Career Explorations

Classics and General Humanities examine the culture, ideas and values of earlier Western and related civilizations both in their original time periods and as they have been appropriated and transmuted by later cultures, especially American. The common goals of our programs are to develop a sense of how to conduct critical inquiry into past cultures and modern manifestations of their ideas and values; to impart a feeling for the recurring patterns but also enormous diversity of human culture; and to explore how past cultures form the basis for modern cultures and cultural attitudes.

Classics Exploration: Classics is a broad program in ancient civilization which studies the history, languages, literature, philosophy, art, religion, and daily life of the ancient Mediterranean world as seen through texts and artifacts.
Employment Areas: Education, The Arts, Government, Non-Profit, Communications and Business/Industry. Download Classics Career Exploration

Humanities Exploration: The Humanities program seeks to develop a critical awareness of how the classical past has been utilized as a symbol or an ideal by modern cultures, including American, and how western culture has developed its own particular views about itself as being distinctly different from non-western cultures. The major is especially recommended for students who have a broad interest in the liberal arts either for their own sake or as preparation for business and the professions. The Humanities program is unique in allowing students the opportunity to select a wide spectrum of courses from a multiplicity of different disciplines (history, literature, philosophy, religious studies, art history, music history).
Employment Areas: Education, Advocacy, Social Services, Media Arts, Law and Government, Business. Download Humanities Career Exploration

In the English Department, students learn to read and write critically, and to think and conduct research independently. Their intellectual horizons are broadened through an introduction to works from a range of historical periods and countries around the world. The major helps them become fluent in critical methods—historicism, race and gender studies, formal and textual analysis—that they can apply not just to literature, but also to the representations at the heart of their rapidly changing world. Students develop higher-level writing and thinking skills that support careers in teaching, publishing, law, journalism, communications, the mental health professions and business.

Employment Areas: Writing/Editing, Education, Law, Publishing, Advertising, Public Relations, Business/Industry. Download English Career Exploration

The Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies program at Montclair State University takes seriously and thoughtfully its status as interdisciplinary. We approach our work, informed by an understanding of the intersectional experience of gender and sexuality, as indeed alive in all disciplinary arenas, as relevant across and also inter or between: from the study of the arts to the scientific research lab, in how we educate future teachers to our efforts to understand the human mind. Gender and sexuality are forces within which we all move as human beings, and they shift and change across categories of race, class, ability, ethnic identity and more.

Employment Areas: Business and Industry, Healthcare, Human Services, Education, Writing, Law and Politics, Government. Download Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Career Exploration

Students of History pursue inquiry for the sake of inquiry and will learn to question the world around them. You will gain knowledge of history, analyze and interpret original sources, and contextualize them in papers, digital media, podcasts, online discussion posts, and internships at leading institutions. The knowledge and skills you learn translate into fulfilling careers.

Employment Areas: Government, Politics, Law, Non-Profit, Curatorial and Archival Management, Journalism, Education, Business. Download History Career Exploration

The Mission of the Department of Justice Studies is to advance research and examine the intersection of justice, law, policy and social change. We analyze the conception and practice of justice through sociological, philosophical, criminological, legal and political lenses. We also seek to bridge the gap between the various social science and legal disciplines in order to gain new insights on a wide range of issues concerning social justice. Drawing on the expertise of its faculty from the fields of criminology, sociology, political theory and law, the Justice Studies major explores justice in its broadest conception and gain a mastery of justice theories from multidisciplinary and intersectional perspectives. In sum, students will learn to think critically and become productive members of the community who recognize and respond to injustice in its many manifestations.

Employment Areas: (INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE) International Criminal Justice, Migration and Immigration, International and Domestic Law, Human Rights, International Justice and Transnational Justice, (JUSTICE SYSTEMS) Criminal Justice System, Social Services, Treatment Programs, Advocacy, Research Centers, (PARALEGAL STUDIES) Criminal Law, Civil Law (Bankruptcy, Corporate, Immigration, Litigation, Personal Injury, Real Estate, Intellectual Property, Family, Wills; Trusts, Probates), Investigation, Compliance, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Parole, Probation, Human Rights, Civil Rights, Nursing, Banking/Finance, Publishing, Entertainment Industry. Download Justice Studies Career Exploration

Language, Business and Culture is an integrated and interdisciplinary major offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Feliciano School of Business. The innovative program combines intensive language and culture study (a choice of Arabic, French, German, Italian or Spanish) with fundamental business skills to prepare students for exciting careers both at home and abroad.

