College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Office of the Dean
110 Science Building
Anthony Troy Adams,Interim Dean
In the cooperation of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, we provide Graduate course work to support the Master of Education and AA certification in secondary education. These courses are offered by the departments languages and literatures, history and political science and sociology and criminal justice.
| Degree | Required Admission Test |
|---|---|
| M.A. | GRE General or MAT |
The Master of Arts Program in History is designed to give students advanced instruction relating to (1) important historical issues, events, personalities and periods in American and world history; (2) methods of historical research and historical writing; and (3) significant historical interpretations which have shaped our understanding of history. The program prepares students for doctoral level work.
A minimum 39semester hours are necessary to earn the M.A. degree in history. Required courses include Historiography (HIS 500), Two World Wars (HIS 530),Colonial Period in American History (HIS 552), and American Constitutional History (HIS 587). Seminar in American History (HIS 590), Seminar in African-American History Before 1865 (HIS 564), and Seminar in African-American History II Since 1865 (565) also are required courses. Students also must complete four electives (two American history, andtwo non-American history) and a master’s thesis. Research and Thesis I (HIS 595), as well as Research and Thesis II (HIS 596), are taken before the final document is submitted to the department for review.
All M.A. candidates have to demonstrate competency in an approved foreign language. The department administers a written examination which assesses candidates’ reading knowledge of the language they select. In lieu of the written exam, candidates can complete at least six hours, or a minimum of two classes, of undergraduate or graduate coursework in one foreign language. In this instance, an A or B must be earned in each class to satisfy the foreign-language requirement. (The completion process is explained further at section three, admissions and academic regulations, of the graduate catalog.)
A new option in Public History is available beginning Fall 2015.Students interested in this option are required to take 9 hours in general history courses and 18 hours of required courses in Archives and Museum studies. In addition, students need to complete 12 hours of electives which could include 6 hours toward a field study project or 6 hours toward a special topics study or 6 hours for writing a Master of Arts thesis. The goal of the Public History program is to prepare students for careers as archivists, public historians, and curators. Places of employment would include museums, cultural centers, cultural, state, and national parks, presidential libraries, and historic sites.
An applicant to the graduate program in history must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A degree in history is preferred; however, a degree in an allied field with a strong concentration in history is acceptable provided that the applicant meets the minimum standards of the graduate school.
All M.A. candidates must pass a comprehensive examination and have the option of writing a thesis that meets departmental approval. Students forgoing the thesis are required to take an additional 6 credits or two courses.
History
Master of Arts (M.A.) DegreeTotal Number Credits: 39 semester hours minimum required
Required Courses (27 semester hours)
| HIS 500 | Historiography | 3 |
| HIS 530 | The Two World Wars | 3 |
| HIS 552 | The Colonial Period in America History | 3 |
| HIS 564 | African-American History Before 1865 | 3 |
| HIS 565 | African-American History Since 1865 | 3 |
| HIS 587 | American Constitutional History | 3 |
| HIS 590 | Seminar in American History | 3 |
| HIS 595 | Researchand Thesis I | 3 |
| HIS 596 | Research and Thesis II | 3 |
Major Elective Course(12 semester hours required)
| HIS 501 | World History since 1900 | 3 |
| HIS 502 | Slavery and the Abolitionist Movement | 3 |
| HIS 504 | The Civil Rights Movement and theBlack Power Revolt | 3 |
| HIS 520 | Modern African History: Since 1945 | 3 |
| HIS 525 | RussianHistory: 1917 to 1991 | 3 |
| HIS 526 | Minority Problemsin the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| HIS 535 | Diplomatic History of the United States | 3 |
| HIS 575 | The Great Depression and the New Deal | 3 |
| HIS 580 | Economic History of the United States | 3 |
| HIS 585 | The Cold War (1945-1991) | 3 |
| HIS 586 | American Diplomatic History Since 1875 | 3 |
| HIS 625 | Problems in the Far East in theTwentieth Century | 3 |
| HIS 642 | The Gilded Age | 3 |
| HIS 643 | The South in the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| HIS 647 | Relations of the U.S.to Latin America | 3 |
Social Work
Master of SocialWork (MSW)
Alabama State University hasa new Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program, approvedby the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE)which began summer2016. The program offers three degreetracks:advanced -standing (12 months);traditional (two-year, full-time);;and part-time (four-year).Students have the choice of the following concentrations: Gerontology (GSW), Forensic Social Work (FSW) or Mental Health (MHSW).
