Degree – Master of Science in Secondary Education, MSEd
Concentration: Social Science

Description of Program

The Master of Science in Secondary Education (MSEd) degree program offers endorsements in 14 areas. Graduates are prepared for advanced preparation to serve as teachers or practitioners in various educational capacities. The endorsement in Social Science is an interdisciplinary degree program designed for social studies teachers in junior and senior high schools and community colleges.

Learning Outcomes

  • Acquire advanced knowledge and theory in the social sciences and allied fields
  • Explore, develop, and disseminate techniques and methods of teaching and research in the social and behavioral areas of concern
  • Develop enhanced awareness of current and future developments in a modernized global society
  • Apply knowledge and skills to become competent professional and leader in communities as well as the greater society

Admission Requirements:

Students applying for entrance to the Master of Secondary Education in Social Science are required to submit an application for admission, Apply Online (www.alcorn.edu/academics/graduate-studies).

  • Educator License
  • two letters of recommendation
  • official transcript from an accredited school (if a student has attended more than one school, transcripts must be submitted from all schools attended). At least one transcript must document the student has a bachelor’s degree.
  • Immunization record

Decisions are made only after receipt of all credentials by the Department of Social Sciences admission committee. The department uses an admission formula to accept students. The entire application packet, including all supporting materials, must be submitted to the Graduate School.

Credentials:

A Standard Educator License in a teaching area is required for admission to programs in the Master of Science in Secondary Education with the exception of certificate programs.

Degree Requirements:

The curriculum for the Master of Science in Secondary Education in Social Science requires 33 credit hours of coursework and passing required exit exams for degree completion. Students complete 12 hours of required core credits, 15 hours of required course credits, and 6 hours of electives.

Graduation expectations require the following:

  • A minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed in residence at Alcorn State University
  • Earn no more than two Cs in coursework
  • Successfully pass the Core Exit Exam
  • Successfully pass the Area Exit Exam according to content area
  • Official transcripts on file for all transfer credits accepted by the University

Academic advisors are allowed to accept up to six semester credit hours earned at an accredited university with a grade of “B” or higher for graduate coursework completed. Substitutions of coursework are allowed with the approval of an advisor and department administrators up to nine hours if the substitution(s) meet curriculum requirements.

See Transfer of Credits Policy for additional information.
See the Substitution of Courses Policy for additional information.

Academic Track: Exit Exams

Students pursuing a Master of Science in Secondary Education must pass a Core Examination and Area Examination to exit.

Master Degree Audit:

Before candidacy for graduation can be confirmed, each student progression to degree completion will be evaluated to determine if student has met all academic requirements for course work and other aspects of the student’s course of study and Graduate School requirements. When these requirements are met, the student is cleared for graduation.

Time to Degree Completion

Alcorn’s time to degree completion policy allows 6 years to complete the social science program. Degree completion depends on the pace a student completes the curriculum. If the time exceeds six years, the student must petition the Graduate School to consider an appeal for more time to degree completion.

See the Student Academic Appeals Policy for Expiration of Timeline for additional requirements

Degree Plan and Course Sequence

Core Education Courses (12 Hours)

ED 512 Foundations of American Education
ED 514 Methods of Educational Research
ED 533 Curriculum Development
PH 513 Advanced Educational Psychology

Required Courses (15 Hours)
EC 501 Advanced Microeconomics
GT 501 Blacks and the American Political System
HI 506 Afro-American History
SS 585 Methods of Teaching Social Sciences
SY 502 Comparative Family Systems

Approved Electives (6 Hours)
EC 502 Advanced Macroeconomics
EC 504 Seminar on Comparative Economic Systems
EC 530 Economic Security and Social Welfare
GT 504 Government and Politics in Modern Africa
GT 506 Race and International Politics
HI 501 History of American Constitutional Law I
HI 502 History of American Constitutional Law II
SS 517 Social Science Symposia
SY 516 Social Foundation of Personality

For More Information Contact:
Dr. Renardo Murray ▪ 601.877.6264 ▪ [email protected] (Department of Social Sciences)