. We designed the course to enable students who are intended business majors to explore all avenues of business from a national perspective to an international/global perspective. For students who simply wish to have an insight of the principles of business and complete their general undergraduate education, this course will provide the basic concepts required to fulfill those needs.

Download Full Syllabus: Introduction to Business (PDF)

Course Description: The purpose of the course is to develop the initial stages of awareness of yourself, your peers, and "the other." The class requires you to express your life experiences in order to enhance the learning environment among one another that will be created throughout the term.

The summer reading, "The Last Lecture," in conjunction with one of our textbooks, "How Starbuck's Saved My Life," will be studied throughout the term. We will discuss how the different techniques of authorship reveal the authors in these memoirs. We will also see how race, class, gender, and abilities can intersect at any given moment.  Therefore this course fulfills intercultural understanding. In order to evaluate your comprehension, three (3) papers are required, with citations. 

The second component of the course is utilizing tools to enhance self-awareness. One of the tools that we will utilize is a "memory grabber," a series of questions that probe your development in self-awareness. In parallel to self-awareness, you will also be challenged to work in a group, for example, to discover what traits you bring to a group,  what are the dynamics of the group that may make you angry or encouraged, and what reactions you will have working within a small nuclear group.

The last component is to discuss how to survive your first time experiencing the Ramapo culture. The on-course textbook will assist you with this as well as in-class discussions.  

Download Full Syllabus: Me, You, Us, and the Other (PDF)

Course Description: Constitutional and Economic Liberties explores the values and principles our society adopted by establishing the U.S. Constitution, and the Rule of Law that created an economic environment that allowed capital formation to flourish.  The course will trace the evolution of those values by examining court cases were rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, privacy, contract, property rights, right to bear arms, rights of the accused, prisoner rights, and equality emerged. The case law approach allows the student to critically examine the process of constitutional interpretation and judicial review. The course will emphasize the evolution of constitutional liberties within the political, social and economic context of U.S. history. 

Download Full Syllabus: Constitutional & Economic Liberties (PDF)

Most 1st year college students participate in multiple internet-based social networks. They have honed communication, teamwork, & multitasking skills. Yet they've left high schools where the tools/applications that built these skills, cell phones, ipods, Facebook, MySpace, Flicker, and more, had to be checked at the classroom door (or hidden).

This course is designed to show students why and where social networking, Googling, gaming, and other forbidden activities can be inappropriate in college. However, over the course, they will be celebrated, refined, and built upon for use in years to come. Why? See: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jpEnFwiqdx8  This will be accomplished through online and in-class collaboration on an international, interdisciplinary, intercultural, experiential service project that meets four of the College 'pillars' in the following ways:

1. Experiential service project
2. Interdisciplinary studies
   1. when possible, projects will coordinate with two disciplines - team members'
      1. major/most likely major
      2. alternative major
   2. when possible, also coordinate with students’ Social Issues course
   3. class writing/reading will be coordinated with College English courses
3. International issues & Intercultural understanding
   1. internet-based project will involve joining an international/ intercultural initiative/cause
   2. taking the international/ intercultural to the local level through a Service Learning project, probably face to face (through The Cahill Center)
4. Sustainability
   1. Course projects should have a sustainability focus
      1. Other topics may be considered in special circumstances
   2. Class will be paperless (except for required summer reading)

Some classes will be held online, so students should have access to high-speed internet. Experience with social networking will be helpful but is not required; it is possible to learn about it in this course.

Download Full Syllabus: Social Networking Skills: Using Them to Succeed in College (PDF)

Course Description: We will examine the role of secrets in various aspects of our lives, starting with their origins in myths and their function in our psychology. Group exercises will illustrate basic concepts within individual consciousness and amongst a group. We will learn to discern when secrets are necessary and when they are oppressive and dysfunctional. We will read a Greek myth and stories from world religions, consider the role of witches and alchemists and magicians, and learn how scientific progress has had to overcome secrecy and the appropriation of knowledge for destructive ends. We will discuss common family secrets positive and negative, focusing on the "skeletons in the closet" or taboo topics like finances. We will learn about secret societies whether fraternities/sororities, service organizations, or country clubs. Next, we will examine commercial secrets of patents and copyrights and the manipulations recently perpetrated by the finance industry. Finally we'll examine examples of legitimate and oppressive secrecy by governmental and military authorities.

