About the Major
The Literature program at Ramapo College deals with literature
as an aesthetic endeavor, cultural critique, and personal search.
It is concerned, of course, with critical thinking and the reading
and writing skills which are the hallmark of an educated person.
The program seeks a balance between survey and seminar, American
and world literature; between levels, genre, period, and themes;
between reading, criticism, linguistics, and creative writing.
The Literature program has as its goals the development of reading,
writing, and critical skills. It emphasizes the interdisciplinary
and multi-cultural dimensions of literature and life. It seeks
to fire the imagination while pragmatically preparing students
for the careers they pursue immediately after college and for
graduate education when this is their preference. The program
includes an impressive number of courses from world literature,
from classical to contemporary periods, from short story to
epic poetry.
The Literature program is regularly evaluated by professors from across the nation. It consistently receives strong endorsement.
One of the distinctive features of the Literature program is
the opportunity it offers for student creativity. Students edit
for course credit, the College literary magazine Trillium. They
also present their work in the Poetry Club. Sigma Tau Delta
is the literature honor society for gifted candidates. The Cultural
Journal offers students publishing opportunities. The faculty
advisor to the yearbook, The Arch, has often been the convener of
the Literature program.
A Literature major offers many career choices for the talented
student. The capacity to think, speak, and write well is the
hallmark of the educated person and is advantageous in all professions.
Publishing, journalism, and teaching are obvious possibilities
for a literature major. Writing, theater, and television are
further considerations. Literature graduates do well in business,
government, and science where these endeavors require an articulate
and creative expression of their philosophy and purpose. Literature
provides impressive training for law, diplomacy, and public
relations.
The Literature program is one of the most attractive majors at Ramapo College. Some 50% of literature majors enroll for teacher education. A number seek admission to the graduate program (MALS) leading to a master’s degree.
Literature is part and parcel of the College mission, at the
very heart of its focus on liberal arts and interdisciplinarity,
on multiculturalism and global connection.
Literature takes in the entire world and enables the student
to encounter the complexity and cultural richness of the global
village. It fosters the development of an enlightened and critical
citizen of the world.
The major is offered by the School of American and International
Studies and leads to a B.A. degree.
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