Division of Humanities and Bilingual Studies

Division of Humanities & Bilingual Studies

The Humanities & Bilingual Studies Division’s degrees provide a broad and strong foundation in literature, history, communications, world languages, art, music, and other key disciplines. Any and all students wishing to expand their scope and understanding of the humanistic perspective should seriously consider one of our division’s degree programs. There is something for everyone within these subject areas. A liberal arts education can be a gateway to many wide-ranging career opportunities.

For students unable to speak the English language fluently, the Division also offers four different levels of English as a Second Language (ESL). These courses range in purpose and are designed to help new speakers of English become fluent and proficient in the language, becoming eligible to pursue degrees and certificates here at Essex County College.

Location: Level I, Red Area

Divisional Contact Number: 973-877-3285

Chairperson: Dr. William J. Tooma (wtooma@essex.edu)

Administrative Assistant: Melissa Malagi (mel1malagi@essex.edu)

Disciplines 3-Column

Faculty	Discipline	Coordinator
Dr. Viral Bhatt (vbhatt@essex.edu)	French
Prof. Maria Bruan (bruan@essex.edu)	English as a Second Language
Dr. Eileen De Freece (defreece@essex.edu)	English
Prof. Jhestarri DePasquale (jdepasq1@essex.edu)	History
Prof. Jamal Elborj (jelborj@essex.edu)	English
Prof. Rachal Gasataya (rgasatay@essex.edu)	Music
Dr. Nessie Hill (hill@essex.edu)	English
Prof. Samuel Lumbsden (slumbsde@essex.edu)	English as a Second Language	ESL Coordinator
Prof. Mikal Nash (nash@essex.edu)	History
Prof. Sean O’Connell (soconnel@essex.edu)	English
Dr. Michael Pekarofski (pekarofski@essex.edu)	English as a Second Language
Dr. Robert Spellman (spellman@essex.edu)	Art
Dr. Margaret Stevens (mstevens@essex.edu)	History
Prof. Alexandra Tangarife (atangari@essex.edu)	English
Prof. Jennifer Wager (jwager@essex.edu)	Communications
Prof. Rebecca Williams (wrebecca@essex.edu)	English

Degrees

Art

Curriculum Code: 0401

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree

Why major in Art?

ECC’s Art degree program majors take courses which ensure a strong technical and artistic foundation. The curriculum parallels the first two years of a four-year degree program. Students will be able to take, in addition to their general education requirements, core foundational courses within their chosen discipline.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of history of art through time and diverse cultures;
• Research and analyze a particular artist, period, style, work, or trend in art to prepare an MLA-formatted research paper which uses information technology in its preparation;
• Demonstrate proficiency in performing and using a variety of drawing, design, and painting techniques, materials, and styles; and
• Produce a personal portfolio of two- and three-dimensional works of art.

Liberal Arts: General

Curriculum Code: 0199

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree

Why major in Liberal Arts: General?

ECC’s Liberal Arts: General degree program majors are able to take a bulk of their general education requirements while also getting the opportunity to take several Humanities or Social Science electives. This program is designed for those who wish to explore a broader base of study.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Apply principles of effective rhetoric and critical thinking in oral presentations and writing assignments;
• Utilize the library, Internet, and other electronic sources to prepare research projects following Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines for source documentation;
• Apply critical and analytical analysis techniques to literary works and visual art works and/or musical pieces of various periods, styles, and genres;
• Demonstrate knowledge of historical events and fundamental concepts and theories of analysis used in historical interpretation; and Compare and analyze diverse cultures throughout history.

Liberal Arts: Africana Studies Option

Curriculum Code: 019A

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree

Why major in Liberal Arts: Africana Studies Option?

ECC’s Liberal Arts: Africana Studies Option degree program is for those who desire a strong foundation of knowledge within African and African-American art, cinema, literature, history, and sociology. Majors of this program may go on to work in the fields of government service, teaching, law, publishing, and business.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the arts, history, and literature of Africa, the African-American community, and the Caribbean;

  

• Apply critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication skills to analyze and discuss literary and/or art works, historical events, and topics related to cultural diversity; and
• Utilize the library, Internet, and other electronic sources to prepare research projects that follow MLA, APA, and/or Chicago Manual of style guidelines for source documentation.