The program will prepare students for advanced social work training/academic leadership inthe areas of Forensics, Gerontology,Behavioral and Mental Health. The program is designed to attract highly motivatedstudents who demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting social and economic justice. Students will learn to systematically apply social work knowledge and skills (theory, researchmethods, and best practices) to assist "at-risk" populations.
The Master of Social Work program has begun the three year process of accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program anticipates full accreditation to be final by 2018.
Mission of the Master of Social Work Program
The mission of the MSW program at ASU is to prepare students for advanced professional practice and research. As related to the University’s mission, the Department’s mission is to prepare students with requisite advanced social work knowledge, skills, and values in specialized areas of practice, the use of scientific inquiring. Students will be able to apply critical thinking skills to their understanding and commitment to diverse populations to promoting human and community well-being while alleviating social and economic injustice to diverse populations nationally and internationally, particularly those that are unique to Alabama’s poor and oppressed communities.
Goals of the MSW Program are to:
- Integrate scholarship into practice through an evidence-based knowledge that encourages formative and summative evaluation, and which subscribes to best practices in the field.
- Take an advocacy role in addressing social problems, including crime and violence, social welfare, family and community dysfunction.
- Prepare students to practice in a manner consistent with using ethical principles in the development of research to further advance and enhancesocial workknowledge and skills.
- Prepare students to apply critical thinking skills in their understanding and commitment to alleviating social problems within the context of research theory and socialwork practice.
- Provide students with requisite knowledge, values, and skillsto become independent and effective leaders who can mobilize resources to transform and empower communities.
- Prepare students to take an active professional role in addressingsocial problems in order to ensure social justice.
- Apply the principles of Social Work to the legal system.This includes applicable local, state, and Federal laws; civil and criminal courts and the juvenile justice system; law enforcement agencies, and correctional facilities.
Objectives:
The objectives of the M.S.W. Program are to ensure that students will:
- Apply knowledge and skills learned in the research curriculum by conducting (a) literature reviews, (b) learning to frame research questions, and(c) determining appropriate statistical techniques to assess and evaluate circumstances for the betterment of clients.
- Develop and use scientifically-based knowledge, evidence based practice approaches, and self-evaluations of their practice to advance professional knowledge and become life-long learners.
- Apply effective strategies of advocacy and social change to promote social and economic justice by empowering at-risk populations characterized by age,class,color,disability,ethnicity,gender,national origin,race,religion,and/or sexual orientation. Use strategies of advocacy to promote social change that leads to social and economic justice.
- Commit to visions of social work practices based on equitable human rights and economic, social and political justice, particularly in underserved urban and rural areas.
- Understand the importance of diversity and its relationship to individuals, families and groups, communities and cultures. Theory, research, practice, and policy will guide social work interventions
- Employ knowledge through the use of a strengths-based policy perspective and demonstrate effective use of social work theories, techniques and interventions.
- Utilize methods of scientific inquiry competently to inform social work practice and affect positive outcomes.
- Engage in cross-disciplinary research collaborations and scholarship to advance the discipline and determine ways to best serve clients.
- Develop valid and reliable assessment tools to mitigate social problems plaguing underserved populations.
