{"id":298,"date":"2026-06-24T17:19:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T21:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/academics\/?page_id=298"},"modified":"2026-07-07T11:20:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T15:20:36","slug":"ugstudies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/academics\/ugstudies\/","title":{"rendered":"Office of Undergraduate Studies &#038; Honors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Office of Undergraduate Studies &amp; Honors oversees the core experiences that shape every Â鶹´«Ã½ student\u2019s journey\u2014from your very first seminar to your final capstone. As New Jersey\u2019s Public Liberal Arts College, we prepare you to adapt, lead, and solve real-world problems throughout an ever-changing career.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5\"><div class=\"divider\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/rcnjrd\/images\/icons\/ramapo-arch-icom_rule.png\" alt=\"Ramapo\" \/><\/div><\/p>\n<h2>The Starting Point: General Education &amp; First-Year Seminar<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/186\/2026\/06\/53973092673_daa4d19288_c-1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-338 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/186\/2026\/06\/53973092673_daa4d19288_c-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"A large group of diverse students sit closely together in a gymnasium, attentively watching an event. Some wear shirts with Ramapo College printed on them. The atmosphere appears lively and engaged.\" width=\"188\" height=\"125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/186\/2026\/06\/53973092673_daa4d19288_c-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/186\/2026\/06\/53973092673_daa4d19288_c-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/186\/2026\/06\/53973092673_daa4d19288_c-1.jpg 799w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\" \/><\/a>At Ramapo College, General Education isn\u2019t a box to check or a list of random classes. It is a purposeful, two-year journey designed to help you grow from a curious first-year student into a confident, sharp thinker ready to take on the world. The curriculum is designed to build your skills step-by-step, moving you from guided discovery to connecting the big ideas across different subjects.<\/p>\n<h3>Your First-Year Seminar (FYS)<\/h3>\n<p>Your journey begins with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/first-year\/\">First-Year Seminar<\/a> (FYS): a small, discussion-based class led by a professor who doubles as your academic mentor. FYS eases your transition to college, ignites curiosity, and introduces you to high-level critical thinking.<\/p>\n<h3>The Two-Year Progression<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/186\/2026\/06\/FYS-Poster-Class-11.19.19-05-768x451-A.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-336 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/186\/2026\/06\/FYS-Poster-Class-11.19.19-05-768x451-A.jpg\" alt=\"A group of students and a teacher stand in a classroom, holding up colorful posters and projects, smiling at the camera. The classroom has a whiteboard in the background and desks in the foreground.\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" \/><\/a><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Year 1: Find Your Footing.<\/strong> Alongside FYS, you will master essential communication, reading, and problem-solving tools that every top employer and graduate school values.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Year 2: Connect the Dots.<\/strong> Move beyond individual subjects to explore how they intersect. You will choose from fascinating, thematic courses in the categories of Global Awareness, Values &amp; Ethics, and Social Systems and Society to look at real-world issues through multiple lenses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"divider\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/rcnjrd\/images\/icons\/ramapo-arch-icom_rule.png\" alt=\"Ramapo\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>General Education Program Requirements (10 Courses)<\/h2>\n<p>To build this well-rounded foundation, every Â鶹´«Ã½ student completes <a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.ramapo.edu\/college-wide-programs\/gened#general-education-categories-and-courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10 General Education courses<\/a> tailored to inspire discovery, bridge different subjects, and fit your unique academic goals.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row colSet\">\n<div class=\"sColumn col-sm-12 col-md-12 \">\n<div class=\"infoBox col-sm-12 col-lg-12  grayBox\" style=\"height: 330px;\"><div class=\"boxTitle\">Keystone Courses<\/div><div class=\"boxContent\"><br \/>\n<em>(take all four)<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>First Year Seminar<\/li>\n<li>Social Science Inquiry<\/li>\n<li>Critical Reading &amp; Writing 102 (must be taken within the first 64 credits)<\/li>\n<li>Studies in the Arts &amp; Humanities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sColumn col-sm-12 col-md-12 \">\n<div class=\"infoBox col-sm-12 col-lg-12  grayBox\" style=\"height: 330px;\"><div class=\"boxTitle\">Keystone Categories<\/div><div class=\"boxContent\"><br \/>\n<em>(take one from each category)<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Global Awareness<\/li>\n<li>Historical Perspectives<\/li>\n<li>Scientific Reasoning<\/li>\n<li>Quantitative Reasoning (must be taken within the first 64 credits)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sColumn col-sm-12 col-md-12 \">\n<div class=\"infoBox col-sm-12 col-lg-12  grayBox\" style=\"height: 330px;\"><div class=\"boxTitle\">Distribution Categories<\/div><div class=\"boxContent\"><br \/>\n<em>(take one course in two out of the three following categories)<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Culture &amp; Creativity<\/li>\n<li>Social Systems and Society<\/li>\n<li>Values &amp; Ethics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"divider\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/rcnjrd\/images\/icons\/ramapo-arch-icom_rule.png\" alt=\"Ramapo\" \/><\/div>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"15\">Specialized Academic Pathways<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16\">Once you step into our core curriculum, you have total flexibility to define where it takes you. Whether you are searching for the right fit, custom-building a degree, or elevating your studies, we guide your next steps.