Download Full Syllabus: Secrets in belief systems (PDF)

Course Description: Human Communication (Theme:  The Individual in Society)

This (FYS) course will develop an opportunity for self-discovery, self-realization, establishing new relationships, an awareness and appreciation for multiculturalism and diversity.  Emphasis will be placed on educational goals by providing a variety of learning skills, critical thinking skills, and enhancing intellectual and individual independence.

Download Full Syllabus: Human Communication (PDF)

As first year students, you will be encountering many new experiences. As a result, this course is designed to help you acclimate to the transformations you may experience as new college students and valuable members of society.

This course will focus on the modifications that take place within a society as well as the transformations that evolve within singular individuals. The purpose of delving into personal, localized, and global change is to create an avenue for the analysis of ways in which societal and individual transformations impact each other.
In this course, students will ask themselves, "Is change always good or necessary?" and "How do things such as culture, gender, economic status, race, and sexuality affect one's environment?" Students will explore how these and similar can occur by considering what they value as independent and critical thinkers, and by analyzing changes that have taken place throughout history and in their own personal lives.

Throughout the semester, we will examine media, pop culture, wealth, politics, and other issues that may or may not influence transformation amongst individuals and their environment. Access to the internet will prove to be integral to this course, as it enables us to research the past and present, while offering various genres of information.

Students will be expected to engage in class discussion as well as complete response and research papers, resulting in a final presentation about a self-chosen topic on transformation.

Download Full Syllabus: Transformations: Dr. Jekyll and You (PDF)

This course is designed to introduce you to the world of business and the skills needed to succeed.  The world of business offers many opportunities to suit many interests.  It's not too early to start thinking about your career path. This course will help you perform a self-assessment to determine what might be the best discipline for you to choose as a major in anticipation of the many career opportunities that await you after graduation and to develop the skills needed to become successful. The course will help students learn to research and write papers, gain confidence in their presentation skills, communicate effectively, work in teams and develop organizational skills.  Guest speakers from various business disciplines will be featured to provide insight into the day-to-day work performed and skills needed to succeed. 

The summer reading will be used as an initial starting point for in-class discussions and written assignments. We will discuss aspects of The Last Lecture in class and use these discussions to respond to questions about the book.

The remainder of the course will focus on how to acquire marketable job skills and explore the current top careers for business graduates. We will discover the top ten skills employers want you to learn while you are in college as well as explore the top business careers.  We will review and help you discover the right opportunities that suit your interests.  Career options will be analyzed with a detailed job description, typical work environments, salaries, and outlooks for growth and advancement. 

Download Full Syllabus: Majoring in Business - Then What? (PDF)

Course Descripion: Individuals' self perception, whether positive or negative, directly impacts their level of success. During the 1940's Abraham Maslow, a well known psychologist wrote a paper entitled, "A Theory of Human Motivation", where he discussed the hierarchy of needs for human development. The primary focus of this course is to examine Maslow's hierarchy of needs (self-actualization, esteem needs, social needs, safety needs & physiological needs) to explore how these needs relate to an individuals' self image. This course will utilize a range of mediums to analyze self-image including a variety of literary works, articles, magazines, advertisements, television and films. This is an ideal course for students to further recognize and understand their personal needs/ goals, which will ultimately aid them in reaching their full potential.

Download Full Syllabus: Know Thy Self: Self Image & Success (PDF)

We will begin by examining family and psychological messages about money, thrift, spending, planning, and time horizons and learn the basics of financial management. Budgets with all income and expenses both current and for future time lines will include planning for contingencies. Via readings and speakers and exercises, students will learn the smart use of commercial products such as banks, insurance, credit cards, student and car loans and investments. We will cover various governmental tax policies and payroll deductions and the basics of bankruptcy and credit repair. Common scams and institutional manipulations will be explained plus resources for consumer information. Finally, interpersonal financial dynamics with partners, parents, and friends will be explored.

