Ramapo College of New Jersey

Main article: History of Ramapo College In the late 19th century, the Ramapo Valley was developed for large estates by many wealthy families. Ramapo Valley is named after the Ramapough, a band of the Lenape Indians . Theodore Havemeyer and his family arrived in the area in the 1870s. Havemeyer, a founder of the American Sugar Company , purchased and renovated a home on the road that would become Route 202 and developed more than 1,000 acres (400 ha) surrounding the mansion into a farm. In 1889, he had a second mansion built on the property for one of his daughters. That mansion and about 700 acres (280 ha) of the original 1,000 were later purchased by Stephen Birch , president of the Kennecott Copper Company . [ 6 ] In 1968, the New Jersey Department of Higher Education authorized establishing a new state college in Bergen County , due to its increasing population and suburbanization . The criteria for the new college's location were sufficient land for the construction of current needs and future expansion, and proximity to at least one major highway. The locations of existing public and private institutions in the state were also taken into consideration. [ 6 ] The college was planned to serve economically deprived students from urban and rural areas, in addition to a full range of middle-class families. George Potter, an administrator at Grand Valley State University in Michigan , was appointed the first President of the college before a location had been determined. [ 6 ] After many board meetings, it was decided that the former Birch Estate in Mahwah would be the location for the new college. Although the land was farther north than originally intended for the campus, its proximity to Route 17 and mountainous surroundings made it an attractive site.

[ 6 ] : 19 The architects drew up plans for an L-shaped, glass-walled facility consisting of five two-story academic buildings connected by large entry spaces, with each building devoted to a particular department or division. The architects recommended this approach to allow for rapid construction of additional wings onto the various entry spaces, allowing quick expansion of the college. [ 6 ] The former Havemeyer mansion was adapted as the president's house, and the former Birch Mansion was renovated to be used as the administration building of the college. [ 6 ]

Ramapo College arch Ramapo College offers bachelor's degrees in the arts, business, the social and natural sciences, and the humanities, as well as in professional studies programs such as nursing and social work. Eleven programs are offered leading to a master's degree: M.S. in Accounting (MSAC), M.F.A in Creative Music Technology, M.S. in Data Science, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEL), M.S. in Applied Mathematics (MSAM), Master of Science in Educational Technology (MSET), Master of Arts in Special Education (MASE), M.S. in Nursing (MSN), and a Master of Science in Accounting (MSAC). The college also offers a physician assistant (B.S./M.S.) and physical therapy (B.S./D.P.T.) with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey ; a B.A./Master's degree program in Art Therapy with Caldwell University ; a B.S./Doctor of Chiropractic with New York Chiropractic College ; a B.S./D.D.S. and a B.S./D.M.D. with the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine ; a B.S./Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) with SUNY State College of Optometry ; and a B.S./Doctor of Podiatric Medicine through New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM). The five interdisciplinary schools include the Anisfield School of Business (Dean Edward Petkus), the School of Contemporary Arts (Dean Ken Goldstein), the School of Humanities and Global Studies (Dean Susan Hangen), the School of Social Science and Human Services (Dean Aaron Lorenz), and the School of Theoretical and Applied Science (Interim Dean Edward Saiff). The Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, which opened in December 2022, provides assistance to law enforcement in solving cases including identification of human remains and determination of wrongful convictions, and offers a certificate program.

[ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] Accreditation The administration building at Ramapo College, built in 1889, was formerly Birch Mansion Ramapo College was established in 1968 as a state-supported, co-educational, four-year College for liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Ramapo received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in 1975. Individual programs also received accreditation. The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education , the Chemistry Program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the Teacher Certification program is approved by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and the State of New Jersey , and the Anisfield School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ( AACSB ). Ramapo College is also a founding member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges .