Graduate Programs

Community Development (online)

The Master of Science in Community Development (MSCD) program is designed to provide knowledgeable and skilled personnel for a variety of social organizations, including development corporations, for-profit entities, and state and local government agencies. The program synthesizes theories on the formation and modification of individual and group behavior patterns with opportunities for practical application through internships and research in diverse community settings.

The Division of Social Sciences and History has brought together a faculty diverse in academic training, experience and culture in order to provide a rich and varied learning experience for our students. Approved in 1995, this thirty-six hour program has graduated over one hundred students. We promote innovation, creativity, cooperation and participation, in the classroom and in communities. Based upon wide ranging theoretical foundations, skill development, and participation, we encourage students to work with communities to meet community needs.

Students interested in applying to the MSCD program should follow the instructions below. Items 1 and 2 should be submitted through the Graduate Admissions website at Delta State University. When completing item 3, please have your score sent to DSU. Item 4 should be submitted to the graduate coordinator (contact information listed below). For additional information about the program, please see the section titled “Master of Science Degree in Community Development” in the Graduate Catalog.

Requirements for admission:

1. An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in the proposed area of study or a related area.

2. a. A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0

OR

b. At least three years of successful relevant professional experience supported by three letters of recommendation from practitioners in the field.

3. An official GRE test score to be submitted within the first semester of graduate study.

4. Candidates for admission must submit the following: 1) A written statement describing why they wish to enter the program and how the program can lead to career success. 2) Three letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers. At least one letter should come from a professor who is familiar with the applicant’s work. 3) A current resume, and 4) A graded writing assignment from an upper-level undergraduate class OR professional writing sample from work at current agency.

Applications will be reviewed three times per year, no later than April 15, July 15, and December 15, by the Community Development Graduate Committee.

It is recommended that students enter the program with three completed hours in statistics and research methods and six completed hours in social sciences, or three completed hours in the social sciences and three completed hours in economics or management or finance.

The Community Development Graduate Committee may require that students take one or more undergraduate courses prior to their formal admittance into the MSCD program. The courses will be identified on the basis of need and will be recommended to the students upon notification of the status of the students’ admission application.

The Community Development Graduate Committee may also request formal interviews with prospective students prior to their formal acceptance.

For more information about the Community Development program, contact Dr. Leslie Green-Pimentel at lgreenpimentel@deltastate.edu.

Social Justice & Criminology (online)

The Master of Science in Social Justice and Criminology (MSJC) is a graduate degree designed for students who wish to pursue academic and/or professional roles in the criminal justice system. Whether you are an experienced professional in the Social Justice and Criminology field or a recent high school or community college graduate considering a career in criminal justice, the Social Justice and Criminology Program at Delta State University has something to offer you. Delta State University is unique in that it provides students with both small class size and matches each student with a faculty advisor to oversee their progress through the program.

The Social Justice and Criminology Program at Delta State University offers a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees designed to provide students with a strong foundation in justice and law. Electives are available to strengthen your academic understanding of policing, corrections, the legal system, juvenile justice, and wildlife law enforcement. Many students elect to apply their classroom knowledge in real world setting.

Preamble

The Social Justice and Criminology program at Delta State University at the graduate level provides students with a strong foundation in criminological theory with a focus on the criminal justice system in the United States and how it compares to those in other countries.

Students’ analytical skills are grounded in a strong foundation of theory, research methods, and statistical methods. A broad range of elective opportunities strengthen students’ academic understanding of policing, corrections, the legal system, juvenile justice, homeland security and terrorism, family violence, psychology in the criminal justice system, sex crimes, homicide, drugs, and gender.  Special topics courses provide additional opportunities for distinctive study.

Graduate Internship programs provide students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge in real world settings. Student interns gain valuable experience in a criminal justice field of their choosing. This experience can serve as a precursor for future employment in that field.

Individuals who are interested in social justice and wish to serve people and their communities often gravitate to this unique area of study. Social Justice and Criminology majors are prepared for employment in a range of professional settings that may include local and federal law enforcement agencies and private organizations, where they serve as victim advocates, correctional officers, substance abuse counselors, vocational instructors, parole or probation officer, juvenile probation officers, investigators, and in many other areas.