Liberal Arts: English Option

Curriculum Code: 019E

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree

Why major in Liberal Arts: English Option?

ECC’s Liberal Arts: English Option provides students the opportunity to sharpen their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills by

taking courses centered on different styles of writing and a variety of literature-based ones. Not just meant for those seeking future careers in education, this degree program option will prepare students for employment in a variety of fields.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Read and discuss literary works of various lengths;
• Recognize and use various modes of writing in order to develop literary analytical essays; and
• Make proper use of MLA Style in-text parenthetical citations.

Liberal Arts: Entertainment Production Option

Curriculum Code: 019C

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree

Why major in Liberal Arts: Entertainment Production Option?

ECC’s Liberal Arts: Entertainment Production Option is for students interested in completing their general education requirements as a set of core foundational courses within cinema studies, film and television production, and audio production (radio/podcasting).

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the techniques, forms, and principles of television, film or radio production and post-production;
• Analyze and explain various media, their histories and their relation to society;
• Utilize film analysis involving form, storytelling and narrative elements to evaluate their function within a film;
• Write for various media, utilizing professional formats;
• Operate industry-standard audio and video production and post-production equipment and software to create digital media.

Liberal Arts: History Option

Curriculum Code: 019H

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree

Why major in Liberal Arts: History Option?

ECC’s Liberal Arts: History Option provides students the opportunity to study the people, times, and events which have shaped the world in which we currently live. Not just meant for those seeking future careers in education, this degree program option will prepare students for employment in a variety of fields.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Show an understanding of how individuals are shaped by their own past and by the past of their society and institutions;
• Show an understanding of how the operation of large-scale forces are responsible for causing change over time;
• Identify and describe the contours and stakes of conversations among historians within defined historiographical fields;
• Apply historical methods to evaluate critically the record of the past and how historians and others have interpreted it; and
• Show basic historical research skills, including (as appropriate) the effective use of libraries, archives, and databases.

Liberal Arts: Theater Option

Curriculum Code: 019D

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree

Why major in Liberal Arts: Theater Option?

ECC’s Liberal Arts: Theater Option prepares students for a career in the field by providing them a core of courses designed to introduce them to and refine their skills in acting, directing, and playwriting. In addition, students will develop a strong appreciation for the history of the medium.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Learn to understand the impact of the theater upon various societies over the course of time;
• Perform effectively;
• Evaluate dramatic performances and/or texts;
• Understand the principles which go into directing and staging for the theater;
• Develop and write their own scenes and plays.

Liberal Arts: World Language Option

Curriculum Code: 019L

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree

Why major in Liberal Arts: World Language Option?

ECC’s Liberal Arts: World Language Option is designed for students who plan to go into fields of work such as teaching, interpreting, and translation. Majors will be able to study within either one or two different languages, depending upon their personal preference.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Proficiently write, read, speak, and listen to intermediate-level Spanish that emphasizes real-life contexts; and
• Describe various cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.

Music

Curriculum Code: 0409

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree

Why major in Music?

ECC’s Music degree program is designed for students to pick between two tracts of study: vocal or instrumental. Upon making that choice, majors will all take several level of music theory in addition to courses in ear training, sighting singing, and music technology.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate the development of musical performance skills commensurate to their level of experience;
• Utilize critical writing skills to critique musical performance;
• Create and analyze musical compositions to demonstrate mastery of fundamental principles of music theory;
• Demonstrate an aural application of music theory; and
• Demonstrate a vocal or keyboard application of music theory.

New Media Technology

Curriculum Code: 2071

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree

Why major in New Media Technology?

