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School of Contemporary Arts (CA)

Professor Ann LePore Teaching Students how to use 3D Printer

Visual Arts. Performing Arts. Communication Arts.

The School of Contemporary Arts provides an understanding of the established traditions in the Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Communication Arts while simultaneously preparing students to embrace new means of expression. The School, which is inherently interdisciplinary in its structure and its goals, recognizes the interconnectedness of the arts in contemporary society, and encourages students to develop and communicate ideas in multiple media. Excellent instruction in the visual, communication, theatrical, and musical arts takes place in small studio, lab, seminar, and discussion settings, as well as through activities outside the classroom environment. Practical experience, public presentation, and reflection are integrated into the educational process in many ways, such as through Internships and Cooperative learning assignments, play production, musical performance and recording, visual arts production and exhibition, and the production and viewing of video, film, and design.

The School of Contemporary Arts offers five majors:

  • Communication Arts (with concentrations in Digital Filmmaking, Global Communication and Media, Journalism and Writing, as well as Visual Communication Design which includes Game Design and Graphic Design)
  • Music (with concentrations in: Music Industry, Music Performance, Music Production, Music Education and Music Studies)
      • And, a 4+1 MFA Program in Creative Music Technology
  • Theater (with concentrations in: Acting, Directing/Stage Management, Design/Technical Theater, and Theater Studies)
  • Visual Arts (with concentrations in: Art History, Electronic Art and Animation, Photography, Drawing and Painting, Drawing and Painting with Art Therapy Track, Sculpture, and Sculpture with Art Therapy Track)
  • Contemporary Arts Contract Major (an interdisciplinary major that enables students to develop individualized programs that correspond to their special interests and career goals)

Recent CA News can be found here: CA News

Ramapo

Check out the Instagram accounts of some of our programs by clicking the icons below.

 

Conversations on Race at Ramapo College

The School of Social Science and Human Services Presents: Conversations on Race
An opportunity to speak in an informed space, free of conjecture but not void of passion, on the topic of race in the United States. For more information, click here.


Thursday, September 28
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion


Thursday, October 26
Voting Rights


Thursday, November 30
Race and Athletics

All events are in ASB-136 from 1 – 2 p.m.

Ramix Record Label

Visit the Music Program’s record label, Ramix, here. You can listen to select tracks from music students here, at the Ramix Bandcamp page.

Donate to Contemporary Arts

To support the students of the School of Contemporary Arts, please consider making a donation to the Ramapo College Foundation and designate the funds to the School of Contemporary Arts (CA) in the drop down menu here.

  • M Major
  • m Minor
  • C Concentration
  • G Graduate
  • J Joint Degree
  • O Other Programs
  • Reset Filter

Acting

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Art History

Bachelor of Arts

m C

Communication Arts (General)

Bachelor of Arts

M

Contemporary Arts

Bachelor of Arts

M

Contemporary Arts: Professional Communication

Bachelor of Arts

M O

Design / Technical Theater

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Digital Filmmaking

Bachelor of Arts

M m C

Directing / Stage Management

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Drawing and Painting

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Electronic Art & Animation

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Global Communication and Media

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Journalism

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Music (General Overview)

Bachelor of Arts

M m C

Music and Creative Music Technology (4+1 BA/MFA)

Master of Fine Arts

M G

Music: Music Industry

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Music: Music Performance

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Music: Music Production

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Music: Music Studies

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Photography

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Sculpture

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Theater

Bachelor of Arts

M m

Theater Studies

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Visual Arts

Bachelor of Arts

M m

Visual Communication Design

Bachelor of Arts

M C

Writing

Bachelor of Arts

M C

The School of Contemporary Arts offers five majors:

  • Communication Arts (with concentrations in Digital Filmmaking, Global Communication and Media, Journalism and Writing, as well as Visual Communication Design which includes Game Design and Graphic Design)
  • Music (with concentrations in: Music Industry, Music Performance, Music Production, Music Education and Music Studies)
      • And, a 4+1 MFA Program in Creative Music Technology
  • Theater (with concentrations in: Acting, Directing/Stage Management, Design/Technical Theater, and Theater Studies)
  • Visual Arts (with concentrations in: Art History, Electronic Art and Animation, Photography, Drawing and Painting, Sculpture, Art Therapy)
  • Contemporary Arts Contract Major (an interdisciplinary major that enables students to develop individualized programs that correspond to their special interests and career goals)

Experienced Faculty

The Faculty of The School of Contemporary Arts are incredibly accomplished Artists and Scholars.  Most importantly, they are dedicated teachers and mentors pulling from their wide array of experiences and expertise.

Degree Programs

All of our Undergraduate Programs culminate in a B.A. Degree.  These degrees, rooted in the Liberal Arts provide for an understanding of the world—and you have to understand the world to respond to it.  The programs are also inherently interdisciplinary.  This means that while you specialize in an area, you also have a chance to explore other areas in the school and across campus.

We want our students to understand the traditions of the past but also to explore new means of expression and communication. We help them develop their individual voices and strengthen them through active learning situations that result in produced work – learning by doing.

The School of Contemporary Arts is committed to providing students with an outstanding education in the visual, performing, and communication arts with a strong emphasis on the Ramapo College pillars: interdisciplinary curriculum, international education, intercultural understanding and experiential learning opportunities.

Prospective Students:
It is incredibly important to me that you have the information you need while deciding where to attend College.  If you have any questions please reach out.  I am happy to discuss things with you, connect you to a faculty member or current student, and tell you more about The School of Contemporary Arts at Ramapo College.

Ken Goldstein
Dean of Contemporary Arts
he/him
kgoldst2@ramapo.edu

The main CA facility is in The Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts, featuring two theaters, rehearsal and dance studio, scenery and costume shops, music, photography, and visual arts facilities, and art galleries. There is also a separate sculpture studio complex and the H and C wings, which feature labs for graphic design, film, and sound design, a TV studio, a convergence journalism studio, and private video editing suites.

For more images of our facilities, please click one of the images below.

Drawing Studio

Sharp Theater

Sharp Theater

Les Paul Studio

Experiential

We believe in the importance of actively engaging in the practice of all the School’s areas of study. And so, The School of Contemporary Arts supports students to prepare, find, and participate in Internships and Cooperative Education experiences before graduation.

While this list is just a sample, placements are facilitated in programs across CA.

Organizations where our students have been placed include:

  • Minolta
  • Sharp Electronics
  • Sony
  • MTV
  • VH1
  • CNN
  • FOX News
  • Sundance Channel
  • WNET-TV
  • WABC-TV
  • WWOR-TV
  • North Jersey Media Group
  • American Museum of Natural History
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • The Roundabout Theater Company
  • The Joseph Papp Public Theater
In addition to hands-on training, students receive degree credits for their experiences.

 

Extracurricular

There are extracurricular opportunities connected to each area of study:

  • Visual Artists Society
  • Creative Media Club
  • RCTV (college television station)
  • National Communication Arts Honor Society
  • Alpha Psi Omega National
  • Theater Honor Society
  • The Ramapo News (college newspaper)
  • WRPR 90.3 FM (college radio station)
  • Ramapo Chorale
  • Gospel Chorus
Ramapo

School of Contemporary Arts Contact Information:

Office: BC236
Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (201) 684-7365
Email: contemporaryarts@ramapo.edu