Situating students in a critical context is paramount if they are to grasp the complex nature of social, political and psychological issues in the twenty-first century. Without adequate grounding in the liberal arts, students cannot develop the abstract thinking skills to grapple with issues like the problematic nature of economic growth and development, cultural studies and the arts, the contemporary nature of the nation-state, the relevance of the human genome project for the development of drug therapies, the impact of laboratory information systems in chemistry, and the changing hegemony of psychological theories.<\/p>\n
Both the College and the larger social context have been altered during the past two decades. The nature of technology, the organization of the economy (locally, nationally and globally) and academic discourse (to name just a few examples) have been transformed during this period. These changes are reflected in the general education curriculum.<\/p>\n
All students are obligated to fulfill a basic program in General Education. The courses in the program are distributed throughout the four years of study.<\/p>\n
All Ramapo College students must complete the general education requirements in reading and writing as well as mathematics by the time that they have earned 64 credit hours.<\/p>\n
The list below shows the distribution of the required General Education Core courses and categories. Courses which fulfill the General Education categories are listed each semester on the web for students.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (10 COURSES)<\/h3>\n
FIRST YEAR<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n
100\u00a0<\/strong>LEVEL <\/strong>One Course \nINTD 101 First-Year Seminar (FYS) (Also AIID 101, CNTP 101 and HNRS 101)<\/strong> \nDesigned especially for first-year students, First-Year Seminar (FYS) provides a comprehensive introduction to college-level learning. FYS courses are developed around an academic theme or topic based on the expertise of each course instructor, providing students with the opportunity to select a seminar that best suits their interests. FYS encourages new students to participate in a community of learners, to strengthen their critical thinking skills, and to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.\u00a0First Year Seminar Website<\/a><\/p>\n