Admission Requirements:
- Advanced Standing-minimum 3.00 undergraduate grade point average [GPA] ANDa Bachelor of Social Work Degree from a CSWE accredited social work program within the last eight (8) years
- Traditional/Part-time-Bachelor's degree minimum 2.7 undergraduate grade point average [GPA]
- GRE or MAT score transcripts
- A completed application to the Murphy Graduate School
- A completed application to the Master of Social Work Program
- Three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to evaluate an applicant’s academic abilities and/or character
Social Work CurriculumAdvanced Standing (one-year)(36 hours)
Summer Bridge Term
| SWK 600 | Advanced Standing | 2 |
| SWK 509 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| SWK 510 | Group Dynamics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 8 |
Select One Concentration
Forensic Social Work (FSW)
Fall Semester
| SWK 605 | Intro. To FSW | 3 |
| SWK 606 | Policy, Leadership & Admin in FSW | 3 |
| SWK 607 | Expert Testimony in FSW | 3 |
| SWK 608 | Comm. Supervision w/Spec. Pop | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
Spring Semester
| SWK 601 | Adv. Research & Prog. Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK 609 | Adv. Theory & Practice in FSW | 3 |
| SWK 602 | Integrative Seminar | 3 |
| SWK 603 | Field Practicum II | 6 |
| SWK 604 | Field Practicum Seminar II | 1 |
| Total Credits | 16 |
Gerontology (GSW)
Fall Semester
| SWK 610 | Intro. To GSW | 3 |
| SWK 611 | Policy, Leadership & Admin in GSW | 3 |
| SWK 612 | Evid.-Based Practice in Gerontology | 3 |
| SWK 613 | Gerontology Case Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
Spring Semester
| SWK 601 | Adv. Research & Prog. Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK 614 | Adv. Theory & Practice in GSW | 3 |
| SWK 602 | Integrative Seminar | 3 |
| SWK 603 | Field Practicum II | 6 |
| SWK 604 | Field Practicum Seminar II | 1 |
| Total Credits | 16 |
Mental Health (MHSW)
Fall Semester
| SWK 615 | Multi-Cultural App. of DSM-V | 3 |
| SWK 617 | Policy, Leadership & Admin in MHSW | 3 |
| SWK 616 | Dual Diagnosis & Assessments | 3 |
| SWK 623 | Special Topics in Mental Health | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
Spring Semester
| SWK 601 | Adv. Research & Prog. Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK 614 | Adv. Theory & Practice in MHSW | 3 |
| SWK 602 | Integrative Seminar | 3 |
| SWK 603 | Field Practicum II | 6 |
| SWK 604 | Field Practicum Seminar II | 1 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
Traditional Full-Time (two-year) (60 hours)
Foundation Year (1styear)
Fall Semester
| SWK 501 | Foundations of SWK Practice | 3 |
| SWK 502 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SWK 504 | Social Welfare Pol. & Serv. I | 3 |
| SWK 510 | Group Dynamics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
Spring Semester
| SWK 503 | Human Behavior and the Social EnvironmentII | 3 |
| SWK 505 | Soclal Welfare Pol. & Serv. II | 3 |
| SWK 506 | Intermediate Research | 3 |
| SWK 507 | Field Practicum I | 4 |
| SWK 508 | Field Practicum Seminar I | 1 |
| Total Credits | 14 |
*Summer Term
| Elective 1 | 3 |
| Elective 2 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 |
*Selected course electives must be approved by MSW Faculty Advisor
Concentration Year (2ndyear)
Select One Concentration
Foresensic Social Work (FSW)
Fall Semester
| SWK 505 | Intro. To FSW | 3 |
| SWK 506 | Policy, Leadership & Admin in FSW | 3 |
| SWK 507 | Expert Testimony in FSW | 3 |
| SWK 508 | Comm. Supervision w/Spec. Pop | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
Spring Semester
| SWK 601 | Adv. Research & Prog. Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK 609 | Adv. Theory & Practice in FSW | 3 |
| SWK 602 | Integrative Seminar | 3 |
| SWK 603 | Field Practicum II | 6 |
| SWK 604 | Field Practicum Seminar II | 1 |
| Total Credits | 16 |
Gerontology (GSW)
Fall Semester
| SWK 610 | Intro. To GSW | 3 |
| SWK 611 | Policy, Leadership & Admin in GSW | 3 |
| SWK 612 | Evid.-Based Practice in Gerontology | 3 |
| SWK 613 | Gerontology Case Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
Spring Semester
| SWK 601 | Adv. Research & Prog. Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK 614 | Adv. Theory & Practice in GSW | 3 |
| SWK 602 | Integrative Seminar | 3 |
| SWK 603 | Field Practicum II | 6 |
| SWK 604 | Field Practicum Seminar II | 1 |
| Total Credits | 16 |
Mental Health (MHSW)
Fall Semester
| SWK 615 | Multi-Cultural App. of DSM-V | 3 |
| SWK 617 | Policy, Leadership & Admin in MHSW | 3 |
| SWK 616 | Dual Diagnosis & Assessments | 3 |
| SWK 623 | Special Topics in Mental Health | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
Spring Semester
| SWK 601 | Adv. Research & Prog. Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK 614 | Adv. Theory & Practice in MHSW | 3 |
| SWK 602 | Integrative Seminar | 3 |
| SWK 603 | Field Practicum II | 6 |
| SWK 604 | Field Practicum Seminar II | 1 |
| Total Credits | 16 |
* Elective Courses-Upon review and approval from the MSW faculty advisor, students may be approved to take elective graduate courses offered by the Murphy Graduate School that are complimentary to the selected concentration of study.
PLEASE NOTE ALL STATEMENTS IN THIS CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF THE MSW PRGRAM ARE ANNOUNCMENTS OF CURRENT POLICIES AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
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