Majors explore the relevance of foreign language learning in a globalized world by honing target-language skills and applying knowledge to a range of business and professional-related fields. Students develop the hard and soft skills that employers seek: transferable soft skills, including intercultural competence, writing skills, oral communication, critical thinking and cognitive flexibility, and the knowledge base of international business, accounting, economics, finance, technology and cross-cultural business communications.

Employment Areas: Download Language, Business and Culture Exploration.

Linguistics is the scientific study of natural human language; it contributes significantly to our understanding of what it means to be human. As such, linguistics forms an indispensable part of a liberal arts education. It is a broad field, covering all aspects of cognitive and social functioning. Linguists study language in general through the study of specific languages. They study modern languages, ancient languages and endangered languages. They carry out these studies in the classroom, in computer, psychology, and speech laboratories, in fieldwork throughout the world, and in settings where languages are interpreted.

Employment Areas: Teaching, Computational Linguistics, Government, Communication Disorders, Additional Areas. Download Linguistics Career Exploration

The Medical Humanities program investigates the human experience of health and illness. The Medical Humanities is an interdisciplinary field, one that lies at the intersection of the social sciences, the humanities, the arts, the biomedical sciences and the caregiving disciplines.

Majors examine fundamental and far-ranging questions about health and illness, from personal health struggles to global medical systems. Through interactions with faculty members from colleges and schools across the university, they learn how different social contexts, belief systems, historical traditions and literary works shape our perspectives on disease and the healing arts. Majors explore such diverse subjects as the ethics of care, patient advocacy, body image, narrative medicine, disabilities rights, medical racism, reproductive autonomy, genetic counseling, arts-based therapies, public health, health policy and the nature of death and dying.

Employment Areas: Behavioral Science and Health Education, Health Policy and Administration, Healthcare, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology, International Health, Biostatistics. Download Medical Humanities Career Exploration

Philosophy is the rational inquiry into our most basic beliefs and values. Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” This examination involves seeking answers to questions such as: How should I live? • What is truth? • How is the mind related to the body? • Do we have free will? • What is justice? • How should we make ethical judgments when there seems to be no clear right or wrong answer?  • Are we more likely to know what is real through reason or through the senses? • How am I related to the world and to others? • What is the value of art? • How does technology mediate our engagement with the world and with others? A philosopher’s examination into these and other issues is grounded on evidence, reasoning, and argument. If you are a curious person who enjoys intellectual challenges, then you may find a philosophy classroom invigorating.

Employment Areas: Education, Ethics Communication, Law, Politics, Religiously Affiliated Areas, Social/Community Services, Government/Politics. Download Philosophy Career Exploration

Political Science Exploration: The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) once said that Political Science was the most important subject to study because it teaches us how and why people join together in communities and make the choices they do. This remains true today as we struggle to understand how to cope with many difficult problems in our society and in other countries. Political Science also helps us to understand how our choices affect the world around us. Students who major or minor in Political Science will learn about the institutions, groups, leaders, policies and ideas that shape the American political system and the governments of foreign countries.
Employment Areas: Government, Law, Politics, Nonprofit, Business, Journalism, Broadcasting, Education. Download Political Science Career Exploration

Jurisprudence, Law and Society Exploration: The Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence, Law and Society provides a solid foundation for students aspiring to law school and other graduate study, as well as for work in many other careers that require analytic, conceptual, and communications skills. It provides an opportunity for the interdisciplinary study of law in the liberal arts. The major in Jurisprudence represents the confluence of law, theories of justice, humanistic studies and social issues.Through this major, undergraduate students at Montclair State University have the opportunity to acquire the fundamental knowledge essential to understanding legal institutions and processes. Students in the major develop intellectual skills necessary to evaluate policies, practices, and philosophies within the context of nation and legal systems.
Employment Areas: Corporate Practice, Federal Government, Judicial Clerkships, Politics, Private Practice, Public Interest Law, Teaching, State and Local Government, Patent & Copyright Law, Energy Law, Natural Resources & Environmental Law, Financial Planning, Investment Banking, Estate Planning, Legal Publishing/Journalism, Law Firm Administration, Higher Education Administration, Law Librarian. Download Jurisprudence, Law and Society Career Exploration

The Psychology Department teaches students to use the science of psychology to understand the world and its people. Students learn the value of evidence-based practices in understanding, predicting, controlling and solving problems in a complex, diverse and information-rich world. Students develop critical thinking skills by applying theoretical conceptions of experience using scientific methods and statistical procedures to improve understanding. We further achieve our mission by demonstrating that psychological science does improve and impact humanity.

