Mission Statement
The primary mission of the Division of Social Sciences and Education is to prepare students for graduate school and careers in their fields of study. The division offers majors in criminal justice, public administration, psychology, social work, sociology, and teacher education. Each curriculum has a core course of study in liberal arts in addition to the major course of study. Division faculty strive to address the individual needs of the students, to enhance students’ understanding of their own culture and the culture of others, and to develop skills necessary for leadership and service roles in society.
Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice Department is committed to providing students with practical knowledge and training related to the fields of employment in the criminal justice system. Students are encouraged to critically examine issues related to crime, law and justice. The curriculum focuses on the application of law and theory through practical experiences and training. The program and faculty prepare students to be competitive for entry level, as well as supervisory positions in the criminal justice arena based current industry standards, including, but not limited to, the areas of: law enforcement; criminal law and evidentiary procedures; probation and parole; corrections; juvenile justice; and private security. Graduates are qualified and prepared to enter graduate schools in a variety of programs as well as law school and will possess strong skills in critical thinking, written and verbal communications, and analysis and research.
Psychology Department
The Psychology Department has an academic program with a three-fold purpose of: (a) preparing students for graduate study, (b) preparing students for occupations in the social/human services and, (c) enhancing student understanding of mental processes and human behavior.
Psychology majors complete an extensive curriculum in traditional and contemporary psychological studies. They participate in research and clinical activities that provide a blend of practices and application. Graduates are qualified and prepared to enter graduate schools in a variety of programs that include post-baccalaureate psychology, education, public administration, and law school.
Public Administration
The purpose of the Public Administration Program is to prepare students for employment in the public and nonprofit sector, for high level government and political positions, and graduate studies. Students are offered a broad background in the basics of public administration combined with a contemporary focus on urban management, the nonprofit sector, tools of analysis and the role of ethics.
Sociology Department
The purpose of the sociology program is to provide students with a broad-based preparation for graduate school or employment in a wide variety of social science-related fields. The sociology curriculum includes core courses and electives that convey a broad yet detailed understanding of the ways in which the social system operates. Students are exposed to a decidedly global perspective in the study of society. An undergraduate degree in sociology provides broad-based preparation for graduate study in sociology, social work, law school, criminology, government service at all levels, public relations, personnel, public opinion and market research, and other social science-related fields.
Social Work Department
The Department of Social Work at Talladega College is dedicated to preparing students for work in the generalist social work field. We are guided by professional values, ethics, and evidenced-based practice towards a purpose that seeks to enhance the quality of life for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. LEARN MORE
Education Department
The mission of the Education Department is to prepare exemplary educators who demonstrate the personal and professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to provide for the learning, growth, and developmental needs of individuals in an increasingly diverse, complex, and technological society. The purpose of the Educator Preparation Program is (a) to prepare qualified persons for entry level positions in the public education system, (b) to provide an avenue through which individuals may gain access to the teaching profession, and (c) to provide a pool of qualified students for graduate training programs in selected fields of teaching.
Programs Offered
The Education Department offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts and teacher certification (grades 6-12) in Biology, English Language Arts, History, Mathematics, Music Vocal (P-12), Music Instrumental (p-12), and Elementary Education/Special Education Collaborative (P-6). The Educator Preparation Program is approved by the Alabama State Department of Education (Gordon Persons Building, P.O. Box 302101, Montgomery, AL 36130-2101).
Education
Admission to Teacher Education Program
Admission to Talladega College does not qualify a student for admission to the Teacher Education Program. Eligibility for admission to the program is determined after the student has completed the sophomore year and received a 2.75 GPA, five professional studies classes with a 2.75 GPA, and received a passing score on the Praxis Core Academic Skills Test. Students in the Teacher Education Program must maintain a minimum of a 2.75 GPA overall average in the professional studies courses and in the teaching field. Prior to admission candidates may repeat any of the professional studies courses in which the grade of “C” or below is rendered. The criteria for admission are as follows:
*A candidate who does not meet the above criteria may take further work and retake courses to meet criteria for admission.
RETENTION IN THE PROGRAM and Requirements for TEACHER INTERNSHIP
To remain in the program, the student must make satisfactory progress. The minimum requirements are as follows:
1. Satisfactory completion of all program requirements with a 2.75 GPA or better on all work attempted and a 2.75 GPA on all work attempted in the teaching field as well as in professional studies courses. No grade below a ‘C’ is acceptable in Professional Studies and Content courses.
2. Successfully pass the Praxis II Multiple Subjects exam.
3. Satisfactory scores on Professional Dispositions documents.
4. Demonstrate readiness to teach through satisfactory clinical and field experience performance.
PROGRAM COMPLETION
1. The candidate should demonstrate readiness to teach through satisfactory on the job performance as a teacher intern for a semester.
