Academics

Academic Majors and Concentrations

Discover the excitement of intellectual dialogue and discovery, satisfy your passion for knowledge and claim your power as an active, involved learner.

When you study the humanities you learn to be a public citizen and to evaluate and apply new information. You learn to express your ideas effectively,
appreciate culture and the arts,
and to make reasoned, thoughtful
and compassionate judgments in the complex and diverse world in which we live.

Here you will find an overview of the programs of study and concentrations in the Division of Humanities, together with
a sampling of the wide variety of careers that are open to you when you earn a bachelor’s degree in the humanities.

History

English

BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE

Careers for English Majors
Students of the Bloomfield College English program graduate with superior writing, reading and speaking skills. These skills are in great demand by employers and prepare you for careers in a wide variety of fields:

• Publishing/Editing
• Advertising/Marketing
• Journalism
• Teaching
• Television/Radio
• Corporate Communications
• Writing
• Law
• Public Relations
• Human Relations/Training and Development

View the section of the online catalog devoted to course requirements for this major/concentration.
The full catalog is available online as well.

English majors choose from three distinct concentrations:

Literature
Great books, poems and plays help us to understand the
human journey and connect with others. Course offerings
include traditional British and American authors as well
as the literatures of various ethnic groups and world
regions. Many strong writers and analytical thinkers are
built through our coursework. It is a perfect major for those
hoping to pursue careers in publishing, public relations
or human resources. Literature students may explore
topics like African-American literature, major authors from
the Caribbean and Latin American, Gothic fiction or the
Literature of Migration and Immigration. Seniors participate
in a seminar aimed at polishing professional and graduate
school level writing.

Writing
The Writing Concentration offers students the opportunity to study the craft of writing in a variety of genres. Course offerings include Advanced Fiction Writing, Advanced Poetry Writing, Creative Non-Fiction, Lyric Writing and Playwriting. Students also have the opportunity to study print journalism and professional writing for the travel, food and public relations industries. All courses are intimate, hands-on workshops taught by published, professional writers. The program culminates in a capstone for which students present a Senior Thesis in Creative Writing for the college community and/or complete a Communications Internship.

The Writing Concentration exposes students to a wide range of professional writers through its Contemporary Writing class. Recent visitors include poets Joan Larkin, Patrica Smith, Ishele Park and Roger Bonair-Agard; fiction writers Lara Stapleton and Sejal Shah; Joyce Alcantara, Assignment Editor, ABC News Radio; Dina El-Nabli, on-line editor of Time for Kids; Ann Katcher, translator, publisher and former managing director of J.P. Morgan Chase; and Patricia Lee Stotter, Emmy Award winning composer and writer.

In spring, 2006, the Writing Concentration launched a new literary magazine, BLINK (Bloomfield Literary Ink), which is available in both hard copy and on-line (www.bloomfield.edu/blink). Students also have the opportunity to publish their work in the Women’s Studies journal, The Labor Room. The College maintains an active series of popular poetry readings and slams through its Arts Education Program. Outstanding majors and minors are honored each year by the George Jones Awards in Creative Writing.

The Writing Concentration is an ideal program for students who wish to pursue a career in creative writing, publishing, corporate/professional writing and journalism. It also provides a strong foundation for legal, managerial and executive level career paths. Recent alumni have gone on to graduate work at such institutions as Rutgers, Sarah Lawrence, Drew, Iona and Seaton Hall, studying poetry, fiction, literature, theology and journalism.

Communication
It is an exciting time for the Communication Program. We have an expanded curriculum with two tracks: Interpersonal Communication and Broadcast Journalism .There are also several activities in which students can participate including an Internet radio station, an annual communication conference, the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Student Conference and membership in New York Women in Communication, Inc.

-Interpersonal Communication
The Interpersonal Communication track has been designed to enable students to study the nature of human communication, from interpersonal to organizational, with the goal of fostering intercultural competence. [The] Specialized course offerings include public speaking, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, small group communication, nonverbal communication and organizational communication. Students’ mastery of theories and case studies culminate in a capstone which showcases their knowledge of the field. Within the next year, the program will offer memberships in the National Communication Association Student Club (NCASC), as well as seek to establish a chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the national honorary society for undergraduates in communication.