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"17\">Undeclared Student Support<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"18\">Not sure what you want to major in yet? Still exploring? At Â鶹´«Ã½, &#8220;Undeclared&#8221; is an active, supported choice. We view your first year as a deliberate period of guided discovery. We will help you leverage your General Education classes to <strong>test-drive different fields,<\/strong> pairing you with specialized advisors to connect your passions to concrete majors.<b data-path-to-node=\"18\" data-index-in-node=\"340\"><\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"18\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/majors-minors\/\">Begin Your Major Exploration &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"19\">Interdisciplinary Studies Major (B.A.)<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20\">Today\u2019s biggest challenges rarely fit into a single subject or academic area of study. If your passions span multiple schools\u2014like combining computer science with business policy, or psychology with creative writing\u2014the <a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.ramapo.edu\/programs\/UH-BA-IDST\/requirements-aoYks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Interdisciplinary Studies major<\/a> allows you to contract and <strong>custom-build your own major<\/strong> under faculty supervision.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20\"><a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.ramapo.edu\/programs\/UH-BA-IDST\/requirements-aoYks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">See the Requirements to Build Your Own Major &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"21\">The College Honors Program<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22\">The Honors Program is a tight-knit community of scholars that deepens our foundational General Education framework. Honors students enjoy an enriched journey featuring <b data-path-to-node=\"22\" data-index-in-node=\"168\">First-Year Mentoring Teams<\/b>, specialized discussion-driven seminars, and a year-long Senior Capstone Project tailored directly to your post-grad goals.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/honors\/\"> Discover the College Honors Program &amp; Benefits &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"24\">Prestigious Fellowships &amp; Scholarships<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"25\">Your <strong>academic excellence<\/strong> deserves to be recognized and propelled forward. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/prestigious-fellowships-and-scholarships\/\">The Office of Prestigious Fellowships &amp; Scholarships<\/a> helps high-achieving students identify, prepare for, and secure highly competitive national fellowships and institutional scholarships. From research grants to post-graduate funding, we provide the mentorship you need to compete on a global stage.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"25\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/prestigious-fellowships-and-scholarships\/\">Explore Fellowship &amp; Scholarship Opportunities &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"divider\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/rcnjrd\/images\/icons\/ramapo-arch-icom_rule.png\" alt=\"Ramapo\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>Next Steps<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Are you an incoming freshman? Learn more about our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/first-year\/\">First Year Seminar<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Ready to see what our scholars achieve? Read about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/honors\/\">College Honors Program<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Curious about building your own major? View <a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.ramapo.edu\/programs\/UH-BA-IDST\/requirements-aoYks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">requirements for the Interdisciplinary Studies Degree.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"divider\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/rcnjrd\/images\/icons\/ramapo-arch-icom_rule.png\" alt=\"Ramapo\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>Contact Us<\/h2>\n<p>Michael Unger, PhD., Interim Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Honors<br \/>\nEmail: <a href=\"mailto:UGStudies@ramapo.edu\">UGStudies@ramapo.edu<\/a><br \/>\nOffice: ASB-123<br \/>\nPhone: 201-684-7407<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Office of Undergraduate Studies &amp; Honors oversees the core experiences that shape every Â鶹´«Ã½ student\u2019s journey\u2014from your very first seminar to your final capstone. As New Jersey\u2019s Public Liberal [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1011,"featured_media":352,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page_leftCol_header.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-298","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.5 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Office of Undergraduate Studies &amp; Honors - Academics || Ramapo College of New Jersey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover your path at Ramapo College. 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