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The course is designed to introduce students to the world of business and the skills needed to succeed. Guest discussion leaders from many facets of business will be featured to provide insight into the day to day work performed and the skills needed to succeed. Students will have a first hand opportunity to hear from and to question business leaders about their functions and responsibilities. The course will help you perform a self assessment to determine what might be the best discipline for you to choose as a major in anticipation of many career opportunities that await you after graduation and to develop the skills needed to become successful. The course will help students learn to perform research, write papers, gain confidence in their presentation skills, communicate effectively, work in teams and develop organizational skills.

The summer reading will be used as an initial starting point for in-class discussions and written assignments. We will discuss aspects of "The Last Lecture" in class and use these discussions to respond to questions about the book.

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As the Dali Lama says "If we give something away to those who are less fortunate, we'd get nothing in return except for a warm feeling in our heart and the knowledge in our brains that we made the world a better place." Through this course you will explore, how your passions can be developed into service opportunities in your everyday lives. You will have the opportunity to create their own service projects, discover ways for civic engagement, advocacy and social entrepreneurship. Civic engagement will prompt you to engage in individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of the general public or your community. In this course, you will use writing, PowerPoint, and oral presentations to communicate the course objectives. You will also read and discuss, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, by John Wood a social entrepreneur who left his lucrative career at Microsoft to start a non-profit organization, Room to Read.

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Course Description: This seminar examines the questions raised by the relationships between the individual and the community. Throughout the course the exploration of what it means to be an individual and what defines a community will be illustrated in the context of modern society. Students will participate in a semester-long study and discuss ideas concerning the responsibilities and the dilemmas that living together continually produces. Readings, writing assignments, and hands-on activities will be used to broaden critical thinking and communication skills. Various issues that arise in relation to examining our social nature, and in developing a personal approach to issues in our everyday lives that requires us to balance the claims of membership in a community, with individual rights, will be presented during seminars. The summer reading will provide initial background as we begin to form ideas and opinions of what it means to be an individual and in defining community. We will utilize The Last Lecture as an initial basis for class discussions and for the purposes of gaining experience in college-level writing.

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Course Description: This First-Year Seminar introduces the dos and don'ts of the "power game." Based on the book by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers, The 48 Laws of Power is exactly that - 48 laws to recognize, analyze, and apply in an ever-changing society. At work, in school, in a relationship, on the street, or on the 11 o'clock news, these laws deal with methods of negotiation (Law 4), mutual respect (Law 12) and, the cornerstone of power, reputation (Law 5). All 48 laws provide an understanding of the strategies used by others, the tactics to live by or avoid.

Covering 3,000 years in the history of power, the 48 laws combine various disciplines of business with philosophical wisdom, political thought, psychological analysis, and literary study. The laws highlight the tactics, triumphs, and failures of such figures as circus showman P. T. Barnum (Law 6), President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Law 9), military strategist Sun-Tzu (Law 17), writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Law 41), and many others who illustrate each point. Students will learn the importance of critical thinking (Law 3), the virtue of prudence (Law 1), and the need for courtesy (Law 43), each of which requires discipline (Law 48). The 48 laws outlined in the book and discussed in this class have a simple premise: certain actions increase one's power, while others decrease it.

Ultimately, though, power is a game. And The 48 Laws of Power is about developing one's awareness as a player of the game. Students should learn to recognize their opportunities to achieve personally and professionally, to advance emotionally and intellectually (Law 19). Learning the laws requires a fluctuating way of looking at the world, a shifting of perspective (Law 45) - but the laws remain timeless and definitive. .

Download Full Syllabus: The 48 Laws of Power (PDF)

This course is designed to introduce students to a variety of “technological topics”. The first objective of the course is to spark discussion and debate on some of the current “hot topics” (issues or controversies) in the field of information technology today. The second objective of the course is to introduce the student to some of the tools necessary to incorporate technology effectively into their studies. Several facets of technology and the computer will be discussed throughout the course, with the intent of achieving a high level of confidence in computer use in order to augment your studies. During the latter weeks of the course, student groups will develop and lead a discussion on a “hot topic” in the classroom using some of the technological skills they’ve mastered from this course.