ECC’s New Media Technology is designed for students to enter the workforce upon graduating. It is not meant for a seamless transfer to a four-year institution although graduates of the program do sometimes make the choice to do so. Majors will take a plethora of courses within art, entertainment production, and interactive media.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Apply fundamental principles of design to new media projects;
• Utilize industry-standard software applications and hardware equipment to produce new media projects;
• Demonstrate knowledge of storyboarding, character development, interactivity and introductory scripting using various computer software platforms and applications.

Academic Certificates

Art

Curriculum Code: 3072

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Academic Certificate (AC) 

Why pursue the Art Academic Certificate?

This certificate is designed for those seeking to enhance their skillset within the visual arts. While created with K-12 teachers in mind, anyone is eligible to enroll. It offers a seamless transfer to the Art AA degree program should someone wish to continue on from 30 to 60 credits.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of history of art through time and diverse cultures;
• Research and analyze a particular artist, period, style, work, or trend in art to prepare an MLA-formatted research paper which uses information technology in its preparation;
• Demonstrate proficiency in performing and using a variety of drawing, design, and painting techniques, materials, and styles; and
• Produce a personal portfolio of two- and three-dimensional works of art.

English

Curriculum Code: 3073

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Academic Certificate (AC) 

Why pursue the English Academic Certificate?

This certificate is designed for those seeking to gain knowledge within technical writing, creative writing, and literature. While created with K-12 teachers in mind, anyone is eligible to enroll. It offers a seamless transfer to the Liberal Arts: English Option AA degree program should someone wish to continue on from 30 to 60 credits.

.Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Read and discuss literary works of various lengths;
• Recognize and use various modes of writing in order to develop literary analytical essays; and
• Make proper use of MLA Style in-text parenthetical citations.

History

Curriculum Code: 3074

Will Earn Upon Program Completion: Academic Certificate (AC) 

Why pursue the History Academic Certificate?

This certificate is designed for those seeking to gain knowledge within the study of various historical periods and topics. While created with K-12 teachers in mind, anyone is eligible to enroll. It offers a seamless transfer to the Liberal Arts: History Option AA degree program should someone wish to continue on from 30 to 60 credits.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Show an understanding of how individuals are shaped by their own past and by the past of their society and institutions;
• Show an understanding of how the operation of large-scale forces are responsible for causing change over time;
• Identify and describe the contours and stakes of conversations among historians within defined historiographical fields;
• Apply historical methods to evaluate critically the record of the past and how historians and others have interpreted it; and
• Show basic historical research skills, including (as appropriate) the effective use of libraries, archives, and databases.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I major in a degree or certificate program, can I transfer to a four-year college or university?

ECC’s AA and AS degree programs are designed for to you transfer to a four-year institution so that students can complete their baccalaureates. Our AAS degree programs are designed for graduates to immediately enter the workforce, although some later choose to attend a four-year institution (how the transfer credits get determined can vary for this type of degree). The certificates are designed for you to put towards pursuing associate degrees, if you so choose.

Are there any requirements I must satisfy before I start taking courses in my major?

Based on initial placement, you may have to take the ENG-099/101 co-requisite, which replaces traditional remedial English here at ECC. It is a 4.5-credit version of the standalone ENG-101 and will prepare you for further study here. In addition, your initial placement may result in your having to take remedial mathematics courses, but if you are a major within the Humanities & Bilingual Studies Division, the only standalone remedial math you will have to take is MTH-086/086T. Upon passing that, you can take either MTH-091S/101 or MTH-093S/103, which are similar to the ENG co-requisite.

How long will it take for me to complete my degree or certificate program?

For students pursuing AA, AS, or AAS degree programs, the length to completion can vary. If majors take a full-time load (a minimum of 12 college-level credits) each Fall and Spring and take advantage of the Winter Intercession and two Summer Sessions, there is no reason that it should take longer than two to two and a half years to finish your studies at ECC. The certificates should not take longer than a year to a year and a half.

Where should I direct specific questions about a degree or certificate program?

Call the Humanities & Bilingual Studies Division’s main number at 973-877-3285.