About the School
The School of Social Science and Human Services
(SSHS) offers a rich and varied curriculum with well-prepared
courses and plenty of opportunities for fieldwork and experiential
learning. Our educational philosophy is based on the following
set of core values about education and life.
To understand the complex worlds of people, at the level of
individuals, small groups or whole societies or civilizations,
it is imperative to have a sound historical grounding. History
informs us how things came to be and, by implication, what constraints
we face in trying to effect social change. Among the requirements
for a Social Science and Human Services degree are introductory
and upper level courses designed to mold historically and socially
informed graduates.
Social awareness and insight is enhanced, and manifested, in
our willingness to give back to our respective communities,
as students, as educators, as human beings. Positive societal
transformation occurs to the extent that an informed citizenry
cares, and gets actively involved. The School of Social Science
and Human Services tries to foster such convictions through,
among other things, liberal fieldwork, co-op, service-learning
and volunteer opportunities as well as first-rate classroom
preparation.
Learning does not merely take place in the classroom. At least
as important as listening to professors lecturing, are the direct
"life experiences" each one of us has in our respective
communities, provided these are accompanied by proper guidance
and reflection. Again, this is the object of guided fieldwork,
service-learning, co-op and independent study experiences, all
of which are essential elements in the overall education offered
in our school. Our students frequently take advantage of direct
learning opportunities offered through the Cahill Center, the
major source for Experiential Learning and Career Opportunities
at Ramapo.
As we envision the new millennium technology is bringing the
peoples of the world increasingly closer to each other, informationally
as well as geographically. More than ever in human history the
next century will force us to tackle issues of cultural and
experiential diversity, as well as the ecological interdependency
that these developments bring. This will require ever greater
sensitivity to and understanding of the varieties of human sensibility
and experience, within as well as outside our own culture. Students
affiliated with the School of Social Sciences and Human Services
are exposed to insightful analyses of prevailing societal patterns
which impede cultural reconciliation and insight, such as divisions
based on race, gender, disability, social class, national origin
and differing cultural backgrounds. They learn to critically
read and incisively evaluate the daily barrage of social science
facts and fictions provided by the major media, through courses
in social issues and scientific methodology as well as through
practical experiences that foster social, statistical and ecological
literacy.
The twenty-three credit program of Core courses, required of
all students who graduate from the School of Social Science
and Human Services, reflect the above goals.
| Required
Core Courses |
Credits |
| Social
Issues |
4 |
| History
of Social Thought |
3 |
| Research
Methods (category) |
4 |
| Consciousness
and Society (category) |
3 |
| Fieldwork
or field Research |
3 |
| Social
Science Elective outside of Major |
3 |
| History
Elective |
3 |
| Total |
23 |
|
Consistent with the school's mission and its expression in the
core, students affiliated with the School of Social Science
and Human Services are offered a rich panoply of choices among
majors, minors and concentrations which reflect the diversity
of human endeavor. Leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree there
are majors in Psychology, Sociology, Law and Society, Economics,
History, Political Science and Environmental Studies. In consultation
with a sponsoring faculty member a student can design a personalized
"Contract Major" in Social Science, with a Concentration
defined by a course of study fitted to the student's specific
needs. This option provides opportunities to serve long established
concentrations with low current enrollments in Social Science
(e.g. Community Mental Health or Business and Public Policy)
or to be responsive to new intellectual trends in scholarship
long before the ideas have reached the maturity and exposure
to be offered as majors or minors (e.g. Cultural Studies, Africana
Studies, Gender Studies). Reflecting the emphasis on practice,
the School offers a rigorous major in Social Work (for the BSW
degree), as well as a rapidly growing Certification program
in Teacher Education for students who want to become Secondary
or Elementary school teachers. Minors are offered in Women's
Studies, African-American Studies, Latin-American Studies and
Gerontology, as well as in most of the majors listed above.
|