Download Full Syllabus: Ethics and Issues in Information Technology (PDF)

For the purposes of this course, essay will mean a short piece of composition writing in prose, from one to twenty or thirty pages, dealing with almost any subject. Class discussions will focus on the essay’s process and elements of style, including analysis, grammar and research documentation. This course emphasizes a critical approach to reading the essay, such as understanding the author’s purpose and theme. Writing assignments will concentrate on fundamental rules of usage and principles of composition.

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This course is designed to introduce students to the college experience, and more specifically to self-image and identity in American society. Students will gain an understanding of self-perspective, how self-image determines their degree of happiness and fulfillment, success in relationships and how it sets boundaries for their career accomplishments and satisfaction. Students will also analyze why and how self-image impacts their physical, emotional, and mental health.

The course will be organized around thematic units to ensure better understanding, critical thinking by students and an application of the concepts learned in students’ own lives and within their college experience.

The thematic organization of this course will include:

• exploring media messages (newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, video, film) and their impact on self-image and identity
• hearing between the lines (music)-students will listen to and read lyrics from popular songs that explore themes of self-image and identity
• reading poetry-students will read poems related to self-image and identity
• negotiating the American identity through the artwork at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
• exploring self-image and identity through literature. The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch.

For each of the five thematic units covered, there will be a hands-on/interactive extension activity that reflects the specific unit. (This will be explained in more detail further on in this syllabus.)

Additionally, the course will follow a two-path approach. The first path will cover self-image and identity in America from a traditional or historic approach. Students will learn about the ways in which self-image evolved to where it is today. This will be more of an examination approach.

The second path will lead students from that examination of self-image and identity to an application of those elements in their own lives, college experience and careers.

Relevant readings, research and presentation assignments will complement each aspect of the course.

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1. Understanding Our Legal System And How It Works:
   The course shall include analysis of the structure and function of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. This analysis shall provide an understanding of the legislative process in the creation of the law, the executive process in the implementation of the law and the judicial process in resolving legal conflicts as they arise in society.
   
   
2. Legislative Branch:
   How the legislative process works: The Course shall provide an understanding of the legislative process through analysis of how laws become law on the federal, state, county and municipal levels.
   
   
3. Executive Branch:
   How laws are implemented and enforced: The Course shall provide an understanding of the structure and function of the various federal state, county and local administrative agencies which administer and enforce the law, such as: U.S. Department of Justice; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Homeland Security; N.J. Department of Law & Public Safety; N.J. State Police; Municipal Police Departments; County and Municipal Prosecutors Offices; Division of Civil Rights; Department of Corrections; Parole Board; Division of Youth & Family Services; Department of Education; Office of the Public Defender; Department of Environmental Protection; Department of Health and Senior Services, etc.
   
   
4. Judicial Branch: How legal conflicts are resolved:
   The Course shall provide an understanding of the judicial process through analysis of the structure and function of: the U.S. Supreme Court; the Federal District Courts; the N.J. Supreme Court; the N.J. Superior Court and the N.J. Municipal Courts responsible for resolving legal conflicts as they arise in society. Current court cases will be discussed, analyzed and debated.
   
   
5. Legal developments relating to contemporary issues:
   The course shall include an ongoing analysis of current federal and state legislation and court decisions relative to contemporary social and legal issues, such as: criminal punishment; domestic violence; child abuse; same-sex unions; domestic partnership laws; divorce; child custody; free speech; right to privacy; abortion; rights of parents and children; battered woman’s syndrome; immigration issues; capital punishment and other contemporary issues as they develop during the semester.

Download Full Syllabus: The American Legal System: What Everyone Should Know (PDF)

As first year students, you will be encountering many new experiences. As a result, this course is designed to help you acclimate to the transformations you may experience as new college students and valuable members of society.

