Academics

Academic Majors and Concentrations

When you major in the Social and Behavioral Sciences you learn to know and understand yourself and others. You discover how people think and why they do the things they do. You learn about behavior and motivation. You learn about drive and passion.

Inside you will find an overview of the programs of study and concentrations
in the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, together with a sampling of
the wide variety of careers that are open
to you when you earn a bachelor’s
degree in this important and growing field.

The Mission of the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences is to educate our students to apply theory and research in the social and behavioral sciences to everyday life in order to see the world in a broader perspective. The Division’s goal
is to prepare students for graduate school and careers. We accomplish this by emphasizing the development of skills including critical thinking and analysis, effective communication, and sensitivity to other individuals and cultures.

Political Science

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

Careers for Political Science Majors
Our goal is to prepare you for a variety of exciting and challenging careers and to be competitive candidates
for graduate school. Graduates of Political Science, Public Policy and Public Administration often develop
successful careers in:

• Domestic and foreign security agencies such as the
FBI, CIA and the Department of Homeland Security
• Federal, Municipal and State Government
• Charitable Organizations
• Social Services Agencies
• Education and Teaching
• Law
• International Relief Agencies
• Public Policy Advocacy
• Non-profit Management
• International Government
• Disaster/Emergency Management

Whether your future career is in federal, state or local government, law enforcement, public finance, supervision of public employees, serving the community or working in a non-profit organization, the Political Science program will provide you with the academic and practical foundation to achieve your goals.

As a Political Science major you will study the nature of
government and how the various types of government differ from one another. You will graduate with an understanding of what it means to live in our democracy. Core courses provide an overview of political science including public policy analysis, foundations of government, foreign policy perspectives, public management and finance, and non-profit agency theory. All classes include research projects from which you learn how to analyze and present your work. Political Science majors choose from three distinct concentrations:

General Political Science
You will focus on political theory and study political ideology, political thought, U.S. foreign policy, and the comparison of political systems. This concentration provides an outstanding foundation for graduate school or employment in the public sector.

Public Administration
You will combine the core political science curriculum with courses in American Constitutional Law, Public Economics and Finance, and Organizational Behavior. In addition, you will choose from topics such as gay and lesbian politics, urban sociology, history of women and race relations.

Public Policy
Developing public policy is a complex and fascinating task. It requires a deep understanding of political theory and the training and ability to turn theories into workable, successful systems. Students of Public
Policy will graduate with a sophisticated understanding of the challenges of developing public policy in a multi-cultural and racially diverse society.

Minor in Public Policy
Students in other academic programs may obtain a minor in Public Policy.

Pre-Law Club
Open to all majors and students interested in pursuing a career in the legal field, the Pre-Law Club provides students with the opportunity to interact and network with each other, discuss current topics in the legal
field, attend developmental seminars, as well as serve the college community. Activities include meetings, fund raising projects, career seminars (including Law School Admission Test review) and social events.

Coodinator Contact Information
Glenda Kirkland
Glenda_Kirkland@bloomfield.edu
973-748-9000 ext. 776

Sociology

Careers for Political Science Majors
A degree in Sociology can lead to a number of interesting careers in corporations, non-profit
organizations and government agencies. Some possible careers are:

• Social Work
• Social Services administration
• Teaching
• Law
• Politics
• Market Research
• Communications and public relations

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

A degree in Sociology provides the framework for understanding complex social conditions. You may choose from two
concentrations - general sociology and criminal justice:

General Sociology
Students of General Sociology cover a broad spectrum of theoretical and hands-on knowledge. In addition to studying the
theories and philosophies that underpin social science, you will have the opportunity to focus on specialized issues such as sociology of religion or gender, sociology of African-American families and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Criminal Justice -
Internships and Careers
We have strong working relationships with criminal justice agencies throughout the region. Students are
encouraged to get hands-on experience in the field by spending a semester as an intern at one of these
agencies. As an intern you will make the connections you need to help you with your future career.

Our students regularly obtain internships with:
• Police Departments
• Corrections Facilities
• Probation Departments
• County Courts
• Law firms
• Private detective agencies
• Division of Youth and Family Services
• Social Service Agencies

Criminal Justice
Whether your future career is in law, policing, corrections, government or counseling, the Criminal Justice concentration gives you the academic and practical foundation to make your career dreams possible. Through a combination of coursework, internships and research projects, you will be prepared to enter a career in criminal justice or to pursue advanced studies in law, criminology/criminal justice or sociology.

Minor in Sociology
Students in other academic programs may obtain a minor in Sociology.

Coodinator Contact Information
Erica Polakoff
Erica_Polakoff@bloomfield.edu
973-748-9000 ext. 778

Criminal Justice Coodinator
Claudia Kowalchyk
Claudia_Kowalchyk@bloomfield.edu
973-748-9000 ext. 287

Psychology

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

Psychology Internships and Careers
Psychology is a popular major for very good reasons—it opens the door to numerous exciting and challenging career choices such as counseling,
social work, teaching, law and human resources. Psychology graduates understand human behavior
and, as a result, often make highly successful managers and executives. If you choose to continue your studies, your B.A. in Psychology from Bloomfield College will make you a competitive candidate for graduate school. Many of our students are admitted to selective graduate
programs in universities around the nation.
Possible career fields include:
• Psychology
• Labor Relations
• Race and Minority Relations
• Marketing and Sales
• Counseling
• Market Research
• Public Relations
• Advertising
• Community Relations
• Human Resources
• Training
• Social Work

When you study psychology at Bloomfield College you go beyond the standard textbooks and get the small classes and personal attention that serious students of psychology need. With an emphasis on cross-cultural issues and the opportunity for mentored research, you will enjoy going to class! You’ll choose from a wide variety of courses, including studies of personality, motivation, social psychology, adolescence, multicultural psychology, group dynamics, experimental psychology and animal behavior.

Minor in Psychology
Students in other academic programs may obtain a minor in Psychology.

Psychology Club
Open to all psychology majors and minors, the Psychology Club provides a scholarly forum for psychology students to interact and network with each other, discuss current topics in psychology, attend seminars,
as well as serve the college community.

PSI CHI - National Honors Society in Psychology
The national honors society for psychology is open to students who meet the required criteria.

Coodinator Contact Information
Denise Bane denise_bane@bloomfield.edu
973-748-9000 ext. 284

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.