Admission Requirements:

In order to ensure that prospective applicants are not hindered by application fees, the graduate committee has determined that no fee will be charged to apply to the program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Once all requirements have been met, the graduate committee will typically make a determination within four to six weeks. To apply, the following requirements must be met:

1. An undergraduate degree in the proposed area of study or a related area. Applicants must submit the most current copy of their transcript.

2. Option A: A minimum acceptable overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 GPA on all major and other relevant coursework completed during the applicant’s last 60 undergraduate hours.

OR

Option B: Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement may be considered for provisional admission to the program by submitting three academic letters of recommendation.

3. Two graded writing samples from undergraduate work must be submitted. These writing samples should be submitted as photocopies (digitally or hard copy) along with the name of the professor and contact information.

4. GRE (Graduate Record Examination) must be taken and official scores should be sent to the University. Scores sent by applicants will not be accepted. Acceptable scores will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the graduate committee.

5. 300-500 word ‘statement of purpose’ essay. In this essay, discuss your motivation for applying to the program, your career plans, and your background to include any barriers or challenges that you have overcome.

For more information contact Dr. Dana Rasch at drasch@deltastate.edu.

Social Science in Secondary Education

The Master of Education degree is designed for students who wish to pursue professional study in education as classroom teachers, counselors, supervisors, administrators, or in specialized areas. In the College of Arts and Sciences, Delta State awards a Master of Education degree in English, History, Social Sciences, and Visual Arts.

General Admission Requirements (these may vary slightly depending on the chosen track):

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with an undergraduate major suited to the discipline in which the applicant wishes to study. The BFA and the BA in Art Education are considered appropriate degrees for applicants wishing to pursue the Art emphasis.
• Grade point average of 3.0 on higher or all undergraduate coursework and courses relevant to discipline.
• An acceptable score on the writing section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or on a departmental writing proficiency exam. The departmental examination is required in English and History.
• A valid teaching certificate, if not, the applicant must sign a waiver stating that he/she realizes that the M.Ed. in Secondary Education does not constitute certification.

Applicants may be granted provisional admission status for the first nine (9) hours of graduate course work. All admission requirements must be met within these nine hours.

For more information, please contact Dr. Neil Conner, nconner@deltastate.edu.

Liberal Studies

The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) degree program promotes an interdisciplinary approach to graduate education by offering a diverse set of humanities and social science tracks. This program is designed for students who want to pursue advanced understanding of the nature of societal values and ideals that influence the human condition in the context of past and present human behavior and institutions. Students are exposed to perspectives that are useful for solving real problems while deciphering major philosophical, cultural, and social concepts about the world around us. The program targets full-time and part-time students from diverse back- grounds and stages in their professional lives, whether they are or returning to school for graduate education as practicing lawyers, ministers of religion, policy makers, teachers, politicians, administrator or are recent graduates who want to sharpen their analytical, critical thinking, writing and research skills by working with a highly qualified and diverse group of faculty. Students can choose from one of the following tracks that reflect an interdisciplinary approach to education:

• Evolving Human Voices: Studies of the Written Word (with emphasis in English and Literature)
• Gender and Diversity Studies (with emphasis in Sociology)
• Globalization Studies (with emphasis in Geography)
• Mississippi Delta Studies (with emphasis in History)

Admission Requirements:

• Have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution;
• Have earned a grade point average of 3.2 or higher on all undergraduate coursework;
• Candidates for admission must submit a written statement describing why they wish to enter the program and how the program can lead to career success.
• Candidates must also submit three letters of recommendation from professors familiar with the applicant’s work.
• Candidates must submit a resume.
• Submit a graded writing assignment from an upper-level undergraduate class.

Graduation Requirements:

• Fulfill the general requirements for a graduate degree at Delta State University;
• Complete graduate work consisting of core courses and elective hours as specified;
• Earn a grade point average of at least 3.0 overall; Earn a grade of B or higher in GLS 600;
• Pass an oral and/or written comprehensive exam administered by a committee appointed by the MALS coordinator;
• With the consent of the advisor, elect to research and write a thesis for 6 hours credit;
• Earn at least one-half of all hours toward the MALS degree at the 600 level.

For more information, please contact Dr. Charles Westmoreland, cwestmoreland@deltastate.edu
(662) 846-4174.