This course will focus on the modifications that take place within a society as well as the transformations that evolve within singular individuals. The purpose of delving into personal, localized, and global change is to create an avenue for the analysis of ways in which societal and individual transformations impact each other.

In this course, students will ask themselves, “Is change always good or necessary?” and “How do things such as culture, gender, economic status, race, and sexuality affect one’s environment?” Students will explore how these and similar can occur by considering what they value as independent and critical thinkers, and by analyzing changes that have taken place throughout history and in their own personal lives.

Throughout the semester, we will examine media, pop culture, wealth, politics, and other issues that may or may not influence transformation amongst individuals and their environment. Access to the internet will prove to be integral to this course, as it enables us to research the past and present, while offering various genres of information.

Students will be expected to engage in class discussion as well as complete response and research papers, resulting in a final presentation about a self-chosen topic on transformation.

Download Full Syllabus: Tranformations: Dr. Jekyll and You (PDF)

This course will introduce students to the philosophies of ancient India that led to the development of the practice of yoga. Yoga is more than physical postures (asana); it is a system of physical exercises, breath work, and meditation designed to help the practitioner achieve union with what the ancients called The Self. By reading texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and The Upanishads, we will become familiar with the theories that led to later writings like The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. We will engage in short yoga practices in order to illustrate the theories described in the texts

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Thinking about a career in education? This First Year Seminar course is designed for students who are considering a career in the field of education. Beginning with a look at where education has evolved from, this seminar will examine current trends in education; the training and certifications required to become an educator and a look into the schools and classrooms of the future. Various career options will be explored as well as the day-to-day responsibilities of the K-12 teacher, becoming an administrator, the Special Education educator, etc.  Special attention will be given to examining the Teacher Education Program requirements at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Guest speakers will include professionals in the field of education. Students participating in this course will have the opportunity to interview educators and observe various classroom environments. In addition to the summer reading and assigned text, this course will utilize specialized readings from professional journals and resources.

Download Full Syllabus: From Student to Educator: The Opportunities and Challenges of a Career in Education (PDF)

This course is designed to introduce world geography through analyzing cultural identities and social movements. This course will utilize components from the global North and global South to present a diverse set of perspectives on the topic of any given class. Thematic topics will include: land, language, gender, human rights, healthcare, etc. With the incorporation of the four pillars of Ramapo education: interdisciplinary studies, international education, intercultural understanding, experiential learning and sustainability, students will strengthen their critical thinking skills and prepare for their academic career at Ramapo College.

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This seminar will focus on the topics of intercultural understanding and global competence, and the meaning of these terms for today‟s college students. The seminar will first address the topic of gaining intercultural understanding within the diverse communities in which we live and work today, and within the ever more "flattening‟ world. The discussion in the second portion of the seminar will be prompted toward the topic of global competence and "global citizenship" that is used by many U.S. universities/colleges (though, not examined). Through the use of interactive tools, the seminar will explore the meanings of global competence, as well as global citizenship through the framework of intercultural competence, social justice, and international development.

During the semester, students will explore various perspectives on developing intercultural understanding and global competence through a mixture of reading assignments, short videos, interactive tools, and guest speakers. The seminar will heavily rely on small and large group discussions and the use of various intercultural training tools (games, role plays, critical incidents) as a starting point for student reflections on the intercultural experiences and learning. In addition, students will develop individual creative projects, enhance their writing skills, and participate in experiential component of their FYS seminar on campus.

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In the mid 1970's, hip hop, specifically rap music, emerged in the Bronx, NY and has evolved into a billion dollar international industry. The primary focus of this course is to examine the four elements (emceeing, djing, graffiti writing, break-dancing) of hip-hop from a cultural prospective and explore the impact of this global phenomenon.  The course will utilize a variety of mediums for analysis including rap songs, music videos, lyrics, film and various written works about hip hop culture. Contemporary issues in hip hop will be also be explored throughout the semester. This is an ideal course for those who consider themselves members of the hip-hop and post hip-hop generation and/or those who seek to gain a more thorough understanding of hip-hop culture.

Download Full Syllabus: The Global Impact of Hip-Hop Culture (PDF)