-Broadcast Journalism
In the Broadcast Journalism track students learn to write and produce news stories for radio, television and print. The field is moving toward “convergence” which means professionals must be versatile in both electronic and print media. As a result the curriculum includes courses in writing for print, radio and television. There are also courses in radio and television production. Classes often visit media outlets such as CNBC, Telemundo and WBGO Radio to tour the facilities and talk with professionals. The four years culminate in a capstone project which showcases the student’s ability to create a journalistic project for the electronic media. WBCR is the Internet radio station which provides an opportunity for communication students to practice their writing, producing and on-air skills. Students also interview campus guests and document select campus activities. Since the radio is an Internet format student productions can be heard from Montclair to Ghana. Once a year, students have the opportunity to attend the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Student Conference in New York City. This conference provides an opportunity for students to hear radio professionals and exchange information with students from other colleges and universities.

Minor in English
Students wishing to add to their undergraduate degree can also obtain a minor in English or Creative Writing.

Coodinator Contact Information
Paul Genega
paul_genega@bloomfield.edu
973-748-9000 ext. 443

Writing and Analysis Coodinator
Patrick Rosal
Pat_Rosal@bloomfield.edu
973-748-9000 ext. 139

Communication Coordinator
Jeanne Nutter
Jeanne_Nutter@bloomfield.edu
973-748-9000 ext. 280

Philosophy

Religion

Academic Enrichment

Women’s Studies
Designed to foster women’s empowerment, a minor is offered in Women’s Studies giving students the chance to study topics such as feminism, gender and globalization, women in literature, psychology of gender, women and work, madness and marginality and more. The Women’s Studies program is a multi-disciplinary program with academic and co-curricular components, emphasizing scholarly, artistic and activist endeavors. Faculty and students work together to sponsor educational, cultural and consciousness-raising programs for the college community and the community at large including: a literary journal, on-stage performances, participation in marches, self-defense workshops, education and fundraising events, a film series and gallery exhibits. A new Women’s Resource and Empowerment Center provides classroom space, as well as a place for informal gatherings.

Africana Studies
Students in all majors may choose courses in Africana Studies as part of the general education program. Your advisor will guide you in your choices and ensure the courses meet the requirements of your degree program. Course offerings include The Making of African Peoples; African/ American History; Peoples and Cultures of Africa; Sociology of the African/ American Family; and Music of the US: The African/ American Influence.

Honors Program
The Honors Program is designed for students who want a challenging interdisciplinary college experience. The program provides a unique opportunity for intellectual development both in and out of the classroom. For information on the Honors Program, please complete the reply card or call the Office of Enrollment Management and Admission and make an appointment with an admission counselor or with the Director of the Honors Program.

The Honors Program is open to qualified students in ALL majors.

Careers for
Humanities Majors
In a global employment environment, candidates
with a strong liberal arts education are in high demand by corporations, institutions, non-profit organizations and small businesses, as well as in professions such as teaching and law. Your degree in English, Philosophy, Religion or History demonstrates that, in addition to a broad general education, you have the ability to study and work with challenging and complex material. Upon graduation you will find you have the chance to enter a variety of fields, or to continue with your studies at graduate school.

Capstones

The capstone course, which students who major in English, History, Philosophy, and Religion take in their senior year, is the defining experience of their academic life at Bloomfield College. The capstone experience is unique. Students choose a topic of their own interest
related to their major and, working closely with a professor and their fellow students, develop that topic into a research paper, literary work, or broadcast journalism project, which they present in a public forum during the final week of school.

The capstone course brings together the richest elements of a student’s college education: the opportunity to choose a topic that reflects the student’s own interests, questions and preparatory work within his or her major field; the experience of working closely with their professor in the classroom and in one-on-one conferences; the benefit of being part of an academic community of Capstones students who seriously engage with each others’ work; the pride of accomplishment when they present their work to others in the college community.

The capstone fosters the skills of disciplined work, in-depth treatment of a topic, collaboration with peers, and ability to bring a major project to successful completion that translate to success in the workplace and in life. It
continues the thread of serious engagement in learning between professor and student that begins with faculty/student conferences in the freshman year and continues as the touchstone of the Bloomfield College student’s entire college experience.