2. The Alabama State Board of Education mandates that each teacher preparation institution prepare and administer program exit exams for all teacher education candidates. Candidates must successfully pass Praxis II exams in the specialized content area before being eligible for a teaching internship. Successful completion of the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) is required during internship.
3. Candidate should complete the Teacher Education Program not later than four years after admission to the program. Candidates who do not complete the program within a four-year period are considered for reinstatement consistent with college policy.
STATE TEACHER CERTIFICATION
Alabama’s testing program has been adopted by the Alabama State Board of Education. The Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP)consists of the Praxis Core Academic Skills or Educators and Praxis Subject Assessments(content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge.) Applicants seeking certification in Alabama must successfully complete the current requirements of the AECAP, as applicable.
Candidates have five years from program completion to apply for the certificate. Once the Class B certificate is awarded, it is valid for five years and is renewable according to the prescribed criteria. Persons seeking teaching certification in a state other than Alabama should consult with that state’s certification department early in their program of study to ensure compliance with requirements
Contact
Eunice Walker Johnson Division of Social Sciences and Education
Alicia L. Curry, Ph.D.
Dean, Social Sciences and Education
Talladega College
627 Battle Street West
Talladega, Alabama 35160
Telephone: 256-761-6346
alcurry@talladega.edu
Psychology
The purpose of the psychology program is (a) to prepare students for graduate study, (b) to prepare students for jobs in human services, (c) to enhance students? understanding of their own culture, and (d) to enhance students? understanding of cultures other than their own. Psychology students study in the natural sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences. Computer-aided experiments are encouraged. Graduates are qualified to enter law school, as well as graduate schools in a variety of programs, e.g., psychology, counseling and guidance, education, and public administration. Graduates are qualified to enter into the Alabama Mental Health system as a Psychologist I. The minimum number of semester hours in major needed for graduation is 33. The minimum total number of semester hours needed for graduation is 125.
The following are just a few of the common career paths for individuals who complete a bachelor’s degree in Psychology:
Advertising Agent
Career Counselor
Case Manager
Child Care Worker
Laboratory Assistant
Market Researcher
Psychiatric Technician
Probation and Parole Officer
Public Administration
The purpose of the Public Administration Program is to prepare students for employment in the public and nonprofit sector, for high level government and political positions, and graduate studies. Students are offered a broad background in the basics of public administration combined with a contemporary focus on urban management, the nonprofit sector, tools of analysis and the role of ethics.
Social Work
Under the auspices of the Division of Social Science and Education, the Department of Social Work offers a bachelor’s degree (BSW) in social work. The Department’s mission is to prepare social work students to become change agents; and, to develop knowledge and skills to empower individuals, groups, and communities and thereby enhance human well-being, promote human rights, and social and economic justice. The Program uses a foundational generalist practice curriculum and is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE [1725 Duke Street, Suite 500, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3457]). CSWE is the national accrediting body for all undergraduate social work programs
The generalist practice curriculum provides learning skills in assessment, service planning, intervention, case management, problem solving, policy evaluation, policy development, and crisis intervention. Upon graduation with a BSW degree, students are prepared (a) for entry-level social work practice in public and private social service agencies that provide a variety of human services to all income levels and all groups in society, (b) to support the values and ethics of the social work profession, and promote social and economic justice and human dignity for all people, and (c) to apply for social work licensure and/or for admission to graduate programs in social work. During their senior year, students must complete 400 mandatory hours of field education with a community-based human services/social services agency in the community.
Retention and Completion of the Program
The student must meet the following minimum requirements to remain in the Social Work Program and graduate with a BSW degree:
a) Complete all general education and required social work courses satisfactorily in accordance with the student’s posted curriculum pattern upon entry in the program. The student must maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average and obtain at least a “C” in all required major courses in social work.
b) Demonstrate the required academic achievement, social work values and ethics, and maturity to perform as a social work intern.
Additional information about the Social Work Program may be found in the Social Work Student Manual and the Social Work Education Field Manual.
Sociology
The purpose of the sociology program is to provide students with a broad-based preparation for graduate school or employment in a wide variety of social science related fields. The sociology curriculum includes core courses and electives that convey a broad yet detailed understanding of the ways in which the social system operates. Students are exposed to a decidedly global perspective in the study of society. An undergraduate degree in sociology provides broad-based preparation for graduate study in sociology, law school, criminology, government service at all levels, public relations, personnel, public opinion and market research, and other social science-related fields. The minimum number of semester hours in major needed for graduation is 33. The minimum total number of semester hours needed for graduation is 125.
Division of Social Sciences and Education Brochure