Employment Areas: Human Services, Research, Human Resources, Public Relations, Advertising, Market Research, Teaching, Retailing, Sales. Download Psychology Career Exploration

The Religion major studies the many ways in which religion intersects with society, culture, politics and ethics through investigation of cultures and peoples around the world. A variety of theoretical and methodological approaches will be used to explore religious traditions in today’s world as well as the spirituality of societies, past and present. Students study the impact of religion on world politics and the role of women in religious history. They will also learn the fine points of interpreting religious texts, like the Qur’an or the Bhagavad Gita and examine religious philosophies such as Buddhism, Daoism, or any of the world’s religious traditions.

Employment Areas: International Areas, Education, Business, Communication, Social Services, Religiously Affiliated Areas. Download Religion Career Exploration

The Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy at Montclair State University offers undergraduate and graduate academic programs that specialize in service and advocacy to children, youth, and families. The department’s distinguished faculty include professionals from the disciplines that define public child welfare including social work, psychology, and law. Through a multidisciplinary lens, our academic programs provide students a unique educational perspective with which to navigate the intricacies of the public child welfare system and beyond. Our unique focus, faculty, and interdisciplinary curriculum provides students an unrivaled opportunity to prepare for work in helping professions serving children and families.

Child Advocacy Exploration: There is an increasing demand for trained professionals who understand the complex challenges faced by today’s children and their families, many of whom lack adequate access to education, healthcare, and other basic services. Child advocacy professionals are prepared to help. They draw on an interdisciplinary knowledge base to represent the rights of children and families. A child advocacy professional can hold many different job titles. Our graduates pursue careers in non-profit management, mental health, social work, and other helping professions. Graduates work with state agencies, legal organizations, school systems, non-profit agencies, and other community based organizations.
Employment Areas: Pre-School/Daycare, Community Services, Social Services Education, Communications & Business. Download Child Advocacy Career Exploration

Social Work:  For career information please see our Masters of Social Work program. 

Sociology courses stay with you for the rest of your life and give you the knowledge to address the most challenging issues of our time. The program includes studies into Rich and Poor Nations, Environmental Justice, Sexuality, Urbanization, Race and Ethnic Relations, Marriage and Family, Bullying, Social Change, Sports and Gender Policy. Research on these topics will be conducted through surveys, interviews, focus groups and ethnographies. The knowledge and skills will make you a perfect candidate for careers in social work, counseling, research, human resources, public relations, criminal justice, education, law, market research and more.

Employment Areas: Human Services, Criminal Justice, Education, Government, Social Science Research, Environment and Society, Business. Download Sociology Career Exploration

The Spanish and Latino Studies Department provides students with instruction in and understanding of the Spanish, Latino and Portuguese languages and the fundamental literary, cultural and social-historical constructs of those cultures. Students will have an appreciation for the diversity of the cultures and their international contributions.

Employment Areas: Government, Arts, Media, Entertainment, Industry and Commerce, Travel and Tourism. Download Foreign Languages Career Exploration (Spanish and Latino Studies)

Uniting professional communication and rhetorical studies, Writing Studies Majors are prepared and empowered to be dynamic thinkers and writers in the 21st century. Writing Studies is an essential foundation for a diversity of careers in professional, civic, technical, and scientific writing, and key preparation for graduate studies in writing.

Employment Areas: Public and Professional Writing Studies Exploration.

The World Languages and Cultures department offers a diverse range of programs spanning nine languages. In addition to language study, students focus on the literature, cinema, music and other cultural aspects of the countries in which these languages are spoken.

Employment Areas: Government, Arts, Media, Entertainment, Industry and Commerce, Travel and Tourism. Download Foreign Languages Career Exploration (World Languages and Cultures)