Degree – Master of Science in Workforce Education Leadership, MS
Concentration: N/A

Description of Program

The Masters degree in Workforce Education Leadership (WEL) is an online program offered jointly through Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University. The intent of the program is to prepare graduates to become facilitators of workforce, industry, and community change that will meet the needs of an increasingly diverse clientele.

Learning Outcomes

  • Acquire and master the necessary concepts to think critically about how organizations function
  • Learn a range of methods to diagnose the needs of particular individuals and programs they serve
  • Develop the leadership skills and technological competencies required to propose and effectuate interventions to help organizations and communities become more effective
  • Acquire the research and management skills needed to assess the usefulness of their interventions in order to modify and improve them accordingly

Admission Requirements:

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

  • 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 with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Some departments have additional requirements students must meet for admission

Decisions are made only after receipt of all credentials by the department’s 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. Official test scores must be submitted from Education Testing Service (ETS) and must not be older than five years, official transcripts from the sending school, and Credential Evaluations (International students) from an approved Credential Evaluation Service.

Standardized Test:

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is the official standardized test required for admission to the Master of Science in Workforce Education Leadership. WAIVED

Degree Requirements:

The curriculum for the Master of Science in Workforce Education Leadership requires 36 credit hours of coursework and internship for degree completion. Students complete 12 hours of required core credits and 24 hours of approved electives.

Graduation expectations require the following:

  • A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed in residence at Alcorn State University
  • Earn no more than two Cs in coursework
  • Successfully complete an internship in Workforce Education Leadership or Internship in Vocational Education (MSU Option)
  • 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: Internship

The internship is an exit requirement for the Master of Science in Workforce Education Leadership.

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 Workforce Education Leadership 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

Required Courses (12 Hours)
IE 500 Research in Industrial & Occupational Education
IE 579 Federal & State Job Training Programs

IE 586 Qualitative Research Design or
TKT 8233 Career Planning & Decision Making (WEB-MSU Option)
IE 590 Vocational Administration Certification Course or
TKT 8263 Philosophy and Administration of Vocational Education (MSU Option)
TKT 6733 Managing Multimedia Learning Environment (WEB-MSU Option)
TKT 8763 Seminar in Planning Instructional Technology (WEB-MSU)
TKT8723 Instructional Design for Industry (MSU Option)

Approved Electives (24 Hours)
IE 508 Manufacturing Planning and Control
IE 519 Industrial Management & Organizational Behavior
IE 548 Internship in Workforce Development or
TKT 8200 Internship in Vocational Education (MSU Option)
IE 526 Principles & Objectives Evaluation of Vocational Education Students
IE 552 School to Work Initiatives
IE 578 Welfare to Work Programs
TI 501 History & Philosophy of Industrial Education
TI 550 Delivery of Instruction in Industrial & Vocational Education
TI 552 Instructional Planning in Industrial & Vocational Programs

For More Information Contact:
Dr. David Addae ▪ 601.877.6493 ▪ [email protected] (Department of Advanced Technologies)
Dr. Steve Adzanu ▪ 601.877.2346 or 2386 ▪ [email protected] (Department of Advanced Technologies)